New York Lawyer
June 9, 2005

Q:
I am a recent law grad, I have passed two bars and am currently a staff attorney at a large NY law firm. I am in a position that is great for the moment but will not lead to substantial experience or an associate position. However, the money is great.

I guess my question today is, should I leave my current job for a lower paying job that will give me more experience. Let me elaborate: I recently interviewed a few places and was offered an associate position at half the salary. I know this is a tough market, but the position called for 2,400 billable hrs at only $45,000 a year. While I am dying to get real experience, I fear leaving a big firm and a decent salary and regretting this in the end.

So my question is two-fold: first, how long should I stick around a position that will not lead to an associate position, and second, should I take an associate position that is paying me about 60% less than the market calls for? Thanks.... Confused Entry Level Grad

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A:

You may be setting up a false choice, by assuming that you must make a decision between your present position and this new one. You should start out with a longer-term goal and work backwards from there. So -- what area of the law do you think you want to concentrate in? What kind of workplace (firm, inhouse, government, etc.) do you think you ultimately will prefer? What kind of lifestyle do you want to aim for, even if you don�t have it at the beginning of your career? These questions will help you decide your next move better than focusing too narrowly on this moment and this opportunity.

Another point is that if the new firm is a good place, it may be worth it to take the plunge if only to get on an associate track rather than being stuck as a staff attorney. Whether it�s a good place is immediately a little doubtful in view of the $45,000-for-2400-hours factor, but it could be that the experience you could get, combined with a way to get you on the road to a more successful career, may be the jumpstart you need.

Check out the firm thoroughly to make sure it isn�t a total snakepit, that it has a good reputation as least as far as the outside world is concerned (so that your resume will look good, even if your experience is not that hot), and otherwise do your homework. Remember to focus on whether you can gain the kind of experience you want in the practice area you want to specialize in. If you can emerge in 2 or 3 years with solid experience in your chosen area, you can be far more assured of making a successful move to another, more favorable workplace than you would otherwise.

Another approach would be to stick around your current firm for another 6 months to a year and save money like crazy, which will allow you to have a cushion for the inevitable pay-cut when you leave. Also, if you delay, perhaps a renewed job search will reveal a workplace with more favorable terms than the one you are contemplating right now.

Sincerely,
Holly English