Before leaving your law firm, you must first review and address legal agreements you entered. You must also notify the firm and your clients of your impending move. Burning bridges may ruin your career prospects. This is because an unethical exit tarnishes your reputation.
As a lawyer, you have fiduciary duties to clients and other associates in your law firm. Safeguarding client files and confidentiality during the move is critical. It builds your integrity, professionalism, and client loyalty. It’s also crucial to consult a legal recruiter before leaving. An experienced recruiter will provide you with valuable guidance and support for a hassle-free move.
At Astor Professional Search, we have a team of skilled legal recruiters consisting of former attorneys. We understand the profiles and work patterns of leading firms. We also know how crucial a lateral move can be to your career advancement. Our recruiters will try to understand you and your career goals to advise you on the best way to leave your law firm. Call us at (312) 781-9000 for more information on how we can help you.
The legal industry is still experiencing the ripple effects of the pandemic-era Great Resignation. Changes in work and power dynamics influenced many legal associates to rethink their careers. Legal professionals moving to a new law firm must strive to do it the right way.
As an attorney, you have fiduciary obligations to your fellow associates and clients. You must ensure that your contractual obligations to the firm and duties to clients are well organized before resigning from your law firm.
Here are some actionable tips for leaving your law firm without burning bridges:
Review agreements you might’ve entered while serving in your firm. That may include partnership, shareholder, and employment contracts. Carefully inspect agreements with clauses that may be affected by a departure. Some clauses of interest include notice timelines, shareholder buy-out requirements, non-vested retirement benefits, and financial implications. Handling these issues before departing averts many legal problems in the future.
Retaining top legal talent is a struggle for many firms, but leaving without informing the relevant parties is unprofessional and unethical. Based on the Rules of Professional Conduct, you should inform your firm of an impending departure. Additionally, you and your firm must notify the clients of an impending change in their legal representation. The notice must be timely and sufficient to enable a smooth transition regarding client issues, such as:
Legal practice rules require legal practitioners to maintain client confidentiality. In other words, you have a legal obligation to conceal all client information related to an active representation. You must remain loyal to clients and address conflicts of interest, even during your transition to a new firm.
ABA guidelines permit lawyers to disclose limited information about a client only if it resolves conflicts of interest arising from the move. The client information provided must not violate the attorney-client privilege. That information should include only the client identity, a summary of the legal matter, and whether the case is active or closed.
You must adhere to client confidentiality rules even in your new position. You must not share your clients’ information with your new colleagues unless you obtain written consent from the client.
In your position as a legal associate, you may experience signs that it’s time to start searching for a new law firm position. These signs include limited growth opportunities or a negative change in company culture. Whatever your reason for wanting a lateral move, it’s crucial to consult professional legal recruiters. Consulting a legal recruiter before leaving your law firm can help you in the following ways:
A legal recruiter understands the importance of moving without burning bridges. Most recruiters are former attorneys who have been in your shoes. They have experience in making a clean transition from one legal position to another.
A recruiter’s guidance can be of value, especially when handling the ethical and legal aspects of the move. The recruiter can guide you through the move and steps to take, including when to communicate the impending departure to clients. Furthermore, you’ll get guidance on how to solicit clients and what you can carry with you from your firm.
The legal market is constantly changing. Navigating this market in search of employment and growth opportunities can be tough. Legal recruiters can help you secure your dream position because they are market insiders with an extensive network. They are up-to-date with emerging trends, the top firms that are recruiting, and the in-demand skills. A seasoned recruiter can offer you valuable information that can aid your transition to a new legal role.
Legal recruiters also have access to opportunities that aren’t often available to the public. Most leading law firms prefer recruiting discreetly. Vacant positions in these firms aren’t always advertised publicly. Established recruiters have access to these positions and can match you with the right firm. That gives you a competitive edge at a time when law firms are struggling to find qualified associates.
Astor Professional Search is your go-to legal placement agency if you are considering leaving your law firm. We know that building a flourishing legal career requires alignment of personal and career profiles. Our focus is to know you and your career prospects to provide personalized legal placement services. We’ll leverage our experience and industry knowledge to help you make a clean move. Contact us to request an initial consultation with one of our reputable legal placement professionals.
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