Is it Possible to Change Practice Areas?

It is often possible to change your focus within a specific field of law. An acquisition finance associate transitioning to a structured finance role for example, or an M&A associate joining a PE team. It can be a great way of gaining different experiences and becoming a more well-rounded lawyer.

Occasionally, however, I come across associates who are looking to change practice areas completely whilst remaining in an international or top French firm and want to know how viable this will be for them. Interestingly, it is normally associates wanting to transition into a litigation role.

Yes, it is possible, I have had three associates gain interviews at teams within a different practice area altogether. But it is not easy. After all, why should a partner pick you over someone already doing the right type of work.

Here's what will improve your chances.

Having a strong background

The prospective hiring partners will not be able to rely on testing your knowledge of the practice area and so will place a greater emphasis on how you performed at university and where you undertook your internships. Receiving a mention in your M1 and M2 from Assas or Sorbonne, for example, will highlight your intelligence and abilities. Having an LLM also plays very well.

Likewise, if you are hoping to remain in an international platform, then they will want to see solid experience within equivalent firms during your internships. That way they will know you are capable of handling the pace and style of work.

Put simply, hiring you must be as low-risk to them as possible.

Making the move early

If you are sure that you would like to make such a move, then the sooner the better. Partners are far more likely to consider a practice jumper when they are junior because training them won't be much of an issue. A 1st, 2nd or even a 3rd year are still receiving training.

Once you are no longer a junior, you will find it a lot harder to make such a move. Partners will be expecting anyone coming in at the midlevel to take on some responsibility and autonomy. That will not be possible if you are having to be taught how to do it.

Being clever about how you sell yourself

It is rare and very misguided for someone to want to change practice areas on a whim without any connection whatsover. Normally, they will have experienced a small amount of it at some point, be it during an internship or on the side of a deal they were working on, which is what has piqued their interest. It is imperative that you highlight these experiences in your CV so that they can see you are making an informed and considered decision.

If your current practice has certain overlapping work with your desired practice, then illustrate that point. For example, if you are a corporate lawyer looking to transition into restructuring and you have done a small amount of work on distressed M&A matters, then that is relevant and improves your profile.

Using a good headhunter

Good headhunters will have the ear of the partners and HR and will speak to them over the phone to discuss the team's needs, appropriate search strategies, and feedback on candidate interviews. They also discuss submitted profiles that partners are on the fence about. This will often include non-conventional profiles like a practice jumper. The headhunter has the ability to argue your case, highlight your applications strengths and minimise its weaknesses

Making such a transition is not an easy one, so make sure that you do it as a junior, that you sell yourself well, have a CV to back it up, and a headhunter fighting your corner.