Big Law Life #62: Key Signs It’s Time for An Associate to Leave Their Law Firm
In today’s episode, I tackle one of the biggest questions associates in large law firms often wrestle with -- when is it time to leave your firm? Some of the key signals that indicate it might be time to start looking elsewhere include when you're struggling to meet your billable hours with no sign of that changing, losing a key partner champion that could help make or break your future at the firm, struggling on the path to partnership or promotion, or seeing troubling shifts in firm culture or compensation.
I also discuss how to time a departure strategically, including how to navigate bonuses and negotiations when making a move. If you’re debating whether to stay or go, this episode offers a clear framework to help you make an informed decision.
At a Glance:
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00:00 Introduction to Big Law Life and today’s topic
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01:20 The most common reasons associates consider leaving
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02:00 Struggling to meet billable hours: when it’s a personal issue vs. a firm-wide problem
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04:14 Why prolonged slow periods (9-12 months) can put your career at risk
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04:37 Losing a key partner advocate and how it affects your career trajectory
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06:04 When your path to partnership stalls and no one can give you a clear answer why
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07:44 Undercompensation as a red flag for firm instability
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09:05 Cultural shifts that signal it may be time to leave
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11:15 How and when to time your exit strategically
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12:17 Final thoughts on evaluating your options before making a move
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Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? - here are ways to reach out to her:
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Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast