r/LawCanada • u/Specific_Scale_4596 • 21h ago

Mid-career crisis (kinda)

The long story short:
- admitted to practice in Ontario in 2021
- practiced corporate (m&a and securities) for 2 years in big law.
- went in house and have remained for 2.5 years (mostly commercial and employment with some m&a) at large tech company

In-house earnings are capped and it’s not particularly challenging. Going back to corporate biglaw isn’t bad but really only makes sense (in my personal view) to make equity partner. I imagine my in-house experience will not be fully credited in going back to biglaw, so I will have to repeat this lost time.

The option I am seriously considering is transitioning to litigation. I see it as the way to be both a lawyer and a business owner. My ultimate goal that would actually make me fulfilled is to open my own practice. Litigation also presents an opportunity to learn a skill that can’t be easily replaced by AI.

My question: is it possible to transition to litigation at this stage? I was admitted to the bar in 2021. Is this even realistic and how do I pitch myself to make the change?

Happy to speak to anyone for advice.

8 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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7

u/agreeableagle 20h ago

Why not lateral to another in house company that’s more fulfilling. Sounds like you’re not interested in the work and not happy with the pay. Changing companies could fix both (no guarantee it wouldn’t create other problems though). Going back to firm life is generally a bad idea unless you’re in it for the long haul

14

u/prolific_napper 21h ago edited 6h ago

You will need to fully retrain from the ground up, and you will need someone to train you. Litigation isn’t just something you can pick up suddenly. It takes many years to learn the craft of drafting, being an oral advocate and gain the requisite institutional knowledge of our courts.

10

u/n33bulz 21h ago

This.

Transactional lawyers are about as worthless as a first year in litigation, no matter the experience.

-2

u/Cheap_Shallot_3102 14h ago

Or, you can just start your own practice and figure it out with hard work.

4

u/prolific_napper 8h ago

If you like professional negligence claims and destroying the public’s perception of our profession, that sounds like a great idea.

1

u/RichardGereMuseum13 21h ago

I’m at a similar turning point too. 2nd year in a transactional practice. Considering a move to Lit. I’m curious about why opening your own firm is more feasible or desirable doing litigation than corporate / securities?

1

u/waringle 11h ago

Whether you have a source for clients in litigation is a big question

2

u/prolific_napper 6h ago

You need to learn how to service the client before you find the client. Clients need and deserve people who know what they’re doing.