That will get you a pretty nice one bedroom almost anywhere, depending on what you mean by "reasonably nice."TatteredDignity wrote:For an associate with a non-working spouse, what's a reasonable amount of rent to pay? I'm trying to commute less than 30 mins each way, and $2200 seems like the minimum--at least for reasonably nice places.
Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions Forum
- Vincent Adultman
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
Consider a two-bedroom so you can set up a home office. I also have a spouse and pay considerably more than $2200, but I have a 2 bedroom 2 bath with parking and a 10 min walk to my office. Setting yourself up for convenience is valuable in my opinion.TatteredDignity wrote:For an associate with a non-working spouse, what's a reasonable amount of rent to pay? I'm trying to commute less than 30 mins each way, and $2200 seems like the minimum--at least for reasonably nice places.
- TatteredDignity
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
We're looking at two-bedroom units for that exact reason--home office. A ten-minute walk would be fantastic. $2500 is sort of my upper limit, though. And even that makes me sick (never lived in a high COL city).
- Vincent Adultman
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
Two bedrooms will be a lot tougher but maybe doable. I would look at river north and south loop if you want a closer commute.
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
I pay around $2500 for a 2 bed, 1.5 bath in River North. Look into renting condos from private owners instead of renting from traditional apartment buildings. The prices for apartments in traditional buildings are much higher.TatteredDignity wrote:We're looking at two-bedroom units for that exact reason--home office. A ten-minute walk would be fantastic. $2500 is sort of my upper limit, though. And even that makes me sick (never lived in a high COL city).
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
Do you know anyone who has lateraled from a major market (NY, SF) to Chicago? Is the jump possible without any strong family ties, etc.? What are the adjustments like for the laterals?
- Dcc617
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
1. I have no real ties to a Chicago but sort of lived there for six months. I'm a little above median at HLS. Are my lack of ties going to hurt me?
2. How is the market for buying condos/houses?
3. What's your impression of the Chicago economy? It seems like with the stagnant population growth and stuff it may not be the best time to enter the market?
2. How is the market for buying condos/houses?
3. What's your impression of the Chicago economy? It seems like with the stagnant population growth and stuff it may not be the best time to enter the market?
- Vincent Adultman
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
No. Just have a well thought out answer that justifies why you want to be there. The bigger the Chicago firm, the less they tend to care. They need bodies and also like to think of themselves as attractive enough to be like NYC in that everyone should want to be in Chicago. But it will still come up in the vast majority of interviews.Dcc617 wrote:1. I have no real ties to a Chicago but sort of lived there for six months. I'm a little above median at HLS. Are my lack of ties going to hurt me?
Hot - likely inflated and looks to only be getting hotter. Still cheaper than most major metros and doable. Property taxes will likely be increasing if the governor and Madigan can stop being idiots (so maybe property taxes won't be going up!).Dcc617 wrote:2. How is the market for buying condos/houses?
I mean I have no idea how the overall economy looks vis a vis the legal market. But the legal market is insanely hot right now. If you're doing transactional you will be more than fine. Still have good odds at litigation, too. So long as you are a good enough interviewer.Dcc617 wrote:3. What's your impression of the Chicago economy? It seems like with the stagnant population growth and stuff it may not be the best time to enter the market?
Network with lots of attorneys this summer. Are you in Chicago now?
- star fox
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
Definitely play up whatever "sort of lived there for six months" means.Dcc617 wrote:1. I have no real ties to a Chicago but sort of lived there for six months. I'm a little above median at HLS. Are my lack of ties going to hurt me?
2. How is the market for buying condos/houses?
3. What's your impression of the Chicago economy? It seems like with the stagnant population growth and stuff it may not be the best time to enter the market?
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
^Agree with thisMartin Brody wrote:No. Just have a well thought out answer that justifies why you want to be there. The bigger the Chicago firm, the less they tend to care. They need bodies and also like to think of themselves as attractive enough to be like NYC in that everyone should want to be in Chicago. But it will still come up in the vast majority of interviews.Dcc617 wrote:1. I have no real ties to a Chicago but sort of lived there for six months. I'm a little above median at HLS. Are my lack of ties going to hurt me?
Hot - likely inflated and looks to only be getting hotter. Still cheaper than most major metros and doable. Property taxes will likely be increasing if the governor and Madigan can stop being idiots (so maybe property taxes won't be going up!).Dcc617 wrote:2. How is the market for buying condos/houses?
