Which firm? Biglaw in a secondary market or top local firm.
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:05 pm
Firm 1: International Vault firm with 1000+ lawyers and relatively high leverage. Offer is from its largest office, which is located in the Midwest (not Chi)/PA/Georgia. Its reputation is mediocre among V firms. It laid off lots of lawyers in 09. It may be leaner today and therefore needs more lawyers, or it may still be in a bad shape. I liked the people I met.
Firm 2: No. 1 firm in a different secondary market with 250+ lawyers and mid-leverage. Revenue was up 10+% last year. The firm was actually expanding and actively hiring during the recession. No international V firm is in the same market. I love the people I met.
Both firms pay $100K+. However, Firm 1 pays $10000 more per year at the beginning. It may pay $30000 more per year in 5 years. Firm 1's PPP and RPL are about 2x of Firm 2's. Both cities have equally low CoL. I like both cities.
I like Firm 1 because it may allow me to move to one of its expanding international offices, which is great for the ambitious part of me. It also seems more "powerful" and offers better exist options.
I absolutely love the people at Firm 2. The firm also seems to be financially healthy. But if I work there, I may get stuck in that market, which is fine for the laid-back part of me.
I don't mind to settle in Firm 2's city for the rest of my life, but I don't think that I should make that decision now. What do you think?
Firm 2: No. 1 firm in a different secondary market with 250+ lawyers and mid-leverage. Revenue was up 10+% last year. The firm was actually expanding and actively hiring during the recession. No international V firm is in the same market. I love the people I met.
Both firms pay $100K+. However, Firm 1 pays $10000 more per year at the beginning. It may pay $30000 more per year in 5 years. Firm 1's PPP and RPL are about 2x of Firm 2's. Both cities have equally low CoL. I like both cities.
I like Firm 1 because it may allow me to move to one of its expanding international offices, which is great for the ambitious part of me. It also seems more "powerful" and offers better exist options.
I absolutely love the people at Firm 2. The firm also seems to be financially healthy. But if I work there, I may get stuck in that market, which is fine for the laid-back part of me.
I don't mind to settle in Firm 2's city for the rest of my life, but I don't think that I should make that decision now. What do you think?