New York Lawyer
September 29, 2005

Q:
I am considering going back to a BigLaw firm where I worked as a legal secretary before law school. Do you think that is a bad idea? I worry that people won't view me as a professional, but I like the firm and the friends that I have made there, many of whom have been very encouraging of me coming back. Please help!

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A:

The advantages and disadvantages of such a move are pretty clear cut, and very dependent on the culture and personality of the firm, as well as your personal attributes. Obviously it would be a nice "triumphant return" story for you to go back to the firm where you started. Believe me, people will be crowing about how "Mary started here as a secretary, and look at her now." You know the environment, you say that people have been supportive, and that you liked working there as a secretary. (You can�t discount the last point -- if you liked it as a secretary you probably will like it better as a lawyer, since support staff tend to be given short shrift in law firms, to put it kindly.)

On the other hand, the question is whether you will be able to overcome perceptions of you as a former secretary. You have to ask yourself how comfortable you�d be working side-by-side with colleagues for whom, in the past, you copied documents or fetched lattes. It might be awkward on both sides: you may feel hesitant to assert yourself, while your colleagues may find it more difficult than they would expect to think of you as an equal.

Obviously this also depends on your personality. If you are more on the shy and retiring side, I�d say that argues for considering a new workplace, where you can start fresh and where neither you nor anyone else is hobbled by past perceptions of your position. If you are naturally assertive and outgoing, this may be less of a concern.

And this decision depends as well on the type of firm you are talking about. You say that you liked the people, which is great. I would ask whether the firm tends to be hyper-competitive, as opposed to a place that is more supportive and where people tend to work more as a team. The latter obviously would be a better bet.

One thought would be to contact someone in your firm who did something similar to see what experience they had. If you don�t know of such a person or don�t feel comfortable doing that, you could talk with an HR or professional development person who might have a feel for such a dilemma. Ask them frankly if this is a good move for you, or if it would be better to go someplace new. Alternatively, if you know of someone in another firm who made a similar career jump, you can find out from them the pros and cons.

It is important that you are thinking this through before making a move, and doing the research necessary to avoid making a career blunder, especially in your first job as a lawyer. I am a big believer in trying to keep connections and relationships alive, and in greater workplace stability, especially in this transient age, so I am hoping that a return to your firm works out, but I also am realistic enough to know that you need to sift through the advantages and disadvantages before making your decision.

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work