Graceful Goodbyes: 7 Tips for Resigning from Your Law Firm Professionally

For any lawyer, concluding that your time at a firm you have given a great deal to has come to an end is never an easy process. Career progression does not always keep pace with your own ambitions at a single organisation, and most lawyers will work across several firms over the course of their careers.

Once you have made the decision to move on and secured an alternative role, there are delicate situations to navigate. How do you resign gracefully, while keeping the respect of your colleagues? And how do you work your way through the transition of saying goodbye and starting fresh elsewhere?



Below are seven tips, based on many years of helping candidates through exactly this process.

1. Be prepared

While you are negotiating a new role, make sure you are fully aware of any provisions, obligations or clauses in your existing employment contract relating to notice period, gardening leave or restraint of trade. Negotiate your start date with these in mind, and with respect for both businesses.

Check for any claw back provisions relating to educational expenses, relocation costs or similar, so you understand whether your final pay may be affected. A new firm may sometimes offer to cover some of this for you, but a word of caution: assuming that will be the case before it is confirmed can put unnecessary pressure on your negotiation. Handle this conversation with care.

2. Dot your i's and t's

Do not resign from your current role until you have an employment contract that has been signed by you and by the new organisation, and returned to them. Up until that point, an offer can be withdrawn for all sorts of reasons. An offer can be made subject to satisfactory references, or withdrawn due to a sudden headcount freeze, restructure, or a key person leaving during the hiring process. We have even seen offers withdrawn from candidates who took too long to consider them.

Ideally, you want a signed letter of offer or contract in hand, and a start date finalised, before you consider your next role confirmed.

3. Write and sign your resignation letter

We recommend having your resignation letter written, printed and signed, and in your hand when you have the conversation with your manager. If they can see you are already at this final stage, they are far less likely to think there is room to convince you to stay. Be wary of entertaining a counter-offer. If you have not read our article on this topic, 'Why You Should Say Thanks But No Thanks to a Counter Offer', it is worth a read before you have this conversation.

Keep the letter itself simple and professional. Consider expressing gratitude for the opportunities you were given, and offer to assist with a smooth handover of your responsibilities. Make sure your departure date is included clearly.

Once you have resigned in person to your direct manager, it is useful to have a list prepared of others you want to notify personally. This might include a mentor, a former boss who invested in your career, or important stakeholders connected to your current role. These are the people who should hear the news from you directly, not on the grapevine. Take the time to express your gratitude to them for their part in your career, whether that is training, opportunities, or their involvement in particular matters.

We cannot stress this enough: do not resign by text message, by phone, or while you are on leave. It is best practice to resign face to face, handing over your resignation letter in writing, in a professional manner.

4. Do you have to disclose your new employer?

We are often asked by candidates we are placing whether they are required to disclose their new employer. It is not a legal requirement, but it is a matter of judgement. Are you moving to a direct competitor? Could your contract mean your notice period is spent on gardening leave? Could your departure have any negative implications for your current firm? If you are moving into an in-house role where your current firm may become a client in future, your resignation will most likely follow an easier path.

If you are moving to a competitor, be prepared for some uncertainty and concern that you will need to manage sensitively. It remains your choice whether to disclose where you are going. Either way, this is a good moment to reassure your current employer that you understand your obligations under your employment contract, and that they have no need to be concerned about you taking any of the firm's intellectual property or approaching clients.

5. Do not burn your networks

The legal industry is a small place. Your current boss and colleagues can become bosses, colleagues or clients at a different organisation down the track. Maintaining a good working relationship with former colleagues says a great deal about your professional standards, work ethic and character.

We have also seen many lawyers return to a former employer at some point over the course of their career. It is a much smoother path back if you are welcomed with open arms, rather than remembered for how you left.

6. Be a transition superstar

Be genuinely helpful during your transition out of the role. This might mean completing outstanding matters, handing over files clearly to a colleague, or offering to help train your replacement where possible. Ensure outstanding projects are complete or properly handed over.

Keep your standards high right through to your last day, and set a good example for those who follow. If things go quiet, make yourself useful and offer to help your team.

Given how quickly good candidates tend to be needed, your new employer may ask about an early start date. The most professional approach is to be considerate and meet your contractual obligations at your current employer first. If you do want to ask for an earlier exit date, be mindful of current workloads and resourcing, and how the request may be perceived.

7. Celebrate your time

Take a moment in your final days to connect with colleagues and reflect on what you have achieved. Make sure you have contact details, or are connected on LinkedIn, with those you want to stay in touch with. Thank the people who contributed to your success, and wish them well for the future.

Your next career move is just ahead, and keeping the bridges intact with your former employer smooths the way, both for the transition itself and for your professional reputation more broadly. By resigning gracefully, and helping wherever you can during the transition, you give yourself the best chance of maintaining strong working relationships for the future.

We are always here to help

If you would like to discuss your career with one of our specialist legal industry recruiters, or would find a sample resignation letter template useful, please get in touch. We are always here to help.