First Year Associate Leaves Big Law and Gets Former Firm as Client

Yes, the truth is stranger than fiction but this is a great story and I got it right from the first year associate's mouth.

A former student of mine (and we will keep names, etc. out of this) called me yesterday to tell me a terrific true story of their past year. This student went solo right after passing the bar (May 2006) but while waiting for the bar results indulged another passion, advanced website design and optimization. While in law school they became proficient at blogging, too.  This student then paired with another lawyer and upon getting the bar results hung a shingle.  Just as they started bringing in clients through their site, the partner was offered a job with Big Law.  This young attorney declined the job because they were relocating out of the country but suggested the law firm talk to the partner, my student.  The offer was too good to pass up.  But interestingly enough the Big Law Firm additionally wanted this person's expertise in web design to bring them into the 21st century. This lawyer left their own site up and it continued to generate clients to the Big Law firm. This attorney also happened to be a terrific lawyer who was able to work the internet to get information for the firm that others were not capable of doing. Big Law admitted they would not have hired this person right out of law school just on paper.  They did, however, appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit and extra skill set of this lawyer when they saw how effective this lawyer's web presence was in generating business and were thrilled to get them once my student interviewed. 

Well, this lawyer did a terrific job, not just as a lawyer making an outstanding impression on clients, but on building the firm's internet presence.  Word gets out in the Big Law circles.  My student realizes their passion lies more with the internet then with lawyering.  Plus, they love the idea of being their own boss and not being married to the billable hour.

Five months after being brought on board, this student voluntarily leaves a six figure salary....but not before Big Law signs a Big contract with my student to build and maintain their web presences including multiple blogs with content.  And before he ever left the firm, other firms were contacting him to do the same...all out in the open, all positive with good will all around.  In those five months working at Big Law my student made many friends in the partnership stratosphere and was very well-liked.  This young attorney capitalized on the 'know you, like you, trust you" currency earned in their short stint at Big Law to get their coveted big business.

So, employer becomes client in five months. Isn't that a twist? We talked about the irony of not practicing law anymore.  They said, "the law degree gives me opportunities.  I choose what opportunities I take."

Links of Interest:  "You Ask...I Answer" - "If I Unshingle Am I More or Less Employable?" (This was the original e-mail from the student discussed above.)