Related Posts
Any openings for sales in NBFC?
Hi folks, I've cleared technical round in EPICOR which is product based company. I've HR/manager round on next week. What salary i may expect from them?
Shall I ask 30 LPA? if I ask then they reject me?
FYI I've offer in mindtree and they are giving 18 LPA. Please pour your comments Tata Consultancy Infosys IBM Capgemini
Has anyone received an offer letter from EXL (Inductis India Pvt Ltd) that was extremely restrictive and reading which felt like one is signing up for going to prison rather than get employment? No leave policy mentioned, hundreds of paragraphs of worst case scenarios, pathetic salary breakup, etc. ?
What is the salary cap for C3A grade at TCS ?
Need 11 likes for DM
Additional Posts in Law
My favorite office activity: canceling meetings.
New to Fishbowl?
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
In the most lawyerly way...it depends. Some factors are whether it’s bad enough that you’re not learning, wasting your time, is not safe, and also how much time you have left before the year is up. My friends who left prior to 1 year, had a range of compelling reasons and always had something else lined up before leaving. A few years down the road, seems to have had zero impact on their careers. However, if you’re jumping ship every 2 months or so, that’s a different situation, and you may want to stick it out a bit longer. Not all of our work is going to be interesting all the time.
Not listing becomes awkward for conflicts checks.
I’ve been in a very similar position so I understand how deflating it is to work so hard through school and the bar, only to not like what you end up doing. I left my first firm in about 9 months. I got swept up in the “big law” hiring mill during school, which sitting back 2 years post graduation, is just not what I ever wanted. Problem was I really enjoyed law school and found out basically 1 month into my first job that I hadn’t widdled down what kind of work I wanted to do, and realized corporate/M&A was both not stimulating and an absolutely awful situation as far as work/life balance. Took those 9 months to really think about what I wanted, and ended up switching over to plaintiff’s side securities litigation, which is far more in line with why I originally decided to go to law school. When I was interviewing for my current job, the hiring partners/people I interviewed with loved my story and bought it because it was the truth. This is all a long winded way of saying what others have. If you have legitimate reasons, its never too early to make a move because making a move like I did at year 4-5 would be much more difficult than year 1-2. At the same time, lawyers are excellent at smelling BS, so take some time to make sure its really that you don’t like what you are doing and not some other “soft” reason for leaving your current firm.
Apologies, my intention was not at all to question your motives. Figured this thread would get some hits and was talking big picture. Your reasons are your own, I only meant to explain that any move, especially an early one, should be made with deliberation, and be explainable both in the near and long term. Good luck!
OP, sounds like you are in a sinking ship. That’s a sound reason to leave and explains leaving in a year or less. But find another job first; as someone who has done alot of hiring, I think it’s odd to leave a job without another job lined up - economically, there are few people who can afford that so I wonder if the person was actually terminated. If the person was terminated they have to say that.
I agree.
Currently grappling with that myself. Changed firms about a year ago to switch from insurance defense to commercial litigation. I feel like my career is regressing. At my old firm I was managing 30-40 cases on my own in addition to helping partners with more complex matters. At the new one, I’m not trusted to do anything and I never have enough work. I also deal with insane levels of micromanagement that now have me second guessing every decision I make. I started casually looking for another job at the 6 month mark and recently started applying. Staying here is literally going to drive me crazy. I like working. I like being an attorney. Not having enough work and being given mundane tasks makes me feel so under-utilized and under-appreciated. At the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for you. I’ve been on a few interviews and have been asked why I’m leaving so soon. I explain the lack of work (which is firm wide and not just with respect to me), the lack of autonomy compared to my prior role, and that I want to feel more challenged. I don’t get the impression that I’m being judged for it. Most interviewers seem understanding about the situation.
I’m in my second year and at my second job. Left my first job after 3 months being licensed because the billables were too much and the work was boring. Hasn’t hurt me yet...
If you do leave early, make sure you choose wisely on the second firm. Leaving two places in less than a year is a neon light to hiring managers.
I was at a crappy firm for about six months (I just really needed a job) before i left for my current firm. I am learning so much more, getting paid much better, and overall much happier.
Not at all. I left
After 6 months and am much happier now and learning so much more. There is no cookie cutter rule for this kind of thing. Sure jumping around a bunch may raise eyeballs, but if it’s a one off and it’s for a better opportunity/ something that’ll make you happier it’s worth it.
Sometimes great opportunities come up that are better for your happiness and career and when they do, don’t let some arbitrary rule hold you back! Best of luck im sure whatever decision you make will work out!
I made a move from my first job after only eight months because I didn’t want to work in that field and didn’t see a future in it. When I interviewed with my current employer, I communicated that clearly, and spoke well of my now prior boss. So long as you explain your reasons for jumping ship, it shouldn’t be an issue. Depending on the practice area, you might want to consider making a move sooner rather than later because if you wait too long, you might not be marketable
I left my first firm after 9 months. I hated my boss. But I've been at my current firm for 5 years.
I agree with the general idea that it depends, but from my personal experience I think it makes sense to get where you want to be as soon as possible. I left after less than a year, many people criticized me but it ended up being the best decision. A lot of people at the firm I was at tried to make similar moves later but the need to “retool” them and their lack of experience made it much harder for them to move.
I would not be to worried about one move early in your career. Yes, many moves in a short period sucks, but Ultimately if you can tell a coherent story about each of your moves, it’s not going to raise too many eyebrows.
Do you - nothing is career suicide and if you’re genuinely not happy with your work or pay, then why would you stay? Because you’re scared of what others will say? Forget about that and have confidence in yourself. The right firm will never fault you for wanting more.
It's only a mistake if you are leaving a good firm and a good fit. Figure out how much you work for the firm, how much you get paid for that work, look and ask what your peers/friends are doing, think about the work environment, and think about what actually makes you enjoy being a lawyer then go after that. If you like the firm and they are investing in you, you might want to stay. If not then you may want to go. What does 'investing in you' look like? It's hard to say, it's a two way street, that's all I got to say.
As a former hiring partner in a major law firm, I do not see any down side as long as you have a reasonable explanation for your leaving your current law firm. You should to keep your current position while looking for a new position. Make certain you present a honest resume of your background and experience.
I left my first lawyer job 4 months in. I jumped ship for a government position I had always wanted. Good thing, too, because my old firm laid off the last 4 people they had hired once corona hit. I surely would’ve been one of them, since I was their most recent hire (even out of the 4 they let go) 😱
I think jumping around a lot after short stints may raise eyeballs but not so sure a one off will make a huge difference. You should really ask some recruiters what they think and then carefully reflect about your situation. At my 2nd law firm, I worked for a partner who was just horrible but wanted to wait 1 year before jumping due to the same concerns, and I am not so sure it was the best decision. I suffered until this partner finally left the firm and wound up staying at the firm, which dwindled in size, for 4.5 years. If I had to do it all over again, I would not have joined that firm.
Just be honest why you are leaving. Perhaps your interviewers went through the same thing. Or if they have not, I guarantee you they have thought about what if they had started with a bad firm. Either way, people can connect with honesty. Just be honest with everyone. There is no overthinking this.
What if I told you that in the grand scheme of things it isn’t likely to matter?
I had an extremely low paying, demoralizing job at the beginning of my career. I gave it the year and then got the hell out. That is what I would recommend you do.
As mentioned in other posts, it depends. Yes, you can reinvent yourself, you can redirect. Your resume is a marketing tool. I assessed what I did best & built on that. My firm & my choice of partners fits what I do well. This pause in life is an opportunity to assess. All the best to those rethinking their career.