It is inevitable that at some point in a lawyer’s working life they will need to tell their employer they are leaving. Whether or not that means leaving to join another firm or to take up a different type of challenge, there is a lot to be gained by staying on the good side of a previous employer. There are some very simple ‘dos and don’ts’, which professional lawyers may need to remember if the temptation to burn bridges becomes too strong.

Be prepared
First and foremost, attend your resignation meeting with your resignation letter pre-written and have a clear statement as to why you are leaving, said Ben Cooper, vice president for in-house legal and compliance for Asia at CML Recruitment. Toby Rakison, an in-house consultant with Taylor Root Hong Kong, suggested that the letter should be short, to the point and include one or two niceties. Always include the date that the notice period is to start and the date of the last day at work. “It’s important to keep it professional, rather than emotional,” he said.

Be firm
Cooper also suggests keeping conversation short, to the point and under control.  “Be polite, explain you have enjoyed working with them but that the opportunity for which you are departing is more in line with your career ambitions,” he said, and Rakison agrees. The idea is to have the decision made and not to go into the meeting in the hope of receiving a counter-offer, according to Cooper. “Counter-offers exist solely to save your employer the money and the hassle of replacing you. Most people who accept a counter-offer are pushed out of their current position within 6 months,” he said.

Be final
Both Cooper and Rakison agree that using a resignation meeting as leverage to gain a pay rise or promotion is not usually effective. “If you have an issue this should be raised with management before you start looking for another position. If your employer only makes the changes when you threaten to resign then they are not doing so for your benefit,” said Cooper.

Cooper's full list of ‘dos and don’ts’ for resigning are as follows:
• Make sure you go into the resignation meeting with your letter in hand
• Be firm. Explain that you have made up your mind and give brief reasons for doing so - you are not there for an in-depth conversation
• If your boss asks you to go away and think about it, politely decline and insist that your notice period will begin from that point
• Be polite. Explain you have enjoyed working with them but that the opportunity for which you are departing is more in line with your career ambitions. Reasons for leaving a position should always be positive; this should not be an opportunity to vent any frustrations against the company or people
• Do not discuss or hint that you may be open to discussing any kind of counter-offer
• Never use a resignation as an opportunity to renegotiate your package, receive a promotion or a change of role. If you have an issue this should be raised with management before you start looking for another position. If your employer only makes the changes when you threaten to resign then they are not doing so for your benefit. Most people who accept a counter-offer are pushed out of their current position once a replacement is found behind their back