Cravath vs. Gibson Dunn DC for Lit? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi everyone,

It's down to these two. Interested in litigation and eventually trying to become an AUSA. Also, I don't yet have a clerkship—would either be more helpful in that regard? Any thoughts you might have between these two options would be great.

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

There was a Cov DC vs CSM thread a few days ago. Most if not all of the responses from that thread apply here.

When comparing NY V5 to a top DC firm, there are a few recurring factors. Where do you want to live? Are you interested in appellate work? (Which goes heavily DC). Are you interested in securities? (Leavs heavily NY - although an aversion to securities lit would be very much in DC's favor). White collar is split, but CSM isn't traditionally the best firm in new york for white collar - did you get offers from its peers with more of a white collar/AUSA reputation? (davis polk, STB, ect). Then of course there's free market v rotation divide, which is huge. GDC and CSM represent opposite poles in this regard; what are your thoughts on how you want to be assigned work and what kind of lit you want to have available?

[Anonymous User]

Okay, thank you. I will refer to the other thread.

I think the Gibson system would probably work better for my personality, so I am leaning toward Gibson. I just wondered if Cravath exit options justified taking it over Gibson.

[Anonymous User]

Okay, thank you. I will refer to the other thread.

I think the Gibson system would probably work better for my personality, so I am leaning toward Gibson. I just wondered if Cravath exit options justified taking it over Gibson.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by exit options. I can see the argument in the vein of superior exits to the financial world with regard to, say, public M&A, where cravath has a more elite group than Gibson. In lit, this doesn't hold; moreover, both GDC and CSM are band 1 elite. The 'exits' and reputation for litigators are identical between this set of firms (csm, gdc, davis polk, paul weiss). Personally, I would even argue Gibson or Wilmer DC have some advantages over an NY V5 for public service career paths.

[First Offense]

Okay, thank you. I will refer to the other thread.

I think the Gibson system would probably work better for my personality, so I am leaning toward Gibson. I just wondered if Cravath exit options justified taking it over Gibson.

The exit options probably aren't materially dissimilar. Gibson is incredibly well regarded in DC.

[smaug]

Put concretely: what door do you think Cravath would open that GDC wouldn't?

[rpupkin]

Do you want to live in NYC or DC? It seems like that's the most relevant consideration here.

[DELG]

there is no exit from lit

"Litigation is a gateway drug to shitlaw"

- DF

[runinthefront]

Do you want to live in NYC or DC? It seems like that's the most relevant consideration here.

This, followed by whether you like or dislike the rotation system in comparison to the free market system.

I think your answers to these two distinctions (city/rotation) should probably far outweigh any other considerations you may have re: "exit options," even to the AUSA

[rpupkin]

Do you want to live in NYC or DC? It seems like that's the most relevant consideration here.

This, followed by whether you like or dislike the rotation system in comparison to the free market system.

I think your answers two distinctions (city/rotation) should probably far outweigh any other considerations you may have re: "exit options," even to the AUSA

Agreed.