I mean I have no idea how the overall economy looks vis a vis the legal market. But the legal market is insanely hot right now. If you're doing transactional you will be more than fine. Still have good odds at litigation, too. So long as you are a good enough interviewer.Dcc617 wrote:3. What's your impression of the Chicago economy? It seems like with the stagnant population growth and stuff it may not be the best time to enter the market?
Network with lots of attorneys this summer. Are you in Chicago now?
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
Yes, I know multiple people who have lateraled from both NY and SF. If you do transactional work, you should have no problem transferring into a major CHI firm.303chiller wrote:Do you know anyone who has lateraled from a major market (NY, SF) to Chicago? Is the jump possible without any strong family ties, etc.? What are the adjustments like for the laterals?
Not sure what adjustments for laterals is like w/r/t moving to a new city. As far as my firm goes, we don't view laterals any different after they have been here for a year or two and built relationships within the firm. Doesn't materially set you back, in my opinion.
- TatteredDignity
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
Any general thoughts on Winston? Specifically lit, if possible.
- yyyuppp
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
bumping to see if anyone can comment.TatteredDignity wrote:Any general thoughts on Winston? Specifically lit, if possible.
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- yyyuppp
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
also, on the transactional side generally for chicago, can people speak to the in-house options? Chicago has a good amount of large corporations and all that, but its not teeming with them like NYC, and doesn't have the huge finance sector that NYC has. Do chicago transactional attorneys feel they have pretty good options for in-house? or is it a tough market?
- Vincent Adultman
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
I don't think anywhere is as good as NYC. But I wouldn't say there is a dearth of in-house opportunities. And I know of multiple people who have already gone in house in Chicago. You still have the option to go to NYC, too.yyyuppp wrote:also, on the transactional side generally for chicago, can people speak to the in-house options? Chicago has a good amount of large corporations and all that, but its not teeming with them like NYC, and doesn't have the huge finance sector that NYC has. Do chicago transactional attorneys feel they have pretty good options for in-house? or is it a tough market?
- los blancos
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
any advice for a shitigator looking to lateral in? (extremely strong ties)
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
Looking for some general advice on housing. What is reasonable for Chicago rent for newer 1 bedroom/1bedroom w/ den?
Will be living with my spouse and we are looking to get 1 bedroom + den or large one bedroom close to our River North offices. My spouse works, but does not make biglaw salary, neither of us have outstanding loans and we will likely only be in Chicago for 3-5 years before we move back to much lower COL location.
Am I crazy to spend over ~$3000 on a newer, nice apartment in heart of downtown? Most of my friends are going to NYC and spending ridiculous amounts of money on rent, so maybe I'm just trying to justify paying that much even in a lower COL city like Chicago.
Either way, advice appreciated!
Will be living with my spouse and we are looking to get 1 bedroom + den or large one bedroom close to our River North offices. My spouse works, but does not make biglaw salary, neither of us have outstanding loans and we will likely only be in Chicago for 3-5 years before we move back to much lower COL location.
Am I crazy to spend over ~$3000 on a newer, nice apartment in heart of downtown? Most of my friends are going to NYC and spending ridiculous amounts of money on rent, so maybe I'm just trying to justify paying that much even in a lower COL city like Chicago.
Either way, advice appreciated!
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- rokiv
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Re: Chicago Big Law - Taking Questions
Nobody wants to live in the Loop—the heart of Downtown—it absolutely dies on the weekends and you’ll be inundated with tourists in the summer. Think like Midtown Manhattan, although not quite that busy.12481632 wrote:Looking for some general advice on housing. What is reasonable for Chicago rent for newer 1 bedroom/1bedroom w/ den?
Will be living with my spouse and we are looking to get 1 bedroom + den or large one bedroom close to our River North offices. My spouse works, but does not make biglaw salary, neither of us have outstanding loans and we will likely only be in Chicago for 3-5 years before we move back to much lower COL location.
Am I crazy to spend over ~$3000 on a newer, nice apartment in heart of downtown? Most of my friends are going to NYC and spending ridiculous amounts of money on rent, so maybe I'm just trying to justify paying that much even in a lower COL city like Chicago.
Either way, advice appreciated!
You should be able to find a 1BR + flex/den in RN, South Loop, West Loop, and maybe even Old Town/Gold Coast for about $2500/month
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