Attorney Career Growth: The Top 5 Benefits of Staying With One Law Firm Long-Term

 

Today's webinar is about a topic that a lot of people may not think a recruiter would want to talk about, but it is actually a fairly important topic. It is something that I have noticed makes a lot of people successful as attorneys in the long run when they are able to stay with a single employer for a long time. I am going to talk about that today, why it is important, and how it can help you advance and have a better career if you have this mindset.

In a lot of cases, the people that are able to stay with law firms for the longest period of time aren't often the best, and they are not the smartest, but they often get ahead and have much better careers when they do that. Long-established law firms, meaning ones that have been around for a long time, often have attorneys that have been there from the very beginning of their career. You might have a class in some large law firms of 100 people that start, and over the course of seven or eight years you have 80% or 90% leave as others have come and gone. It is not because the people that have stayed do better work or are doing certain things better than others. It is often because of the psychology they have that makes them stay, enables them to stick around, and helps them have much better careers than people who move around a lot.
 

The Characteristics of Stable Attorneys

People that are able to stay at firms are more steady and have very good characteristics that give them the ability to stay around.

• They are steady and reliable.

• They show up each day and do their work.

• They avoid drama and ensure there is not a lot of it.

• They are able to fit in with the culture and remain when others leave.

They are also the kind of people that the firms respect because they are able to weather all sorts of things that other people get psyched out about. Attorneys that have a lot of stability at firms, who are able to adapt and remain dependable over time, are often advanced the most. Even if you stay with a firm for longer than a few years, that stability is valued by future employers. An example would be if you join a firm and stay there one year, and then you join another firm and stay there one year. That person is going to have a much more difficult time finding a position than someone who joins a firm, stays there for four or five years, and then is looking for a job.

Stability in the legal profession means a lot. There is no ranking system or report cards that attorneys get. You can certainly look at their law schools and how they did, but one of the most important ranking systems is the quality of the firm you are at and your ability to stay there for a long time. People that are there for one year may not have done good work or gotten along with people, so they move to another firm. People that are at other firms for five or six years show something much different. It shows that the person is able to get along, that people are giving them work, that the law firm has no reason to let them go, and that they are able to get along with a group of people. That is much more highly valued than people that bounce around.

   

Building Political Capital and Trust

People that are able to stay in a firm are valued because the firm does not have to hire new people or have their clients talk to other people. When attorneys leave firms, it often leaves a bad taste in the mouth of people around them. Being able to stay at a place for the long term is valuable, and in professions with constant turnover, it is a major advantage.

There are many reasons it is important to stay at a firm if you can. One of them is political capital. The longer you are there, if you are doing a good job, you have a certain capital, meaning people think highly of you compared to people that might just be hired soldiers moving around. A lot of attorneys in certain firms have been there for decades; some have been there 40 or 50 years. These people are much more valuable in their own firm and in the legal profession.

I am not saying that you necessarily have to stay at one firm for your entire career, but the longer you stay, the better off you are going to be.

• The people you are working with will give you work.

• You will form relationships that will help you.

• The firm will trust you, and people will respect you.

This loyalty is a major professional strength. I talk to attorneys all the time who have different reasons for moving, such as not getting along with someone or wanting more money. But each time you move, even if a new firm hires you, there is not as much trust, and you still have to prove yourself. The longer you are at a firm, the more you have proven yourself to the people you are working with. I am not saying you should never move law firms, but if you feel you are in a place where you are comfortable, getting work, and have a future, it is often a good idea to stay there.
 

The Risks of Moving and Seeking Startups

I work with attorneys who look for a job, get one, and then realize it could be dangerous because the partnership is too small, and upsetting someone will cause problems. At their existing firm, everything is fine. Even though the commute might be longer or the new job pays $20,000 to $30,000 more, they know they are going to be safe at their existing firm. Safety means you are in an organization that is consistently going to give you work, and you are working with people that trust you. Going into a new environment can be very scary. I have seen people who were at their existing firm for eight or ten years go into a new firm or in-house, and lose their job within a couple of weeks due to personality conflicts. Then they are unemployed. You have to evaluate if there is a risk going to a new employer and if you are losing something important at your existing firm.

It is very common, especially in California and New York, for people doing really well at a firm, making $400,000 or $500,000 a year, to leave for a startup for stock options. Most startups fail; 9 out of 10 fail. They take these positions, and then they are unable to get back into certain law firms because they have gone in-house. It is very risky when you take chances and leave environments where you have stability.
 

Good and Bad Reasons to Leave a Firm

There are all sorts of reasons people should move. You should move if you can get more sophisticated work, a better brand on your resume, significantly more money, geographic location changes, or if you do not like the focus in your practice. However, being in one law firm for an extended period can be a real benefit. People will sometimes move from an AM Law 50 firm to another AM Law 50 firm every two years. Essentially they are moving into the same type of firm they already are in, which may not make a lot of sense. Moving just for the sake of moving isn't a good idea.

