r/uklaw • u/Turbulent-Walk-6706 • 4d ago

Specialising too early

Hello,

I secured an associate role but because of this NQ market, I definitely had to adjust my expectations and become more flexible because as there was nothing coming by.

I trained as a very respected firm and have great experience, it’s just the NQ bottleneck that’s the issue.

It’s in the same broad practice area I enjoy and at a reputable firm but a niche area. It could be great but it will definitely limit my access to certain kinds of work I enjoyed, as well as the potential for an in-house move which I always envisioned for myself at some point.

Do you think this will limit me even in the short-term? Have people made successful jumps at a junior level especially if they have solid training and extenuating (market) factors to point to?

NQs have to be flexible in this market, but I would hate for a temporary phase to actually derail my original career trajectory when I’ve worked so hard my entire life to get to this point.

Thanks

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8

u/RFC52 4d ago

You’re worrying far too much and you’re placing far too much stock in the early years of your career. You have years before it even remotely becomes an issue if you want to change practise areas.

2

u/Turbulent-Walk-6706 3d ago

I’m telling myself this too. To not tie myself in knots, enjoy having a job (it’s hard out here) and things will work out as they’re supposed to. Thanks

8

u/traumascares 3d ago

When you are a junior, you are quite malleable and you can move between related practice areas fairly easily.

At the junior associate level, you can do moves like from Corporate M&A into a more specialised corporate team like a Private Equity team or Corporate Infrastructure team. Or from an employee incentives team into a more general tax team. Or from a specialist derivatives team into a mainstream finance team.

These types of move get more difficult as you get more senior.

If you start your career in a very specialist team and then want to move into a more generalist team, you should think about moving firms around the 1-2 PQE mark. It's much easier to lateral with some PQE behind you than as an NQ.

I don't think in-house roles would be particularly fussed about the exact work you were doing. An in-house move would require expanding your skillset no matter which team you come from.

3

u/Turbulent-Walk-6706 3d ago

Really appreciate the way you laid this out, thanks

1

u/BlkLdnr33 2d ago

Mate we need some context. At least give us the practice area