The team I recently joined as a one-year PQE is in talks with another law firm to move across en masse. As the new guy, what can I do to make sure they take me with them? I was thrilled to join that team because of the reputation of the individuals who are now mulling over the move and really don't want to be left behind with a much-weakened team.
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Talk to the team-leader who is negotiating the move and failing that find similar role in another competitive firm. Alternative argument would be that with the best ones gone, you now have the opportunity to shine and create your own reputation through hard work etc etc.
Think very very carefully on this one. I was in your shoes 10 years ago as my team were headhunted. In fact they recruited me knowing they were jumping ship, the top floor was known as the "departure lounge". As I was still doing my degree I was offered either jump ship and become a paralegal or stay put and be a secretary to X. Not much choice then: I jumped ship to SJB.
Bear in mind also it may not be "the team" that is being headhunted - it may be the client! You really do have to "know" your team and your clients if you intend to jump ship: as you are relatively junior be really really careful and check out your position if you stay loyal to the company you are currently with - it may be seen in good light later on.
Ask yourself why are your whole team jumping ship - because it appears to be a good career move; because you would go up the pecking order of law firms; just because everyone else is doing it; because your team leader is a "real" leader in the market and not someone who perceives him/herself to be a "champion" with "gravitas" - I have heard and seen it all - no clients!! etc. If you have developed your own client base that might be a good move, but if your on the coat tails of someone else be really careful.
My guess is that if you know that they are talking they probably intend to invite you along as well - or they would have kept you in the dark until it was all agreed. So I would think carefully about the options - what is the new firm like - and decide what you want to do
Give up law and become a social worker. This is obviously a sign from God and you will actually be helping people in your new profession - go for it!
Check whether anything in your employment contract (and that of the partners who may be taking you with them) may stop you going before you pin your colours to a particular mast. If your current firm reacts badly to the defection overall, it could try to make life difficult by refusing consent for more junior staff to leave (that would be you) and you could have tarnished your reputation with your current firm by expressing a wish to leave. This happened to me!
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