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I am trying to decide b/w the following 4 firms to spend my first half with this coming summer. I have already accepted another second half firm.

A couple of considerations:

1) I am only interested in transactional work. I am not interested in litigation.
2) I will be splitting my summer with another firm in Texas. It appears as though Baker Botts is the most accomodating, while Jones Day is much less accomodating.
3) I plan to stay in Texas long-term.

Jones Day seems to have more national lay prestige.

I did CBs with all 3, but really seemed to "click" with the ppl from Jones Day.

Thoughts on partnership prospects at these 3 firms? All have somewhat similar leverage ratios.

Only concern with Jones Day is that a lot of their work does not originate in Texas.

I've heard that VE Dallas expects to hire fewer in Dallas than last year, while hiring significantly more in Houston this year.

Anonymous User wrote:I've heard that VE Dallas expects to hire fewer in Dallas than last year, while hiring significantly more in Houston this year.

Houston in general is hiring more than Dallas this year. Just more work down there right now. Of course, if you're not really into energy and environmental, the work flow is about the same.

Anonymous User wrote:I did CBs with all 3, but really seemed to "click" with the ppl from Jones Day.

Once again, Kathy Shea has that effect on people. I felt like I 'clicked' best with that office too, but I'm wondering if it's just because they have an AWESOME recruiting team.

I also heard from a friend at V&E Houston that the folks at V&E Dallas, while good people, seem abnormally stressed out all the time.

I've heard some good things about the office/people at BB Dallas, but they've been having some pretty serious financial problems lately (layoffs even in Houston, etc). I'd say be cautious.

Anonymous User wrote:I've heard that VE Dallas expects to hire fewer in Dallas than last year, while hiring significantly more in Houston this year.

This is simply inaccurate. VE Houston had around 50 summer associates last year, which is their normal amount. In 2009 they had about 75, which is more than they want. They will likely have around the same this summer.

Anonymous User wrote:I also heard from a friend at V&E Houston that the folks at V&E Dallas, while good people, seem abnormally stressed out all the time.

I've heard some good things about the office/people at BB Dallas, but they've been having some pretty serious financial problems lately (layoffs even in Houston, etc). I'd say be cautious.

Funny, at my CB the V&E Dallas people seemed really chill. On the other hand, the BB Dallas people...

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I also heard from a friend at V&E Houston that the folks at V&E Dallas, while good people, seem abnormally stressed out all the time.

I've heard some good things about the office/people at BB Dallas, but they've been having some pretty serious financial problems lately (layoffs even in Houston, etc). I'd say be cautious.

Funny, at my CB the V&E Dallas people seemed really chill. On the other hand, the BB Dallas people...

Hahaha... well, Jones Day it is, then.

I interviewed with both V&E Dallas and V&E Houston. I was received a post-CB rejection from V&E Dallas, but received an offer from V&E Houston. It was as though I interviewing with entirely different firms.

While V&E Dallas came across as very serious and on edge, V&E Houston was very much the opposite. Furthermore, the V&E Dallas hiring partner really came across as a disinterested jerk. This is just my personal opinion. He may have been having a bad day. Nevertheless, having assumed a position where his representation of the firm is critical.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I've heard that VE Dallas expects to hire fewer in Dallas than last year, while hiring significantly more in Houston this year.

This is simply inaccurate. VE Houston had around 50 summer associates last year, which is their normal amount. In 2009 they had about 75, which is more than they want. They will likely have around the same this summer.

I was told by the hiring partner that V&E Houston expected to have 60 or so summer associates this coming year (including 1Ls). Last year, they had 51. This would represent an increase of 18%. Dallas, on the other hand, expects to have 15 summer associates this year (including 1Ls). Last year, they had 16.

Anonymous User wrote:I've heard some good things about the office/people at BB Dallas, but they've been having some pretty serious financial problems lately (layoffs even in Houston, etc). I'd say be cautious.

I know that BB certainly had some serious financial troubles and layoffs. Is it fair to say that they may be in better financial shape than their peers after having addressed their atternal issues?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I've heard some good things about the office/people at BB Dallas, but they've been having some pretty serious financial problems lately (layoffs even in Houston, etc). I'd say be cautious.

I know that BB certainly had some serious financial troubles and layoffs. Is it fair to say that they may be in better financial shape than their peers after having addressed their atternal issues?

Maybe, though talking to a few young associates made it seem as though everyone was still on edge and waiting for the axe to drop (and they were trying to sell me on the firm). My guess is they still haven't worked out all the problems, and if there is a double-dip, there will probably be more layoffs.

Plus, I wasn't a big fan of their office in Houston. Everything's kind of a strange yellow color, the furniture is really dated, and there is (strangely enough) really odd and varying smells on each of the floors. The associates were apparently told the partners were spending money on "associates and more important issues" than on furniture and decoration. In any case, it didn't look like you were walking into the #2 Texas firm's office.

(Sorry to hijack and feel free to ignore, but I want to take advantage of the TX posters here.)

What have y'all heard about Thompson & Knight, Dallas?

