Should I take this plaintiffs' firm offer? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 3L at a HYS. I'm interested in plaintiffs' law. I worked at a plaintiffs' firm last summer and received an offer. Unfortunately, my offer was revoked recently due to the firm's financial issues.

I'm now frantically job searching. There doesn't seem to be many entry-level positions at plaintiffs' firms in the city I hope to work in (secondary legal market). Thankfully, I have received an offer from a plaintiffs' firm. However, almost all of the attorneys are younger and solely work on cases in one practice area. While I'd enjoy that practice area, I'm not sure whether this firm is the right place to launch my career. I wonder if the job will pigeonhole me in any way. Should I accept this offer, or should I keep looking?

[Anonymous User]

What city are you in and how certain are you that this city is where you must work?

[Anonymous User]

What city are you in and how certain are you that this city is where you must work?

This
Also, @Lacepiece23 is the best person on these forums for advice re plaintiff's work. Has his own shop and is successful with a bunch of clients. he did biglaw before going into Plaintiff's work.

[Anonymous User]

What city are you in and how certain are you that this city is where you must work?

Los Angeles, but I'm open to the SF Bay Area too.

[top_of_the_bellcurve]

OP - I'm sorry to hear about the original offer.

As a current 3L, I don't think it's my place to provide an answer to your original question. But, in case you haven't already done so - have you reached out to Harvard's Plaintiff Law Association chapter? They might have their fingers on the pulse as to which larger firms (i.e., ones that generally might be better able to "launch" your career) are still hiring.

I recently accepted a position with a larger, nationwide class-action firm. There was definitely luck involved, as I had an informational interview with an associate right as they heard that someone from last summer was leaving to clerk, and so a spot opened up. But if I can get lucky, so can you!

[Lacepiece23]

What city are you in and how certain are you that this city is where you must work?

This
Also, @Lacepiece23 is the best person on these forums for advice re plaintiff's work. Has his own shop and is successful with a bunch of clients. he did biglaw before going into Plaintiff's work.

Just so happened to read this. Plaintiffs work is really about hustling and taking a chance on yourself.

I think a plaintiffs firm doing one practice area is a great place to start, especially if you’re talking about something like PI, class work, or employment. It’s more of a red flag if the firm has too many practice areas, unless it’s super high end and basically biglaw of the plaintiffs world.

Having a great career on the plaintiffs side does require finding the right people to learn from, moving around when it’s time, and perhaps opening up your own shop.

It’s not biglaw where you can just bill your 2k hours and go home. More to think about. Happy to talk.

[CanadianWolf]

I'm a 3L at a HYS. I'm interested in plaintiffs' law. I worked at a plaintiffs' firm last summer and received an offer. Unfortunately, my offer was revoked recently due to the firm's financial issues.

I'm now frantically job searching. There doesn't seem to be many entry-level positions at plaintiffs' firms in the city I hope to work in (secondary legal market). Thankfully, I have received an offer from a plaintiffs' firm. However, almost all of the attorneys are younger, graduated from regional law schools, and solely work on cases in one practice area. While I'd enjoy that practice area, I'm not sure whether this firm is the right place to launch my career. I wonder if the job will pigeonhole me in any way. Should I accept this offer, or should I keep looking?

Is biglaw an option for you ?

If yes, then work for several years and build up savings, then move into this area of less certain income.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate at a P-side class action firm and I think you are being a little too vague for meaningful advice, though I understand you don't want to out yourself.

I can think of a handful of firms that are respectable and pay well as far as these go but are full of lawyers from inferior law schools and that are laser-focused on particular niches within the class action space (which is itself a niche) - e.g. Milberg in Raleigh. You may be thinking of one of them. I wouldn't recommend starting a career there coming from HYS unless that was the niche you wanted in the city you wanted, for sure.

[Anonymous User]

What city are you in and how certain are you that this city is where you must work?

[Anonymous User]

What city are you in and how certain are you that this city is where you must work?

This
Also, @Lacepiece23 is the best person on these forums for advice re plaintiff's work. Has his own shop and is successful with a bunch of clients. he did biglaw before going into Plaintiff's work.

Thanks so much for your recommendation!

