Question:
I am an associate with a top firm in Manhattan. Work in my practice area at the firm (M&A) has gotten very slow, and my partner mentor has asked me if I want to transfer to another, busier group within the firm such as litigation. Should I do so even if I have no interest in litigation and do not ever plan on practicing in this area of the law? —James C., New York, NY
Answer:
In today's market, which is volatile at best, this is a very common question. The up and down of the stock market has taken its toll on a number of firm clients. It has, therefore, taken its toll on a number of firms — and their influx of business from such clients. It's not surprising to hear that several key areas of practice are slow this season, such as M&A, structured finance, and any practice that relies on the credit markets.
In light of this slowdown, some associates are finding themselves without a great deal of work to do this summer. When faced with low billables for weeks on end, an associate really only has three choices: (1) sit it out and hope the market improves and business picks up; (2) move to a busier practice group within the firm; or (3) switch firms. We are going to focus on option number two.
Ideally, it is best to move to a busier practice group within your practice area. Thus, if you are an M&A associate, when M&A is slow, try and jump to the securities/capital markets or hedge fund practice groups. Although these are different legs of the corporate animal, keeping a consistent resume is very important, and I would rather see you become a corporate generalist than a jack-of-all-trades in a number of different or unrelated practice areas.
Having said this, when switching to another leg of corporate practice is not possible at your firm and your only option is moving to a practice group which is outside of your current subject area (such as moving from corporate to litigation), this move requires a bit more thought. It is a weighing of realities and priorities. If your firm is struggling or you are sensing layoffs, a move to the litigation practice may not be ideal, but it will keep you employed, busy, learning, and engaged.
For those of us with a mortgage and children on the brain, that biweekly paycheck cannot be undervalued. Thus, if maintaining an income is important to you right now, move to litigation. It is not an ideal scenario, but it will keep you employed, and your resume will continue to feature the same employer. That is valuable.
There is also value in taking on corporate-related pro bono projects during this period so that while you are doing litigation, you are also adding some new corporate matters to your resume. They may not be client billable, but again, they add value. Finally, you should keep your eye on the prize and switch back into corporate as soon as the market improves and your partners allow.
If, on the other hand, a consistent income is not your top priority and you are more inclined to take a risk, you may entertain the option of staying where you are in the M&A practice and simply waiting things out. Keep in mind, however, that "waiting things out" can be risky. If, for example, three more months pass without any work in M&A, you may be recast as the low-hanging fruit in the firm — and if your firm is looking to lay people off, that is not the type of fruit you want to be. Thus, staying in a slow practice group during a down period has attendant risks, which only you can consider and decide upon.
Finally, you may decide to cast off your slow practice and the partner's undesirable offer to have you switch practice groups and move to another firm altogether. This is a very real option, although finding a new firm can be a slow process during the summertime, which, traditionally, is the sleepy time for lateral hiring.
Thus, when thinking about ways to keep yourself busy in a slow practice, I would recommend not letting pride or a certain "vision" of yourself get in the way of keeping yourself valuable within your firm. Law firms are businesses. When business gets slow and your goal is to stay busy, weigh your personal priorities, compare them against your career priorities, and make an informed decision.
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published June 30, 2008
By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search 
About Harrison Barnes
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With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.
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Alternative Summary
Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.
More about Harrison
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