Should I Stay or Should I Go?: A Recruiter Reflects on an Age-Old Question, Part II

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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

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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

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