Philly Callback/Offer Thread Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just out of curiosity, what are the most "prestigious" philly firms?

depends what you mean by "prestigious." morgan lewis and dechert pay the most and tend to get the most interesting clients/cases, but on the other hand they're not a "philly firm" in the purest sense. despite the fact that both were founded in the city and still have strong roots here, they have branched out significantly and are more national.

pepper hamilton and duane morris are very well-regarded, as are cozen o'connor and blank rome. these are more "philly firms" than the two above and are not as "national" as those two.

[Anonymous User]

Just out of curiosity, what are the most "prestigious" philly firms?

Well, the most prestigious is probably Levine Sullivan Koch & Schultz... but if we're excluding boutiques and talking about big law offices with summer associates, probably Dechert, Morgan, Akin Gump, Skadden (DE), MNAT (DE)...

[Anonymous User]

Just out of curiosity, what are the most "prestigious" philly firms?

Well, the most prestigious is probably Levine Sullivan Koch & Schultz... but if we're excluding boutiques and talking about big law offices with summer associates, probably Dechert, Morgan, Akin Gump, Skadden (DE), MNAT (DE)...

i don't know if i'd put akin gump on that list..their philly office is really small and isn't it mostly IP?

[Anonymous User]

Any Morgan Lewis offer yet?

[Anonymous User]

Cancelled my CBs with Ballard Spahr, Drinker Biddle - hope that opens up some spots for you all!

[Anonymous User]

post-CB ding from Duane Morris. I thought the CB went really well, strong ties to the area, etc. Oh well.

[Anonymous User]

Had CB with Morgan Lewis and Blank Rome. Blank Rome went pretty good, but I got a really good vibe from Morgan Lewis and was pretty impressed with the experience today.

[Anonymous User]

Any Morgan Lewis offer yet?

I know their hiring committee meets on Thursdays, so I would imagine a batch should be going out very soon.

[Anonymous User]

Any Morgan Lewis offer yet?

I know their hiring committee meets on Thursdays, so I would imagine a batch should be going out very soon.

You mean, as in tonight?

[Anonymous User]

I just got offered a DM callback through mass mail. No ties to Philly- I don't much about the firm, is this going to be a huge issue? And would 9/26 be too late to schedule the callback?

[Anonymous User]

Any Morgan Lewis offer yet?

I know their hiring committee meets on Thursdays, so I would imagine a batch should be going out very soon.

You mean, as in tonight?

possibly, if it's good news. who knows. all i know is i was told that the committee meets this Thursday and to expect to hear back within a week.

[Anonymous User]

I just got offered a DM callback through mass mail. No ties to Philly- I don't much about the firm, is this going to be a huge issue? And would 9/26 be too late to schedule the callback?

it seems DM must be very picky this year. they don't have a very large summer class but have been doing CBs since early August. if you got an interview you have a shot. i will say, though, that the no philly ties could be an issue, so have VERY good reasons for why you want to work not only at the firm, but also in the city.

[Anonymous User]

Just being honest w/o ties to philly I don’t see you as having a chance with them this year... I did a CB in early August and know of 3 others who did a CB there in early/mid August (one offer, one ding - mine, two still waiting to hear) but good l luck nonetheless!

[Anonymous User]

Just being honest w/o ties to philly I don’t see you as having a chance with them this year... I did a CB in early August and know of 3 others who did a CB there in early/mid August (one offer, one ding - mine, two still waiting to hear) but good l luck nonetheless!

Thanks for the insight. I was very surprised to get the CB at this point in the game when they have such a small class and my resume clearly shows a lack of significant ties. I will definitely give it a shot since it seems like a great firm, but not get my hopes up.

[Anonymous User]

In last 48 hours: Dinged after CB by Drinker, Duane Morris. Offers at Schnader, Cozen. Already had offer at Ballard.

[Anonymous User]

In last 48 hours: Dinged after CB by Drinker, Duane Morris. Offers at Schnader, Cozen. Already had offer at Ballard.

dang. has Duane Morris given ANY offers? it seems like they're giving a ton of CBs and dinging 99% of them. for those of you who have already done CBs, any insight into what they're looking for?

[Anonymous User]

In last 48 hours: Dinged after CB by Drinker, Duane Morris. Offers at Schnader, Cozen. Already had offer at Ballard.

School / Grade Range?

[Anonymous User]

In last 48 hours: Dinged after CB by Drinker, Duane Morris. Offers at Schnader, Cozen. Already had offer at Ballard.

School / Grade Range?

Penn. Not top of the class. Strong Philly ties. For what it's worth, I also have a V10 NYC offer. So yeah, I don't know what it takes to get into Duane.

[Anonymous User]

I have friend with a DM offer. Got it a long time ago after an early direct application.

[Anonymous User]

still no offer/ding from Morgan Lewis?

[Anonymous User]

In last 48 hours: Dinged after CB by Drinker, Duane Morris. Offers at Schnader, Cozen. Already had offer at Ballard.

when was your Cozen CB?

[Anonymous User]

In last 48 hours: Dinged after CB by Drinker, Duane Morris. Offers at Schnader, Cozen. Already had offer at Ballard.

when was your Cozen CB?

It was the early part of this week.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if any Philly firms follow a lockstep model after the first year, excluding Dechert and MLB?

[Anonymous User]

I mentioned this trend earlier in the thread, and it has still held up to this point. Five of my callbacks have given me decisions, 3 offers, and 2 rejections. The 3 offers are all in the NY/NJ area. The 2 rejections are both Philadelphia. Odd trend, but hopefully Morgan Lewis will break it.

[Anonymous User]

I mentioned this trend earlier in the thread, and it has still held up to this point. Five of my callbacks have given me decisions, 3 offers, and 2 rejections. The 3 offers are all in the NY/NJ area. The 2 rejections are both Philadelphia. Odd trend, but hopefully Morgan Lewis will break it.

are you from NY/northern NJ? if so, it wouldn't be especially surprising that the philly firms rejected you. those are the types of candidates they seem most leery of, because they don't think you'll be serious about staying in philly long-term.