Hi everyone,
May be controversial but I’m just looking for some thoughts.
I was very fortunately offered a TC in a good firm that I really like (firm 1) this Summer. I accepted but haven’t done anything with them yet as it commences 2027. Recently I have started a full time Paralegal role whilst I wait. Whilst I know I am in a very fortunate position and have worked very hard for my TC, there is one firm that I consider to be “the one that got away”. (Firm 2) The practice areas between the firms are mostly similar but Firm 2 offers some very specific stuff that firm 1 does not, and I keep overthinking about stumping my career growth into something quite a bit different with Firm 1. therefore I am wondering if I should apply again to firm 2 this year. It would be the same year entry and same city so I wouldn’t lose anything, but I am just not sure. Plus I am working full time now. Any advice welcome please.
Purely on the practical side, from what I know there should not be any consequences to reneging on your TC if you do so before you begin your SQE year. The only real downside to reneging is the risk that it will have burnt some bridges with people from firm 1 - i.e. I think it may be difficult to go back to work there early in your career should you wish to do so. As for the upside, I think you should analyse the potential benefit holistically, looking at the reputation of the firm, the quality of the matters and of practitioners you will get exposure to, the availability of the seats you are interested in, its training, culture, etc.
An important factor to keep in mind when you assess these benefits is to consider how this will impact your day to day life at the firm and your learning and development, rather than just comparing firms vis a vis which would be the better one to stay at for the entirety of your career. This is because post-qualification, in a good market it is not difficult to make a lateral move, should you still wish to go to firm 2.
All this is to say, there is no right or wrong decision here - you should just weigh these factors and choose what seems best. You may also want to consider that you do not need to make up your mind about this right now. In theory, you could apply and go on a VS with firm 2, get a "feel" of the firm and see what day-to-day life is like there, and decide whether on the whole it is better change your TC after that.
