BigLaw partner lateral moves involve extensive due diligence on portable business, client relationship verification, and detailed compensation negotiations. The process typically takes 3-6 months and requires careful timing around non-competes and client notifications.
Legal recruiters help attorneys navigate lateral moves by matching candidates with firm opportunities, providing market intelligence, and managing the interview process. They're typically paid by firms on successful placements, making their services free for candidates.
Choose a substantive, well-written sample from your current practice area that showcases analytical thinking and clear writing. Most firms prefer 5-10 page excerpts from briefs, memoranda, or opinion letters over transactional documents.
Fund finance focuses on subscription facilities and capital call lending to private equity/hedge funds, while traditional banking covers broader commercial lending. Fund finance typically offers higher compensation and more deal velocity, though both practices share core lending documentation skills.
Top-tier law firm interviews go beyond basic competency checks—they evaluate strategic thinking, business development potential, and cultural fit. Prepare for questions about deal specifics, client relationship management, and your long-term career vision.
Seattle offers strong work-life balance opportunities for attorneys, driven by tech industry culture and regional firms that prioritize sustainable practices. Corporate lawyers find good opportunities at regional powerhouses and tech-focused firms with competitive compensation adjusted for the market.
Lateral attorney moves typically take 3-6 months from initial outreach to start date, though the timeline varies significantly based on practice area demand, seniority level, and market conditions.
Lateral partner hiring typically takes 3-6 months from initial contact to offer, with variations based on practice area demand, book portability, and firm decision-making processes. High-demand practices in growing markets like Charlotte can move faster.