Blog · Career Planning
Lawyer Career Planning: 3rd–5th Year (Midlevel Associate)
L.J. Jones, CPA & CFP® · February 21, 2022
The midlevel years at a law firm are the most marketable years for Associates. These years can be spent positioning yourself to make partner, laterally moving to a new firm, or going in-house. Consider the professional, personal, and financial pros and cons of each path.
Personal and Professional Assessment
By your midlevel years, your skills as a lawyer are established and your reputation is building. This is the moment to step back and ask: how do I want the rest of my career to look? Midlevel associates are at their most marketable point — experienced enough to be valuable, but not so specialized that a lateral move or new practice area is out of reach.
Make Partner at Your Current Firm
Wanting to make partner doesn't guarantee it — partnerships depend on firm needs, the talent pool, and your ability to build your own reputation and relationships. Focus on producing excellent work and building genuine relationships with colleagues, clients, and opposing counsel, since any of them could become a future source of business or a reference.
Make a Lateral Move
Good reasons to move include a better market, a better-aligned practice group, improved work-life balance, or a firm with a stronger reputation in your area. A poor reason is simply wanting something new. Working with multiple recruiters — who are paid by hiring firms, not by you — can widen your search without cost, but should supplement rather than replace your own network.
Go In-House
In-house roles offer a single client relationship, often clearer deadlines, and sometimes better work-life balance, though compensation structures (salary, bonus tied to company performance, equity) differ meaningfully from law firm pay. It's far more common to move from a firm to in-house than the reverse, so this decision deserves real diligence about the company and the role.
Final Takeaways
The midlevel years bring the most career optionality you'll have. Be honest about what you want, lean on your network and recruiters to explore the options, and make sure you have an adequate emergency fund before any job transition, since a career change can come with a temporary gap in income.
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