Do most Biglaw firms ask laterals for references? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I’m in a weird spot. I haven’t been at my current employer for long (maybe 9 months). I went from a biglaw HQ to a satellite and I regret it. I also left my previous firm on not the best terms.

I have 5 or so callbacks in August at v50 firms and I’m wondering if I’m going to have to search for references.

I know that for an SA position, they didn’t care. But do they care at the lateral stage?

My current firm didn’t ask for references but I’ve heard conflicting info with regards to the practice.

[lawhopeful100]

When I lateralled they asked for references after I accepted my offer. They did actually call the references too, but they essentially just checked that I worked at my old firm and that I wasn’t fired or something.

[Anonymous User]

When I lateralled they asked for references after I accepted my offer. They did actually call the references too, but they essentially just checked that I worked at my old firm and that I wasn’t fired or something.

Wouldn't something like this come up in a background check though? (if you were fired)

[Toni V]

I’m in a weird spot. I haven’t been at my current employer for long (maybe 9 months). I went from a biglaw HQ to a satellite and I regret it. I also left my previous firm on not the best terms.

I have 5 or so callbacks in August at v50 firms and I’m wondering if I’m going to have to search for references. YES

I know that for an SA position, they didn’t care. But do they care at the lateral stage? YES

Anecdotal from my V lateral.

[lawhopeful100]

When I lateralled they asked for references after I accepted my offer. They did actually call the references too, but they essentially just checked that I worked at my old firm and that I wasn’t fired or something.

Wouldn't something like this come up in a background check though? (if you were fired)

I guess. No idea honestly. I just know that during the period of having accepted my offer and putting in my two weeks notice, one partner I worked for mentioned she got a call from HR at the firm I was lateralling to and they asked whether I was leaving of my own choice. I don’t think there was anything substantive discussed beyond that, although I think my old firm had a general policy of not discussing the merits of former employees and only confirming factual stuff.

[gregfootball2001]

I’m in a weird spot. I haven’t been at my current employer for long (maybe 9 months). I went from a biglaw HQ to a satellite and I regret it. I also left my previous firm on not the best terms.

I have 5 or so callbacks in August at v50 firms and I’m wondering if I’m going to have to search for references. YES

I know that for an SA position, they didn’t care. But do they care at the lateral stage? YES

Anecdotal from my V lateral.

Ditto from my midlaw to biglaw lateral. Had to find three references they could call. Each call was about 90 seconds, had I been fired, etc.

[barwhat]

I recently had callbacks at four mid-law/big-law (think Amlaw 75-125) firms in a secondary market. I received and accepted an offer from one of them and was not asked for references. Only one of the other firms asked for references at the interview stage. Position was mid-level associate.