Anonymous User wrote:(Sorry to hijack and feel free to ignore, but I want to take advantage of the TX posters here.)

What have y'all heard about Thompson & Knight, Dallas?

Oddly enough, I received CBs from BB, JD, VE, and Weil and offers thus far from the first three. However, I didn't even receive a CB interview from TK.

TK is one the few traditional Dallas firms and they do have a great tax practice. Interestingly enough, I interviewed with 3 different associates/partners who had lateraled from TK. When I asked why, they cited that they didn't feel as though the firm gave them the best opportunity to develop their practice.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:(Sorry to hijack and feel free to ignore, but I want to take advantage of the TX posters here.)

What have y'all heard about Thompson & Knight, Dallas?

Oddly enough, I received CBs from BB, JD, VE, and Weil and offers thus far from the first three. However, I didn't even receive a CB interview from TK.

TK is one the few traditional Dallas firms and they do have a great tax practice. Interestingly enough, I interviewed with 3 different associates/partners who had lateraled from TK. When I asked why, they cited that they didn't feel as though the firm gave them the best opportunity to develop their practice.

I think TK is a fantastic firm. I wouldn't pick them over VE or BB, but I would pick them over Locke Lord, Andrews Kurth and some other Dallas firms. I also talked to a lot of people who lateraled over from TK, but they all had nothing but great things to say about starting their career at TK. It's just that the level of work TK does is a little lower-level, so if you have the chance to lateral over and get a shot at partner at a VE, BB, Weil, JD, etc., you take it.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I did CBs with all 3, but really seemed to "click" with the ppl from Jones Day.

Once again, Kathy Shea has that effect on people. I felt like I 'clicked' best with that office too, but I'm wondering if it's just because they have an AWESOME recruiting team.

I heard from some people who left JD that this was definitely the case, and that they got all their coolest people involved in recruiting/hiring and then it was not at all like that once you were an associate.

I think JD corporate has somewhat of a sweatshop reputation compared to some of the other TX firms.

Anonymous User wrote:I heard from some people who left JD that this was definitely the case, and that they got all their coolest people involved in recruiting/hiring and then it was not at all like that once you were an associate.

I think JD corporate has somewhat of a sweatshop reputation compared to some of the other TX firms.

It's interesting that you say this, because I did get a very serious vibe from the JD corporate partners. In fact, they seemed much more intense than even the Baker Botts corporate partners. Jones Day also has a higher leverage ratio than most of the firms in town. Finally, the clients that JD serves in Dallas are often not Dallas-based clients. In terms of exit options in the TX market, this is certainly a consideration.

Also, w/r/t the ppl who left Jones Day, where did they go?

Anonymous User wrote:I interviewed with both V&E Dallas and V&E Houston. I was received a post-CB rejection from V&E Dallas, but received an offer from V&E Houston. It was as though I interviewing with entirely different firms.

I'd have found it odd if they both gave you offers. They want to lock down their summer classes, so probably don't want to give out one offer they know you won't accept. Other firms do this. Also, I'm not in school in TX and at my screening interview (where one person was from Houston and one from Dallas), they essentially said, you're getting a call back, but we won't do both cities, which would you prefer.

Anonymous User wrote:Furthermore, the V&E Dallas hiring partner really came across as a disinterested jerk. This is just my personal opinion. He may have been having a bad day. Nevertheless, having assumed a position where his representation of the firm is critical.

There are two hiring partners. The one I talked with was very nice.

Anonymous User wrote:I think TK is a fantastic firm. I wouldn't pick them over VE or BB, but I would pick them over Locke Lord, Andrews Kurth and some other Dallas firms. I also talked to a lot of people who lateraled over from TK, but they all had nothing but great things to say about starting their career at TK. It's just that the level of work TK does is a little lower-level, so if you have the chance to lateral over and get a shot at partner at a VE, BB, Weil, JD, etc., you take it.

I agree.

Anonymous User wrote:I think TK is a fantastic firm. I wouldn't pick them over VE or BB, but I would pick them over Locke Lord, Andrews Kurth and some other Dallas firms. I also talked to a lot of people who lateraled over from TK, but they all had nothing but great things to say about starting their career at TK. It's just that the level of work TK does is a little lower-level, so if you have the chance to lateral over and get a shot at partner at a VE, BB, Weil, JD, etc., you take it.

TK does occupy very nice offices in the 7-11 bldg.

Anonymous User wrote:[There are two hiring partners. The one I talked with was very nice.

Rob?

Anonymous User wrote:Maybe, though talking to a few young associates made it seem as though everyone was still on edge and waiting for the axe to drop (and they were trying to sell me on the firm). My guess is they still haven't worked out all the problems, and if there is a double-dip, there will probably be more layoffs.

The hope is that things shake out over the next two years and Baker Botts puts whatever financial troubles that may exist behind them and comes out very lean.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:[There are two hiring partners. The one I talked with was very nice.

Rob?

Yes.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:[There are two hiring partners. The one I talked with was very nice.

Rob?

Yes.

Interesting. I thought that Rob was the jerk. Looking back, I did meet w/ the other hiring parnter and really liked him.