Staying is not always the smartest thing because there are lots of horrible legal employment environments. There are law firms where the work is intolerable, people aren't nice, there is zero advancement potential, or they frequently lay people off during recessions. You may want to move firms from time to time, but you have to be careful about the reasons you give. A lot of times people will leave and say it is a bad or stressful atmosphere. However, if that employer has been around for 30 or 100 years, chances are they are doing something right. If you have major criticisms, you should look at yourself and see if the problem is you or the firm. Longstanding firms have systems, expectations, and cultures that have enabled them to survive.

I always recommend taking inventory to see if the issue is your fit or expectations. When I work with people, they mostly have pretty good reasons for moving. For example, someone at a firm that hired twice as many corporate attorneys as they needed, lost their work, and everyone was sitting around not busy, should be looking for a new position. If things are dangerous and your security is threatened, or the work environment means you will never be happy, it is a good idea to start looking.
 

Cultural Fit, Commitment, and Avoiding Gossip

It used to be that people would join a company right out of college, like Kodak, and stay there for their entire careers. They would give underperformers a lot of time to fix things. Now things are much different; 401ks came into existence because people needed a portable retirement plan when they started moving around.

For a lot of attorneys, leaving a firm is not something they do casually. They will only leave unless they are treated very badly or the work environment is unstable. People who value long-term stability show they are patient, loyal, and can get along with different types of people. Many attorneys have been in the same firm for over 20 years, and they usually only leave if something serious happens, like the firm being at risk of closing. Their decisions to leave are never casual, and they take them very personally; it is almost like getting a divorce.

There are areas where the majority of people get divorced, and other areas where it is very rare. Sometimes people join a firm and it is almost like a marriage where they commit, go through ups and downs, and everything becomes predictable with no thought of leaving. This bond creates stability, trust, and acceptance that benefits both the firm and the attorney.

Smaller law firms spend a lot of time talking to lateral attorneys in multiple meetings and dinners because they want to bring people in that culturally match the attorneys there. Law firms have cultures they are trying to maintain, and they want people that will stick around. When people are committed to the firm, the firms are stronger and the people are more secure. Commitment to the profession, your practice area, and the people you work with is essential if you want to be successful.

For a lot of attorneys, commitment is much more important than money. They are with people they like and who support them. They could go to places with much higher pay but wouldn't be as safe, becoming more of a commodity than a member of a group. This relationship outweighs financial incentives. Most advancement in law firms has something to do with competence, but it has a lot more to do with whether or not people like you.

One of the biggest reasons for moving is if you join a firm and you are not comfortable with the people, they don't seem to like you, and you don't see things the way they do. Being in a place where you are with people you like is important. People who like each other protect each other.
 

The Dangers of Negativity and Office Drama

A good deal of what goes on in any employment environment is about relationships. If you view the employer suspiciously and don't come across as committed, they will advance people who are. People who stay long-term typically avoid office gossip. There are people drawn to drama who like to get involved and gossip. When they receive negative feedback, they may not correct their behavior, but instead get angry at the organization.

Sometimes people carry anger from past workplaces into their current job. I once hired recruiters who had been fired from major law firms, and despite their great qualifications, they became negative, gossiped, undermined people, and eventually quit or were fired. They carried over resentment from previous organizations. Law firms function well when there is no drama and when people do not have grudges or chips on their shoulders.

Almost all attorneys get fired at some point in their career, and those people can be difficult to manage if they have sour grapes. Law firms want people who put their heads down, do the work, and do not create drama. In every law firm, there are groups of people that talk and gossip, spread negativity, and try to affect morale. Partners quickly figure out who they are, so they are not advanced.

The people who do well in law firms avoid it because being part of rumors and negativity does not help you from a business standpoint. To succeed, you need to be consistent, professional, and persistent. If an organization is healthy, it pushes out toxic people. Often, firing decisions are made not because of bad work, but because of a bad attitude. The firm can suddenly decide you are doing bad work if they don't like you, whereas they are more likely to ignore mistakes if you do not create problems.

Attorneys that remain at employers for a long time do not take sides, listen to rumors, or participate in negativity. They stay focused on their work instead of being distracted. Everyone has reasons to get mad and find fault with an employer, as no employer is perfect. You need to avoid situations and people like that because they are seen as a virus by the law firm.
 

Keeping a Low Profile vs. Grandstanding

Attorneys that stay at places the longest are often subtle, patient, and not trying to get massive feedback and advancement quickly. They are stable and not looking for quick advancement. Those who are very hungry may leave when better opportunities come up. Sometimes people try to prove themselves by looking better than other people, becoming very political, and turning people off.

