1. What is your real reason for wanting to leave your current firm?
2. If you are currently in private practice, approximately how large is your portable practice, and are there other partners in the firm with related practices who would be interested in moving with you?
3. If you practice in the public sector, what skills and experience do you have which are valuable in the private sector?
4. What is your reputation in the community: what level of client are you able to attract? What level do you want to attract?
5. What professional values are most important to you? (For example collegiality, high standards, community service, structured for profitability…)
6. Where are you in your career, in terms of seniority and how long you want to practice?
7. Are you affected by a mandatory early retirement policy?
8. Do the firms you would consider need to be leaders in your practice area either in Boston or nationally?
9. Would your clients agree to an increase in your billing rates?
10. Do you need the firm to have strength in specific practice areas, i.e., you are a litigator, but need corporate or IP lawyers to help service your clients?

Email the answers to these questions to initiate an in-depth discussion of your lateral partnership opportunities.