Jumping Ship

Junior Legal Careers: Should you jump ship if you’re not happy? 🚢

Junior lawyers have always moved jobs more frequently than more experienced lawyers, but statistics show it’s more prevalent than ever. So, is it a smart move or a potential mistake for you to move jobs right now? Here are some pros and cons:

Pros:

1. Skill Diversity: Moving to different firms and diversifying your skills early in your career can broaden your expertise and help you find your niche.
2. Networking: New roles mean building new connections and creating a dynamic network within the legal community.
3. Salary Boost: You can negotiate a better package with each move early in your career.
4. Accelerated Learning: Varying your work environments can speed up your professional growth.

Cons:

1. Credibility Red Flag: If your CV has lots of short stints, they may question your commitment and fear you’ll flee at the first sign of pressure.
2. Limited Expertise: You may not be giving yourself the time and sustained focus you need to become an expert in one legal field.
3. Solid Relationships: Building long-lasting bonds with colleagues takes time. Frequent moves can make this tricky.
4. Starting from scratch: A new firm means proving yourself and learning how the firm works all over again. Is it worth it?

Before jumping ship, weigh up your long-term goals and think strategically. What are you looking for from your move? A better salary? Less stress? More opportunities for growth? A better work culture?  

You should allow yourself a good amount of time to settle into any new job before deciding to leave and make each move work for your career goals.

But if it’s time to go, there are some amazing opportunities out there and we can help you find them!

Call us and let’s get you on the right career path.