New York Lawyer
February 28, 2002

Q:
How do I choose between firms? I have been offered positions at both a large firm in the big city and a smaller firm in a medium-sized city. Will choosing one or the other be more beneficial to my career?

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A:
It�s hard to say with any specificity, not knowing the firms, the cities or the practice area you�re interested in. However, your question does set up some basic issues about careers versus life.

Conventional wisdom has it that the best thing for a career is to go with the big firm in the big city. The credentials stay with you forever, just as a degree from a top-rated law school, and the training received in big-ticket deals and litigation is invaluable.

But that points out the obvious problem. Many, many young lawyers make the devil�s bargain of saying they will go with a big firm for a few years, put up with the hours and rake in the bucks to pay off loans. A few months later, older and wiser, they realize that actually putting up with such a grueling regime is far more difficult than they envisioned. So if you�re envisioning a short stint with a big firm simply for gaining experience and money, rather than making a commitment to big firm practice, be prepared for a very long two or three years.

A smaller firm in a smaller city, interestingly, doesn�t necessarily offer better lifestyle advantages. Their billing requirements often are pretty high. So make sure to find out what the situation is before signing on.

You might think, �Well, I can take a job, and if I hate it, I�ll just find another job.� And it�s true that job hopping is not only common but accepted (and almost expected) these days. But it�s actually not a lot of fun to wind up in an environment that you don�t like and have to change positions, especially right now, when the economy has taken a dive and legal positions aren�t there for the asking as they were a year or two ago. Therefore you ought to contemplate this important decision seriously.

The first step, though, should be a careful self-examination in which you decide what sort of environment suits you best. And there are many, many factors that go into picking the best workplace. If you are more mission-oriented, you may prefer public service or government work; if you like business, you�ll go with a big corporate firm. And your personality comes into play, since some places are formal and reserved, while others more freewheeling. Other factors to consider are the kind of future you envision, including the lifestyle you want; the practice area you favor; financial requirements; and feeling comfortable with your potential colleagues.

The most important thing is to listen less to conventional wisdom and pay more attention to your inner compass. What�s right for people in general may be exactly the wrong thing for you.

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work