1.800. 973. 1177
CAREER CORNER
Should I Stay or Should I Go?: A Recruiter Reflects on an Age-Old Question, Part II [by Claudia Spielman]
In the second of a two-part series, Claudia Spielman, BCG Attorney Search recruiter, uses her own experience to guide young attorneys (though the advice applies to anyone in or contemplating a career in the legal industry) on how to evaluate what to do when choosing to leave a law firm.
What viable alternatives do I have?
too painful, it may be possible to go back and
Is it financially feasible to change profes-
teach. A strong mind for legal theory and a
sions?
If I did not get the opportunity to work with
desire to mold the legal minds of tomorrow
BCG, I likely would still be working as an at-
are what make a good candidate for a profes-
This question looms large when it comes to
torney. I am very glad it worked out, though,
sor. Excellent academic credentials certainly
switching careers. Sure, less stress, more
because it has proven to be the right choice
do not hurt, either. Summers off, less stress,
fun, and less time spent at work all sound
for me. Having an idea of what the next step
and more time and resources available for
wonderful, but they all come at a cost—and
could be if you do choose to leave law will be
research and publication are what make
that cost can run up to $100K per year. Firms
necessary for many people.
these positions so highly sought after.
are traditionally some of the best-compen-
Similarly, working in the public sector for the
sating organizations in the world, and very
The uncertainty that can arise from leaving
government or a public interest group may
few other professions are going to pay six
something that you have worked so hard to
seem like a step down in terms of prestige,
figures to start. Are you willing to sacrifice a
achieve for nothing in particular is a drastic
but it can mean more interesting work and a
very large chunk of your annual income for
step that may end up making you even un-
lot less stress.
an opportunity to get away from it all?
new career path that you believe will make
Careers that have absolutely nothing to do
This question essentially comes down to
you happier. This point merits the most at-
with the law are also a possibility, as a law
what matters most to you. If you are truly
tention in this process. Without having some-
degree is much more versatile than you
unhappy working in a law firm, then there
thing else in mind, there is more willingness
might think. A legal education is welcome in
is plenty of incentive to take a pay cut. As
to look back and regret; having something to
almost any field, as it shows strong train-
another type of professional with a good
look forward to changes that.
ing in the ability to think analytically, and it
education, you will most likely be able to
hones writing skills. Putting that training to
make as much as you need, although that is
While there are not as many opportunities for
use for something other than the law may
always relative. Someone like me, who does
working as an attorney outside of a law firm
seem abnormal, but there are thousands of
not have a family counting on a large check
as there were a few years ago under the tech
working Americans with J.D. degrees who
from me, can take the plunge with very little
boom, corporations have a continual need for
have chosen other fields.
concern for the money. Others must consider
happier. The remedy for that lies in finding a
salary first and foremost because of familial
in-house representation, and the larger corporations can staff dozens of attorneys. Still,
Now that you have a sense of where you’d
or other financial obligations. The age-old
in-house corporate work may end up being
like to go, you still must consider whether it
question of whether to choose happiness
a lot like a law firm, and if the actual work
is practical for you to go at all. Sorry, but it’s
or money will not be decided here, but both
is what you are trying to get away from, this
true. There are a few questions you should
come with pros and cons. It’s up to you to
is probably not the best option. If however,
answer as part of your analysis:
decide which takes precedence.
stifling, in-house work tends to mean fewer
1.Is it financially feasible to change profes-
Do I need to be in a stable profession? How
hours and a less cutthroat atmosphere, but
sions?
risk-averse am I?
also can mean less compensation.
