Wow sorry my Christmas day got a LOT more hectic than I thought it would. Behind in questions haha, so here we go at 3:30 AM CST!
Elston Gunn wrote:I'm not at HLS, but I'd love to hear about what you think the advantages of TX Biglaw are over other non-NY markets (especially DC). Obviously I know the money is much better, but I'm curious about your thoughts on things like hours and quality of work. Also, are you in Houston or Dallas? Thoughts on living in your city?
I am definitely biased when it comes to this, but I will try to temper my enthusiasm. I live in Houston, but anywhere in TX, money is a big difference compared to NYC, esp. if you are paying back debt. It isn't just the "no state income taxes"...which is REALLY sweet (some say the higher property taxes, ~3%, is a bummer, but with real estate dirt cheap in TX...not a huge deal), but housing and COL in general is a half to a third of NYC. Decently affluent suburb, 2000 sq. ft. home w/ a yard, just a few yrs old, great location and neighborhood, $200k EASY.
Good food here in Houston for sure, though I can imagine NYC beating us in that dept. Just saying Houston isn't some city with no good restaurants -- have a ton. We are the city with the second highest number of Fortune 500 companies stationed within it (or something), and the economy is pretty darn amazing in TX (*cough*california*cough*

). The recession was not as strongly felt in Houston. HTown is also a great cultural center, which is something I had not known/appreciated in the past.
As far as hours go, I would say it is definitely better than NYC (from what I hear from friends)...it is still biglaw, so you get the inconsistency and sometimes horrid hours, but overall, better hrs (avg. 60? 65?). Quality of work is great too, esp. Houston and the energy industry. Really no where better for O&G work...lots of NY firms realize that now and are trying to muscle their way into our local legal economy as well haha. Co-workers/bosses are great. I hear horror stories from NYC friends...but I have never, after working both summers in Houston, EVER been stressed by a co-worker or partner at work (split summers too, so more than one TX biglaw firm). Of course I have been stressed by the work before, esp. when I first started, but the people have all been super nice.
Those are what I view as the positives of Houston over NYC. I mean, NYC is also NYC, so most people who grew up in the northeast love it, and there is more to do in NYC (it being NYC and all). Houston is growing its nightlife rather successfully the last few yrs, and is continuing to do so, but again, it ain't no NYC. DC and Cali are other popular markets, with their pros and cons. I lived in Cali for a number of years -- love the weather and a LOT of things about it, but the state of the economy in general there scares me a tad tbh. No real idea on the legal economy in Cali though, so I won't pretend to know more than I do on that topic haha. Oh, speaking of weather, TX summers are balls hot, but you drive everywhere so it is AC'd location A to car w/ AC to AC'd location B haha. Winters are AWESOME now. 70 degrees most days. Wore short sleeves today. I guess if you love the cold and snow though this would kind of suck. Personally, I don't miss Boston winters...lol.