Recently, I decided I wanted to leave my law firm. Even though there are rules and guidelines that lay out a plan for transitions, it’s not as clear-cut when it happens in real time. How will the law firm management react? What questions will clients ask? What is the best way to approach this process in a way that benefits everyone, so we can reach an amicable conclusion?

Notifying Your Firm

When you make the decision to leave your law firm, it can get complicated. There are ethical obligations to both clients and your firm colleagues. The American Bar Association offers guidelines for lawyers and their firms to assist with this transition. Formal Opinion 489 provides that “lawyers and law firm management have ethical obligations to assure the orderly transition of client matters when lawyers notify a firm they intend to move to a new firm.” The opinion offers guidelines for both lawyers and their firms on the best way to transition, in a way that is consistent with ethical obligations. Once notice is given, the lawyer and the law firm should work together to create a plan for the best way to contact clients. Clients should be informed that their lawyer is leaving the firm and advised of their choice to stay with the firm or transition with their lawyer to the new firm. Transparency on both sides is required to ensure the transition is smooth. Remember to be understanding and compassionate during this process. Although it is easy to only think of how it may affect you, the law firm is now losing a valuable part of their team. There will need to be immediate changes to ensure the clients that will remain with the firm are taken care of. Try to make the transition during a “down time.” Announcing you are leaving when the firm is preparing for a trial would cause unnecessary stress for all parties involved.

Notifying Your Clients