2.Do I need to be in a stable profession? How
the law firm environment is what you find
risk-averse am I? And
Some people are going to dive off a cliff as
Alternatively, though law school may be in
3. What environment am I most comfortable
soon as the opportunity arises, and others
your rearview mirror, if the thought is not
in?
are afraid to walk out the front door without
PAGE 1
continued on back
1. 800. 973.1177
CAREER CORNER
checking and double checking if they locked
be flexible with the areas of law they wanted
One more thing you may want to take into
the bathroom window. In general, the legal
to practice in. The same holds true today. The
consideration when making your decision is
industry is filled with people who are more
areas on the up or down swing will shift, but if
whether or not you are likely to second-guess
likely to go back to the window for a second
you are in a down practice, you must recog-
yourself and choose to go back to working in
look rather than cliff dive. It is a common
nize that point and take appropriate action.
a law firm. If you think that you might, then you almost definitely should not leave. For
joke that the majority of graduates of the top law schools ended up there because they
For example, if you are a corporate attorney
starters, in a down economy, law firms are not
had nothing better to do, but there is actu-
who does not have any work, you need to think
going to be all that sad to shed some excess
ally a bit of truth to it—many lawyers entered
of alternatives to solidify your position within a
attorneys, and a firm that you unexpectedly
the profession simply because it is safe and
firm. Many corporate attorneys transition into
left will not be thrilled to see you again two
respectable. These are the people that are the
positions as commercial litigators. This does
months later if you have a change of heart.
least likely to enjoy the work and probably the
not have to be a long-term career change, but
Additionally, other firms want to ensure that
most in need of a change, yet the least willing
you must do it if you would like to continue in
their staffs are committed to the law, and if
to actually make one because it requires risk.
the profession. Nothing is forever, and most
you have already proven you are not by leaving
careers take some strange turns. Who knows,
for something else, you will undoubtedly be
I was able to jump off the cliff, but only
it may benefit you in the end. Perhaps you will
seen as a question mark in a profession that
because at the time I did, I had a net at the
meet a contact that you would not have met
is used to periods. Ultimately, though, if you
bottom. Leaving the legal industry would be a
as a corporate attorney and voila! You’ve got
can see yourself actually going back to firm
risk no matter what you are leaving it for, but
yourself a client. One note: If your long-term
practice, then you probably are not as funda-
having something to fall back on is comfort-
career goal is to be a partner for a major law
mentally unhappy with the law as you might
ing.
firm, then you must stick out the downturn in
feel at the moment. Perhaps you just need a
the economy.
change of scenery within your current career
What environment am I most comfortable in?
and not an actual career change; or maybe all Do your homework
you need is a month in Paris. Questioning your decision now will prevent you from having to
I took a personality test to determine this one. While the questions on those tests are usually
So you’ve asked the questions and are ready
question it later, when there is a lot less you
leading (e.g., the question, “Do you like work
to go, right? Wrong. Be a good lawyer. Do your
can do about it.
to come in at a slow pace or a busy pace?”
homework:
is of course able to decipher miraculously whether you like to work in a relaxed or hectic
• Talk to your peers (law school classmates
atmosphere), they more or less get you to
and/or co-workers), mentors, law school ca-
think about the questions that you might not
reer counselors—anyone who can help shape
otherwise consider in your job search. If you
your perspective and push you in the right
are unwilling to put your career in the hands
direction. And of course, feel free to contact a
of some Internet technology, then feel free to
BCG recruiter. It’s our job to offer you advice
consult us.
about your career • Read about career changes and other ways
My advice to attorneys in slow practice areas
to use a law degree—your law school career center or its bookstore likely has books on
Your practice areas may be experiencing slow
this subject.
downs. It happens. When I left the practice,
• Make a list of pros and cons for both staying
areas in the doldrums included: corporate,
and leaving the profession. Discuss this list
M&A, IPOs, project finance/capital markets,
with all who will be affected by your decision:
“soft” IP such as trademark and licensing,
your significant other, family, friends, and
healthcare, environmental, telecommunica-
whomever else you feel may be affected.
tions, and some regions of commercial real estate. Because there was not much work in
When the decision is made, question it before
these practice areas, attorneys who would
you act on it
wanted to continue in the profession needed to
PAGE 2