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The problem I'm facing is that I seem to have been pigeonholed into my current niche area of litigation. The feedback I've received from a few firms is that since I've already spent four years in a specialised practice, I should ideally continue in that area.
What I find a little frustrating is that while a substantial part of my practice is niche litigation, around 30–40% of my work also involves civil and criminal litigation. So it's not as though I've exclusively worked in one area for the last four years.
I understand that firms have their own requirements, but I find it a little strange that having specialised in an area so early in my career is now working against me when I'm trying to diversify. Surely four years isn't too late to branch out? Especially when a lot of the skills involved in litigation are transferable.
I'm also open to moving down a designation if that means getting an opportunity to broaden my practice.
Has anyone here faced something similar? Also, would anyone know of any law firms or disputes teams that might be willing to consider someone from a niche litigation background looking to transition into a broader disputes practice?