Why I Moved Laterally: It Was About More Than Money

Josh Quinter Published in the Legal Intelligencer

As Published on the Legal Intelligencer

Joshua C. Quinter | Mar 22, 2018

Josh Quinter

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited with saying that “the only thing constant in life is change.” This axiom is certainly true as it relates to the present day market for lawyers and law firms. Technology and the ease with which people can travel is shrinking the world in which we live; and other market forces are being fundamentally altered by the way people view the world. For this reason, an accomplished legal career looks significantly different than it did 10 years ago. Because lawyers are using different metrics to evaluate success, law firms must do the same to maintain longevity.

Approximately a year ago, I was working in a wonderful suburban Philadelphia law firm. The firm was highly successful, the people with whom I worked were phenomenal, and I was enjoying my work. An unexpected opportunity came along, however, for me to move laterally to my current firm, Offit Kurman. Ultimately, I decided to change the law firm with which I was affiliated knowing I was taking a chance by leaving an already good situation behind.

My decision to move laterally was based on factors other than making more money. While it would be disingenuous for me to suggest this was not part of the consideration, I can honestly say it was secondary to a number of other components of the decision-making process. I was interested in being at a law firm that is entrepreneurial and operated like a business; and I wanted an opportunity to utilize skills I had acquired over the years to take on more of a leadership role in the operation of an organization. As a lawyer, I had also worked with countless businesses along the way and learned how important culture and teamwork were to a successful company. The idea of having a laboratory to try out my ideas of how to build these things in a law firm setting also had great appeal.

Much of my mentality as it relates to these topics stems from my time as an athlete. I still remember the coaches on one of the best teams I ever played telling the players to do the right things in order to win their individual battles in that particular match. If each player focused on their own metaphorical “battle,” the right result would simply come as a byproduct of those efforts. I carry this philosophy with me as it relates to my work as a lawyer. If I am in the right law firm environment and do the right things, the desired outcome will happen as a byproduct of those actions.

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ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 150 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our eleven offices serve individual and corporate clients in the Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City regions. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.

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