The people that stay the longest are generally not that promotional. They do the best they can without drawing unnecessary attention to themselves, focusing on their work instead of worrying about looking the best or elbowing others out of the way. There is nothing wrong with being motivated, but you never want to draw attention to yourself in a way that makes your peers resentful.

I met an attorney from a major law school who would argue points of law with partners, creating problems because people do not like to be told they are wrong. He was quoted on the front page of a legal newspaper regarding a case he shouldn't have discussed, got in trouble, and never worked for a large law firm again. Success in a law firm over the long run often requires keeping a low profile. When you are an associate, your job is to be a soldier and carry out orders so that later in your career you can be a general.

The attorneys that stay the longest often aren't doing the very best work, but their work is more reliable. A lot of being a good attorney is simply showing up, being steady, consistent, and reliable. Because you are very smart does not mean you will succeed. Reliability and consistency are often much more valued than having bursts of brilliance.

Finally, there is a difference between insiders and outsiders. If you have been a summer associate at a firm, you are highly valued because the firm has trained you, creating a sense of institutional trust and belonging. Outsiders that join as laterals aren't always trusted right away. The longer you are in a firm, the stronger these bonds become. Being stable at a firm for a longer period of time says a lot about your character, and people that develop that mindset do much better with their careers.

 

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Questions and Answers

 

Legal Writing Samples

Question: What should attorneys include in a legal writing sample when applying to law firms?

You do not necessarily need to include a legal writing sample when applying unless they ask for it. If you are a law student, you typically include a law corporate document, and if you are a practicing litigation attorney, you include a brief filed with a court. Anything public is fine to send over because it does not violate attorney-client confidentiality. You should not send over confidential memos about client legal issues.
 

Mistakes During Law School

Question: What mistakes during law school can hurt my chances of getting hired after graduation?

Your grades are important, and nothing discipline-related should be on your record. One of the biggest mistakes is not getting a job in a law firm during the summer after your second year, as it shows you want to work in a law firm. Another mistake is not trying hard enough to get a position by applying everywhere you possibly can.
 

Confidential Job Searches

Question: How can I search for a new attorney job confidentially while still employed in a law firm?

There is nothing wrong with looking for a job and applying to positions that match your interests. It is extremely rare for a law firm to tell your current employer that you are interviewing there. You should use Indeed and LinkedIn, but also supplement your search with sources like LawCrossing, which looks at employment pages directly, giving you a better chance than highly advertised positions.
 

Interview Preparation

Question: How to answer the "Tell me about yourself" interview question?

When someone asks this, they are trying to determine if you can do the work, if you want the job, if you fit in, and if you will stay long-term. You must look like the type of person they would hire by telling stories and providing examples related to the required skills. For example, you would not talk about recovering from back surgery if the job requires carrying heavy boxes, nor would you emphasize being highly social if the job involves working alone in an office.
 

Career Path and Advancement

Question: How should professionals evaluate whether to stay in an organization when their contributions are not reflected in a clear career path?

If you haven't advanced and don't feel like you will for whatever reason, it is often a good idea to go to another position where you can move up. However, you do not want to exit a safe place with long-term access to work for a place that is potentially not safe.
 

Law Student Career Strategy

Question: As a law student, should I prioritize joining a firm where I can build a long-term career instead of changing firms every few years?

Every law student should try to get their first job at the best possible firm they can in the practice area they are interested in. If you don't get into the best firm initially, you can always move after a few years to advance. Law firms do not pay as much attention to grades after you have been out a few years.
 

Handling Performance Reviews

Question: How should attorneys prepare for performance reviews?

The best way to prepare is to be humble, take the advice, and not argue. Getting defensive does not do any good; you simply need to say thank you and that you will improve. Typically, reviews in the first couple of years are very negative and harsh because you do not know what you are doing yet. As you become profitable, the firm will start giving you very good performance reviews.
 

Resume Impact of Job Changes

Question: Does staying with one law firm look better on an attorney resume than frequent job changes?

Yes, staying at a decent law firm looks better than frequent job changes. The only exception is if you move firms to work in more prestigious organizations or firms more aligned with your practice area.
 

Patent Law Lucrativeness

Question: Is patent law still lucrative? (Patent litigation versus prosecution)

Patent prosecution and litigation are both still lucrative, though patent law is more difficult now due to overseas work and incredible AI capabilities. Patent litigation remains a good practice area for large firms.

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About Harrison Barnes

The Architect of the Hidden Legal Job Market

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Harrison’s insight into law firm recruiting comes from firsthand legal experience. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, a former federal law clerk, and a former associate at Quinn Emanuel. Early in his career, he saw that traditional legal recruiting was often reactive and overly dependent on posted openings.

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The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

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Harrison's reach, experience, and proven results make him the best legal recruiter in the industry. Don't settle for an average recruiter-work with the one who has changed the careers of thousands of attorneys and can do the same for you.

About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.