Mid level planning to lateral for first time and I know it’s so common but I feel intimidated. Not planning on using a recruiter. Any advice or moral support welcome :’)

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Not using a recruiter may be a mistake

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Why don't you plan to use a recruiter?

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I would strongly encourage using a recruiter. Going through the lateral process now, a decade-plus into this, and while I feel confident advocating for myself and knowing what questions to ask at this point in my career, I would have had no idea where to start or what was reasonable/standard as a more junior attorney. You don't pay them, and you're under no obligation to pick a firm they've selected for you, so there is really no downside. Good luck!

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I previously read many comments on here—the majority, actually—saying not to use a recruiter, so I’m surprised that this thread seems to favor it. I’ve had friends use recruiters and when I asked them for recs, they told me they wouldn’t recommend their particular recruiter. So I haven’t found a recruiter I’d trust.

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OP, the only time I don't think using a recruiter would be beneficial is where you have connections or know someone at the firm you are approaching that serves as your "in" and someone to vouch for you already. In that specific scenario, using a recruiter COULD be a detriment economically because when the firm knows they have to pay the recruiter, that may mean less for you (no or smaller signing bonus, for example). Otherwise, I 100% agree with the practical points above. There's also nothing that stops you from doing both - working through a recruiter for some firms and leveraging your connections with others. Just make sure the recruiter doesn't submit for you at a place you're already talking to or vice versa!

Lol, I was rejected by the recruiters, yet I was hired by BigLaw, twice.

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