Anyone have info on being an attorney on the staff of an NLRB member?

[Anonymous]

I was approached by someone I know about putting my hat in the ring to serve as chief counsel to one of the two new members of the NLRB members Trump nominated. This is probably an extreme shot in the dark, but does anyone have any info about this job and what the exit opportunities are?

I'm a senior associate in biglaw very close to partner and probably will be put up next year. Returning to my current firm in 5 years almost definitely wouldn't be an option.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused. There is only one new, confirmed Board Member. And neither term runs for five years.

[Anonymous]

Other is getting a vote in September from what I've heard. You are right about the terms - I never pay attention to how long Board members serve and thought they all got five years. Odd.

[Anonymous]

I think the terms they are filling out are both less than five years. In any event, from what I've heard, this is a very demanding job. Tons of writing and management responsibilities. Typically, people who have filled this role have been exceptionally intelligent and, obviously well versed in traditional labor law.

[Anonymous]

Being an attorney on the staff of a member is totally different than being Chief Counsel to a member. The former is a unionized position (the NLRB has internal unions); the latter is an SES-level management position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being an attorney on the staff of a member is totally different than being Chief Counsel to a member. The former is a unionized position (the NLRB has internal unions); the latter is an SES-level management position.

That's what I figured. The staff attorneys are "real" employees of the agency and the CC likely goes when the member goes. Any idea of the chances of getting a job with the agency after serving as CC to a member?

[Anonymous]

CC is a schedule C job, I believe. However, one could be a career employee and be appointed CC and still retain her job when the Bd. Member leaves. Not so for an appointed, non career CC. Unless there's burrowing in (not allowed). Bd Members have near total discretion to choose a CC. It's not really a hat in the ring thing unless a Bd Member can't decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CC is a schedule C job, I believe. However, one could be a career employee and be appointed CC and still retain her job when the Bd. Member leaves. Not so for an appointed, non career CC. Unless there's burrowing in (not allowed). Bd Members have near total discretion to choose a CC. It's not really a hat in the ring thing unless a Bd Member can't decide.

The person who contacted me knows one of the two members very well and I think was asked by him to refer candidates

[Anonymous]

In terms of exit opportunities, it would add tremendous value to a resume to have this experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In terms of exit opportunities, it would add tremendous value to a resume to have this experience.

No doubt about that, as it's a very high-profile position. I may not be in an Ideal position to take it, though. I'm going to be put up this year or next year for partner and I'm not sure I'd be able to exit the CC position into partnership at another firm. This may be a completely academic discussion, as I don't know whether I'll even get a call.

[Anonymous]

Best thing would be to do it for a year, bail, and go back to the firm. That said, it takes at least a year to get comfortable in the job. Any stereotypes about gov work don't apply to this agency. Attorneys work very hard and very well. If you are unfamiliar with the subject area, you will need to get up to speed very, very quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best thing would be to do it for a year, bail, and go back to the firm. That said, it takes at least a year to get comfortable in the job. Any stereotypes about gov work don't apply to this agency. Attorneys work very hard and very well. If you are unfamiliar with the subject area, you will need to get up to speed very, very quickly.

OP here. I've been a labor attorney for 10 years. The person who reached out to me is very well known in the labor law world and is probably only contacting people he is confident has pretty deep knowledge of/experience in labor law. I think lack of familiarity with the subject matter would pretty much be a nonstarter for this job.

You are right, to a degree, about attorneys at the NLRB. They typically work hard and know their stuff, but I've come across my share of layabouts in some of the regional offices (people who have the stereotypical "govt employee" mindset).

I sincerely doubt going back to my firm after a year would be a possibility. Partner I get most of my work from (and is going to be the force behind me getting elevated to partner myself) wouldn't be open to that. In fact, he'd tell me how stupid I was for torpedoing my career in private practice when I'm so close to making partner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Best thing would be to do it for a year, bail, and go back to the firm. That said, it takes at least a year to get comfortable in the job. Any stereotypes about gov work don't apply to this agency. Attorneys work very hard and very well. If you are unfamiliar with the subject area, you will need to get up to speed very, very quickly.

OP here. I've been a labor attorney for 10 years. The person who reached out to me is very well known in the labor law world and is probably only contacting people he is confident has pretty deep knowledge of/experience in labor law. I think lack of familiarity with the subject matter would pretty much be a nonstarter for this job.

You are right, to a degree, about attorneys at the NLRB. They typically work hard and know their stuff, but I've come across my share of layabouts in some of the regional offices (people who have the stereotypical "govt employee" mindset).

I sincerely doubt going back to my firm after a year would be a possibility. Partner I get most of my work from (and is going to be the force behind me getting elevated to partner myself) wouldn't be open to that. In fact, he'd tell me how stupid I was for torpedoing my career in private practice when I'm so close to making partner.

The Labor Board is divided into two parts. The General Counsel and the Board. Both parts form the "National Labor Relations Board" but function very separately. Your experiences with the regional offices which are part of the General Counsel have very little to do with Board work, which is what you would be doing.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I know. I was responding to the pp's post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Best thing would be to do it for a year, bail, and go back to the firm. That said, it takes at least a year to get comfortable in the job. Any stereotypes about gov work don't apply to this agency. Attorneys work very hard and very well. If you are unfamiliar with the subject area, you will need to get up to speed very, very quickly.

OP here. I've been a labor attorney for 10 years. The person who reached out to me is very well known in the labor law world and is probably only contacting people he is confident has pretty deep knowledge of/experience in labor law. I think lack of familiarity with the subject matter would pretty much be a nonstarter for this job.

You are right, to a degree, about attorneys at the NLRB. They typically work hard and know their stuff, but I've come across my share of layabouts in some of the regional offices (people who have the stereotypical "govt employee" mindset).

I sincerely doubt going back to my firm after a year would be a possibility. Partner I get most of my work from (and is going to be the force behind me getting elevated to partner myself) wouldn't be open to that. In fact, he'd tell me how stupid I was for torpedoing my career in private practice when I'm so close to making partner.

I'm not as familiar with the NLRB, but I practice in an area that deals with another independent agency. In our field, going to work as COS for a Commission or Board member would be viewed as a good career move, and would be welcomed back at the firm after the stint was done. In fact, almost all of the prominent people in the field have worked at the agency at one time or another. Labor may be different....