If you go into law at a biglaw firm are you stuck in DC/NY or some other big city?

[Anonymous]

We're originally from a mid-sized Southern city and I desperately want to move back home. However DH continues to tell me that there is no lateral movement from a big firm in DC to a firm in the south e.g. (Adams & Reese) and that he'd have to "start all over again" on the partner track? Is this true? If so are we stuck here forever?

[Anonymous]

Several of my friends work at Adams and Reese- they have a great partnership track. There are all kinds of big firms in the South. What state are you looking- Florida?

[Anonymous]

That sounds off to me. I have known people who lateraled over to a mid-size or small firm, regardless of where it is. Depends on how senior he is whether it makes sense or not. Sounds like DH does not want to move!

[Anonymous]

You have to prove your self whenever you move firms. I'm sure he wouldn't be brought in as a first year, but he would probably take a year or two hit, but same thing if he lateraled to another big firm in DC.

[Anonymous]

DH felt this way when we moved to the South. Even the smaller branches of the larger law firms felt like a step down, career-wise, for him. He left BigLaw to become an AUSA. He thought that leaving his white shoe firm to work for the federal gov't was a lateral move career-wise, or even a step up prestige-wise, even with the major pay cut.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who made it from DC to Atlanta (same biglaw firm) back to his hometown in Florida (with a different smaller firm). He made partner at the firm in Florida around the same timeframe he would have with the other firm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're originally from a mid-sized Southern city and I desperately want to move back home. However DH continues to tell me that there is no lateral movement from a big firm in DC to a firm in the south e.g. (Adams & Reese) and that he'd have to "start all over again" on the partner track? Is this true? If so are we stuck here forever?

There's Sanders and Troutman (?) in Atlanta and they have offices everywhere. But, I wouldn't want to live in Atlanta, too much crime, traffic, and too dakmn many yankees.

[Anonymous]

How about New Orleans?

[Anonymous]

There are few places from which you have more ability to move than biglaw. Many of my friends have gone back "home" to smaller cities after doing their stint.