Navigating Career Transitions With Confidence

From No Offer to BigLaw Partner

Mar 30, 2025

Career transitions are tough. They come with uncertainty, stress, and moments of self-doubt. But looking back on my own journey—from getting “no offered” after my 2L summer to making partner at a large, international law firm—I can see that every roadblock was actually a necessary step toward where I am today.

The No Offer That Forced a New Plan

I attended a T13 law school and did well. Like most law students, I thought my 2L summer clerkship would lead to a post-grad offer. It didn’t. I was “no offered” and suddenly found myself in my 3L year with no job lined up.

Graduating during the Great Recession, with 2010 being one of the worst years for legal hiring, only made things harder. I spent my final year of law school job hunting while also preparing for the New York bar exam. The stress was overwhelming—I had no idea where my career was headed.

A Temporary Job (and a Whole Lot of Uncertainty)

At the end of the summer, I finally landed a job—litigating mine safety and health cases for the U.S. Department of Labor in Southern West Virginia. It was a 12-month position, not the long-term stability I wanted, but it was an opportunity to gain some hands-on litigation experience. I took or defended over 40 depositions and successfully represented the government in a bench trial in my first year of law practice. A far cry from my previously anticipated first year reviewing documents in BigLaw.

Meanwhile, my personal life was moving forward. In October 2011, I got married, which made finding a more permanent role even more urgent. While not on the immediate horizon, we knew we wanted to have kids within a few years. I didn’t just need a job—I needed one that would support my new family.

Moving to a City We Had Never Been To

I started searching again and was fortunate to land an interview with a large management-side employment law firm. The only catch? The position was in Columbia, South Carolina, a city I had never even visited let alone considered calling home.

Rather than making a life-changing decision in a vacuum, my wife joined me for a weekend in Columbia following my interview so we could decide together if this was a place we could see ourselves building a home together. We loved the city, and we took a leap of faith. Just after Thanksgiving 2011, I started my new job.

They say you should only have one major life event per year. In 2011, we got married, moved to a new state, and I started a new job. It was a lot.

For the first couple of years, we didn’t know anyone, so we spent a lot of time at the movies—one of our favorite activities. It wasn’t until we found a church and joined a small group that we started building lasting friendships and felt like Columbia could truly become home.

Share Dad, Esq.

Burning Out in Private Practice

I threw myself into my new role, working long hours and traveling frequently to build a MSHA defense practice. In October 2014, we had our first child. My wife would tell you that during his first year, she felt like a single parent, and she’s not wrong. I was constantly on the road or at the office—even working most Saturdays. The burnout was real.

I told myself if I worked harder, I could provide an even better life for my family, while I was missing out on the most important moments from our son’s first year.

In early 2016, I got a call about an in-house role at a gold mine in South Carolina. The job involved employment law, health and safety, contract review for construction of a $400 million processing plant, and more. It was an exciting opportunity, and I remember telling my new boss, “I am NEVER going back to private practice.” I’ve now learned to never say never, as you will soon find out.

The job came with some incredible experiences. We traveled to Manila for a legal conference and visited a gold mine in rural Philippines—an experience I will never forget. I got to hold the first two gold bars poured at the mine since the 1980s, after clearing the Fort Knox-like security procedure. But as construction at the mine wrapped up, the need for in-house legal counsel dwindled.

Losing My Job Immediately After Parental Leave

In September 2017, we had our second child. I took 2.5 weeks of parental leave, a big improvement from my first go-around (though still not enough time to really bond with my son). That time included a weeklong stay in the NICU after my son was born with a sporadic pneumothorax (a hole in his lung). It was a terrifying and exhausting time.

The day I returned from leave, I was told the mine was conducting a reduction in force and outsourcing the legal function. I was out of a job, effective immediately.

I called my wife around 10 a.m. to tell her I was coming home. When she asked why, I broke the news. Her response? “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.” I’ll never forget that moment.

What was supposed to be 2.5 weeks of leave turned into over two months as I took time to figure out my next move and got to spend a lot more time with my wife and kids.

Buy me a coffee

Choosing the Right Path Back to Private Practice

I had already started applying for other in-house roles, but after being laid off with no warning, I wasn’t eager to go down that path again. My wife and I had long conversations about what it would mean to return to private practice—especially now with two kids (and, though we didn’t know it yet, two more on the way).

If I was going back, things had to be different.

I met with partners from my old firm, and they were graciously willing to bring me back. But this time, I needed to set boundaries for myself. I committed to getting the work done when it needed to be done, but I knew I couldn’t spend every Saturday in the office anymore.

Finding the Right Practice, the Right Balance

Coming back to the firm turned out to be one of the best career decisions I’ve made. My in-house experience gave me a new perspective that has been invaluable to my clients.

I transitioned away from MSHA defense—too much unpredictable travel—and into class and collective action litigation, primarily wage and hour work. The shift suited my love of math and allowed for more control over my schedule.

I still work hard, but I’ve adjusted my approach. Instead of sacrificing weekends, I get up early before my kids wake up or work after they go to bed. Now I spend as much time as I can with my kids on the weekends.

I was elected to the partnership in 2020, and I’ve built a successful practice. Looking back, every challenge—the no offer, the job searches, the layoff—wasn’t just a setback. It was part of the path that got me here.

Lessons for Lawyer Dads Navigating Career Transitions

If you’re facing a career transition, whether voluntary or unexpected, here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Rejection is redirection. Getting “no offered” felt like a dead end, but it pushed me to explore opportunities I wouldn’t have considered otherwise.

2. Uncertainty is part of the journey. I didn’t have everything figured out when I moved to Columbia or when I lost my job. Sometimes, you have to make the best decision you can and trust that the next step will reveal itself.

3. Your career must align with your life, not the other way around. Early on, I let work dictate everything. Now, I’m intentional about structuring my practice in a way that allows me to be present for my family. And I get to mentor associates and show them that you don’t have to make a choice between being a parent and a partner.

4. Community makes all the difference. Moving to a new city was hard, but finding a church and small group changed everything. Wherever you go, find your people.

5. Adapt and keep going. Every transition—whether exciting or painful—has prepared me for the next phase of my career. And I know that will continue to be true.

Looking back, what felt like roadblocks were actually necessary steps to get me where I am today. And I’m confident that whatever challenges come next will play a role in shaping the future I’m meant to have.

Have you faced a major career transition? How did you handle it? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your story.