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Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks: Practical Advice for New Lawyers

Q: I am a second-year associate. Two partners just announced they are leaving to go to another firm. They asked me to join them. My current firm is lobbying me to stay. Should I stay or should I go?

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ATLSLFBSLogoQ: I am a second-year associate. Two partners just announced they are leaving to go to another firm. They asked me to join them. My current firm is lobbying me to stay. Should I stay or should I go?

A: You should consider hiring a career counselor who advises lawyers to explore the issues in depth. Your decision could have a major impact on your career, and you may have to choose quickly.

Here are some issues you should consider:

• How much time do you have to decide? If you have time, you may want to wait until things shake out and you have more information before making a decision.

• Are your primary mentors staying or leaving?

• What reasons did the partners give for leaving?

• Do those reasons make sense to you?

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• Are those reasons relevant to you?

• How much work do you do for the partners who are leaving?

• Will all of that work follow the partners?

• Is it work you enjoy?

• What has the new firm promised and what has your current firm promised?

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• Do those promises seem realistic?

• What do you know – and what can you find out – about the experience of associates at the new firm?

• What is the reputation of the new firm?

• Are the partners leaving to join an existing practice – or to bring a new practice area to the other firm?

• Is your practice group a key practice area at your current firm? At the new firm?

• What is the size of the new firm compared your current firm?

• Will your compensation change?

• How much work will remain in your practice area at your current firm after the partners leave?

• Will there be enough work left to keep you busy?

• Is it the kind of work you enjoy?

At your level, you still have a lot to learn. Think carefully about which lawyers are most likely to invest in your career growth. That is an important consideration – if not the most important consideration.

Whatever you decide, do not disparage either firm. The partners who are leaving may have issues with the other partners. But don’t make those your issues. And don’t pick sides.

Being sought after by both firms demonstrates that you developed a good reputation in a short time. But one suitor will be disappointed. Be gentle.

If you say you made your decision because one firm is better than the other firm, you will not change anyone’s mind. The people at the scorned firm will just question your judgment. In the process, you damage your own brand.

If you leave and the new firm does not work out, you want to be able to come back. Frame the reason for your departure in a way that will make returning as easy as possible.

If the firm sends out a message about why you are leaving, do not deviate from that statement one iota. Departures invite intrigue. Digging for dirt, people may ask you to divulge your “real” reasons. Don’t confess; even to your mother.

Whatever you choose, thank people profusely for the opportunities they gave you. And stay on good terms with both firms.

Good luck.

HeadshotBWLPM1Grover E. Cleveland is a Seattle lawyer, speaker and author of Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks: The Essential Guide to Thriving as a New Lawyer (West 2010). He is a former partner at Foster Pepper PLLC, one of the Northwest’s larger firms. His clients included the Seattle Seahawks and other entities owned by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. Grover is a frequent presenter on new lawyer career success at law schools and firms nationwide. Some of the questions in this column come from those presentations. Readers may submit questions here or follow him on Twitter @Babysharklaw. He is not related to the 22nd and 24th President of the United States.

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