How To Make a Lateral Move

After practicing law for several years, you’ve decided to look at other options. Attorneys making a lateral move do so for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they are not happy with their current firm or position. They may want to broaden their experience, make more money, have more work-life balance, or simply try a new opportunity. FindLaw’s How to Make a Lateral Move section addresses these considerations, with resources on moving out of your boutique firm, breaking out of litigation, switching from a small to a national firm, not making partner, and moving to a new firm. Let FindLaw help you take the first step in your lateral move.

Legal Career Options

How To Make a Lateral Move Articles

Through the Looking Glass: Your Options in the Law

In this column, we take a look at the many career possibilities and offer you a Career Options Exercise to expand your horizons.

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Should I Leave The EPA To Work At A Firm?

I am a 33-year-old night law student at a good school and a full-time manager with a strong history of advancement at the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Should I get out of my boutique?

I need to know when to stay or go. I have been working in a boutique litigation firm in New York City for the past year and a half. The firm is small (six attorneys) and generally focused on securities class actions and commercial litigation.
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Living for the City: Michael J. Mais On Working as a Municipal Attorney

As head of the city attorney's departmental counsel division, Mr. Mais provides legal advice to city boards and commissions. In addition, one of his favorite parts of the job is working with the community.
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How Do I Become a Law School Professor?

I am interested in possibly becoming a law school professor. What resources do you recommend to help land a law professor job?

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Is Part-Time On Your Side?: A Look at Flexible Work Arrangements

Increasingly, firm policy on alternative work arrangements has become a hot-button issue. Even attorneys who do not necessarily have children, or even expect to have any, find it an important indicator of a firm's culture.

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Should I get an LLM?

I am writing for guidance as to whether I should go to tax school (L.L.M.). I am looking to create the most opportunity for myself. I am currently finishing a federal clerkship.
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How to Tell if Your Intended Career Path is Worth It

How do you figure out if the career you are planning will be worth all of the work needed to get there?

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How to make the switch from small firm to powerhouse firm.

I am about to make the switch from a medium sized firm (one copy machine, no support staff, cheap, cheap, cheap) to one of the country's powerhouse firms.
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The Path Through Private Practice

Our experience has convinced us that lawyers derive much satisfaction from becoming lawyers and using their legal training.
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