[Anonymous User]

What city are you in and how certain are you that this city is where you must work?

This
Also, @Lacepiece23 is the best person on these forums for advice re plaintiff's work. Has his own shop and is successful with a bunch of clients. he did biglaw before going into Plaintiff's work.

Just so happened to read this. Plaintiffs work is really about hustling and taking a chance on yourself.

I think a plaintiffs firm doing one practice area is a great place to start, especially if you’re talking about something like PI, class work, or employment. It’s more of a red flag if the firm has too many practice areas, unless it’s super high end and basically biglaw of the plaintiffs world.

Having a great career on the plaintiffs side does require finding the right people to learn from, moving around when it’s time, and perhaps opening up your own shop.

It’s not biglaw where you can just bill your 2k hours and go home. More to think about. Happy to talk.

Thank you so much for your advice! The firm's practice area is among the ones you mentioned. I'll keep your comment in mind as I weigh my decision.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 3L at a HYS. I'm interested in plaintiffs' law. I worked at a plaintiffs' firm last summer and received an offer. Unfortunately, my offer was revoked recently due to the firm's financial issues.

I'm now frantically job searching. There doesn't seem to be many entry-level positions at plaintiffs' firms in the city I hope to work in (secondary legal market). Thankfully, I have received an offer from a plaintiffs' firm. However, almost all of the attorneys are younger, graduated from regional law schools, and solely work on cases in one practice area. While I'd enjoy that practice area, I'm not sure whether this firm is the right place to launch my career. I wonder if the job will pigeonhole me in any way. Should I accept this offer, or should I keep looking?

Is biglaw an option for you ?

If yes, then work for several years and build up savings, then move into this area of less certain income.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate at a P-side class action firm and I think you are being a little too vague for meaningful advice, though I understand you don't want to out yourself.

I can think of a handful of firms that are respectable and pay well as far as these go but are full of lawyers from inferior law schools and that are laser-focused on particular niches within the class action space (which is itself a niche) - e.g. Milberg in Raleigh. You may be thinking of one of them. I wouldn't recommend starting a career there coming from HYS unless that was the niche you wanted in the city you wanted, for sure.

Thank you for this helpful advice! While I'm certain about the state I'd like to practice in, I'm not set on this niche or this city. Maybe I'll keep looking, though I'm not sure what opportunities are still out there since my offer was revoked so late.

[Anonymous User]

OP - I'm sorry to hear about the original offer.

As a current 3L, I don't think it's my place to provide an answer to your original question. But, in case you haven't already done so - have you reached out to Harvard's Plaintiff Law Association chapter? They might have their fingers on the pulse as to which larger firms (i.e., ones that generally might be better able to "launch" your career) are still hiring.

I recently accepted a position with a larger, nationwide class-action firm. There was definitely luck involved, as I had an informational interview with an associate right as they heard that someone from last summer was leaving to clerk, and so a spot opened up. But if I can get lucky, so can you!

Thank you for your encouragement and advice, and congrats on your offer! Hopefully a good opportunity comes up or this current offer ends up being a good fit!

[Lacepiece23]

What city are you in and how certain are you that this city is where you must work?

This
Also, @Lacepiece23 is the best person on these forums for advice re plaintiff's work. Has his own shop and is successful with a bunch of clients. he did biglaw before going into Plaintiff's work.

Just so happened to read this. Plaintiffs work is really about hustling and taking a chance on yourself.

I think a plaintiffs firm doing one practice area is a great place to start, especially if you’re talking about something like PI, class work, or employment. It’s more of a red flag if the firm has too many practice areas, unless it’s super high end and basically biglaw of the plaintiffs world.

Having a great career on the plaintiffs side does require finding the right people to learn from, moving around when it’s time, and perhaps opening up your own shop.

It’s not biglaw where you can just bill your 2k hours and go home. More to think about. Happy to talk.

Thank you so much for your advice! The firm's practice area is among the ones you mentioned. I'll keep your comment in mind as I weigh my decision.

Plaintiffs work is also about efficiency. Having too many practice areas is a recipe for disaster. We aren’t biglaw where we can bill hours to learn new areas of law.