Turning firm down after acceptance Forum

[Anonymous User]

Accepted a firm a week ago but received another offer from a firm I would much rather work for. Has anyone turned down a firm they previously accepted... what are the repercussions?

[SmokeytheBear]

Minimal to none (aside from the fact that you don't be able to lateral there later). Happens somewhat often. Your law school will tell you that you're going to burn in hell and your family will be cursed, but that's just because they think that it looks bad for the law school. Just send a polite email to the recruitment coordinator at the firm saying that you received an offer from a different firm . . . hard to pass up . . . something about location or practice area . . . sincerely apologize and appreciate all they did . . . bla bla bla. Also send an email to anyone who you had a good connection with there apologizing and thanking.

Congrats.

[rpupkin]

Accepted a firm a week ago but received another offer from a firm I would much rather work for. Has anyone turned down a firm they previously accepted... what are the repercussions?

It's a NALP violation. And if the firm complains to your school (which occasionally happens in this situation), your CSO will hate you because your conduct makes it less likely that the firm will hire students from your school in the future. But everything SmokeytheBear said is accurate.

[Anonymous User]

I did this in a somewhat related context. I accepted an offer from my summer firm, but I rescinded the offer during my clerkship to join a different firm in a different city. They understood, but my CSO did not. It may hurt your reputation with the school, but if you don't care, no sweat.

[rpupkin]

I did this in a somewhat related context. I accepted an offer from my summer firm, but I rescinded the offer during my clerkship to join a different firm in a different city. They understood, but my CSO did not. It may hurt your reputation with the school, but if you don't care, no sweat.

This makes no sense. It's not typical for a clerk to have a formal commitment to return to a firm during a clerkship. In fact, many courts and judges won't allow this. Any CSO should understand that it's the norm for a clerk to go to a different firm after clerking.

I can understand a CSO being upset with a student for breaking a commitment made during OCI, but I can't imagine a CSO taking issue with a grad going to a different firm after a clerkship. How did your CSO even know about the situation?

[Anonymous User]

Do you think it matters at all that I got both offers outside of OCI?

[SmokeytheBear]

Do you think it matters at all that I got both offers outside of OCI?

No.

[Spot]

It's not a cool thing to do, but if you're going to do it, do it immediately.

Each acceptance we have equals several offers we don't give out. You're presenting at least one of your peers, and probably more, from getting a job offer.