Some attorneys who are employees of a firm or business, leave their jobs for many different reasons, such as better opportunities, more money, or child or elder care. Fortunately, the legal practice allows lawyers to develop strong transferable skills, such as analytical reasoning, research, organization, communication, business development, marketing, and problem solving skills. As a result, some attorneys leave the practice for opportunities they believe will be more satisfying, provide greater growth, or better work/life balance. Although some attorneys may have left their legal position for good and valid reasons, some want to return to their prior position or the practice of law when circumstances change. These people can be described as “boomerang” or re-entry attorneys. Boomerang attorneys will need to overcome some of the same issues as “re-entry” attorneys. If they left the law or the type of law they practiced, they will need to update their knowledge of the current laws in their specialty, their network in the legal arena, and be sure that their law license is active.
Boomeranging is exploding because long gone are the days of life-long employment with the same employer. Job-hopping has been transformed from a character flaw to a career plan. Building a portable career becomes more important than getting a gold watch at retirement from your loyal lifetime employer. Boomeranging is increasing because of social media, such as LinkedIn and firms’ alumni network. These sites make it easier for companies to keep track of former employees and provide a channel for recruiting, client development, and branding. Boomeranging is also increasing because it is quicker and cheaper to re-hire a former employee. It has been reported that the cost to re-hire a boomerang employee is 1/3 to 2/3 the cost of hiring a “virgin” employee. When firms re-hire former employees they can avoid external recruiters and prolonged review of resumes. Additionally, boomerang employees are desirable because they tend to have better retention rates upon return – they have seen other less-attractive options.
To preserve your opportunities for a favorable reference or being a boomerang attorney (you never know what the future holds), it is incredibly important to leave your employer on good terms – be respectful and don’t burn any bridges. Good luck on your career path! If you would like further information about this subject matter, please contact me.
