Changing firms? Important things to consider…
It can be a very difficult decision changing positions within the legal private practice market. There are several key factors to consider before taking action. Here are a few questions you should be asking yourself:
Q: DO I QUIT BEFORE SECURING A NEW ROLE?
A: It’s an age old question. It’s best not to quit one position until you have secured your next, because firms are more wary about hiring lawyers who aren’t in current employment (for permanent qualified positions at least!). You’re probably saying to yourself “leaving sooner, rather than later will give me plenty of time to secure a new position, I will also be readily available to interview”. My advice would be to stick with your current position as long as possible, using your holiday entitlement and arranging interviews before and after work (interviews can sometimes be arranged at either 8:30am or after 5:30pm on request). It could take months to secure a well aligned opportunity, and ideally you don’t want the added pressure of explaining a large gap in your employment, if it does indeed take you a while to find something new.
Q: DOES MY CURRENT POSITION STILL FIT WITH MY LONG TERM ASPIRATIONS?
A: The position you find yourself in can look very different to what you signed up for when you accepted your current role. In fact, In this situation remember exactly why you wanted to move into your role in the first place and ask yourself if you are still moving towards your personal and professional goals. Are you still focusing on the work you once loved? Did the boss you pick to help mould your career leave? Also take your team dynamic into account. A little bit of soul searching can help you get your career back on track.
Q: WHAT IS THE MARKET LIKE OUT THERE FOR SOMEONE WITH MY LEVEL & EXPERIENCE?
A: Market conditions are really important when considering moving. There are several ways to know exactly how buoyant your market is; including speaking with contingency recruiter(s) about market conditions and the flow of activity across the City (a good recruiter should be able to give you a snapshot overview of positions at your level and within your practice area); the legal press and using the main legal job websites can be another way to see how many options you have (when using legal job websites consider the fact that some of the recruiter adverts may be duplicates of the same positions). Do your research before choosing which agent to represent you in the marketplace.
Q: WHAT IS MAKING YOU CONSIDER MOVING?
A: It is easy to make excuses and put obstacles between yourself and achieving your full potential. Is there an increase in competition at work, a change in leadership, new unachievable targets? Always see if you can resolve problems within your own firm without burning bridges for the future. Keep in mind you can’t necessarily mention you hate your boss and/or the entire workforce to your new prospective employer. Think of a neutral but compelling way to reflect your reasons for making a move.
Q: STEP UP OR STEP DOWN?
A: When moving between firms it’s important to consider the working culture of your prospective firm. For example, if you’re looking for work life balance while working in a large City practice, you may want to consider a smaller firm, such as a smaller City or West End practice with lower target hours. That said, there are some specific teams within large firms that do offer a good working culture. Salary is another major factor when deciding to move. A good recruitment consultant can run through the difference between firms, the work on offer, size and structure of the team, and the working culture and practices the firm adopts.
Discuss making a move with a consultant you trust, one who has good knowledge of the market. We are preferred agents for numerous firms in London, including US, Magic and Silver Circle firms, as well as smaller boutique firms. For more information, please do get in touch.