Looking to switch from a boutique firm into big law and make a move into corporate from litigation. Anyone have experiences doing this? Also, does anyone know which firms are more willing to hire laterals from outside of big law and which ones won’t?

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Switching practice areas and moving from boutique to biglaw at the same time in one move can be hard. I’ve usually seen people make the practice switch first going to a smaller or midsize firm, and then lateral again into big law once they have some experience in the new practice area. Even in crazy hiring markets it’s rare you can do it in one move, now that hiring is slowing it’ll be even harder.

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As someone who switched into corporate from lit, I think it’ll be a really tough time now unless you have some factor that weighs heavily in your favor (top tier academics or having a corporate partner with enough pull who can help push your candidacy through). The hiring market is slowing down generally and it seems like most firms are not as desperate as they were a year ago.

Anecdatally, I had some corporate exposure as a junior before focusing on lit 100%, decent academics, and was at a BL firm already and it took me many, many applications to make the practice switch. If the BL route doesn’t pan out, broaden your pool to include well-regarded small and mid size firms that may have lost people to biglaw and get some direct experience first; then you should have an easier time to jump into BL once the market picks back up.

I also recommend networking with corporate partners at firms you want to work at and see if they will take your resume and pass it along, above using recruiters, associate referrals (unless that associate has enough sway and repute to make it count), and cold applying. That strategy got me the best response and advancement rate by far.

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My friend lateraled to Willkie (but switch was from tax to corporate).

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