Berkeley vs. Columbia* Forum

[Kronk]

If you go to Berkeley and want a V5 job, make sure you're sociable and get good grades (like, all Hs, which is only the equivalent of top 20-30% of the class). Is it different anywhere else with the exception of Harvard and Yale?

Yea you don't need top 30% even at TTTs like NorthwesTTTern.

For a V5 job? You sure about that DeserTTT Fox?

[Veyron]

If you go to Berkeley and want a V5 biglaw job, make sure you're sociable and get good grades (like, all Hs, which is only the equivalent of top 20-30% of the class). Is it different anywhere else with the exception of Harvard and Yale?

FTFY

[Kronk]

If you go to Berkeley and want a V5 biglaw job, make sure you're sociable and get good grades (like, all Hs, which is only the equivalent of top 20-30% of the class). Is it different anywhere else with the exception of Harvard and Yale?

FTFY

Anecdotal, but I know lots of people that have BigLaw jobs in the V50 with plenty of P's that probably make their de facto class rank around the median. Although the 2Ls would say the job search is a lot harder than I give it credit for.

[09042014]

If you go to Berkeley and want a V5 job, make sure you're sociable and get good grades (like, all Hs, which is only the equivalent of top 20-30% of the class). Is it different anywhere else with the exception of Harvard and Yale?

Yea you don't need top 30% even at TTTs like NorthwesTTTern.

For a V5 job? You sure about that DeserTTT Fox?

ooops I misread V5 to be v100.

Thats why I go to NorthwesTTTern. For NU its like 15%

[Veyron]

The only V I give a shit about is the V160.

[20160810]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

[DeeCee]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

+1.

[megaTTTron]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

I know of at least one TLSer who is consciously disregarding that realization.

[20160810]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

+1.

I just want someone to spend thanksgiving doing doc review and then think back to all those "160 OR BUST, MOTHERFUCKERS" posts and lol

[Kronk]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

Yeah, particularly in New York City. 160k in NYC is like a 80k-90k salary elsewhere. In California, you can get 45 hr / wk government jobs that pay that much.

[r6_philly]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

Yeah, particularly in New York City. 160k in NYC is like a 80k-90k salary elsewhere. In California, you can get 45 hr / wk government jobs that pay that much.

I always say this, and most people don't care. I met big law associates who complain that they can't afford to rent an apartment close to the firm they work at, and they laugh at the word "weekend".

[bk1]

I will need to escape soul crushing debt somehow...

[megaTTTron]

I will need to escape soul crushing debt somehow...

the true CR.

[r6_philly]

I will need to escape soul crushing debt somehow...

By not borrowing it?

Or LRAP?

[bk1]

By not borrowing it?

Or LRAP?

First one really isn't an option for me (supersplitter).

Second one doesn't affect what school I will choose as a school's prestige will help when it comes to both biglaw and PI.

[BruceWayne]

By not borrowing it?

Or LRAP?

First one really isn't an option for me (supersplitter).

Second one doesn't affect what school I will choose as a school's prestige will help when it comes to both biglaw and PI.

It should when the school's reputations are close. Boalt's LRAP>>UVA and Penn. Columbia's LRAP>>>>>>Chicago's.

[mrmangs]

This is relevant to my interests.

[20160810]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

Yeah, particularly in New York City. 160k in NYC is like a 80k-90k salary elsewhere. In California, you can get 45 hr / wk government jobs that pay that much.

Agreed fully, though I don't know if I have that much room to talk since I'll be at a firm in SF where the COL is almost as bad as NYC, but at least I won't be billing 2,400 hours a year.

[Veyron]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

I've always fucking worked 80 hours a week and weekends. As a 1L I've clocked between 90 and 120 hours of class + studying pretty consistently for the past 2 months. You really fucking think that I'm going to complain about doing less work and getting paid 160k (if I'm that fortunate, G-d willing), you are out of your fucking mind.

[20160810]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

I've always fucking worked 80 hours a week and weekends. As a 1L I've clocked between 90 and 120 hours of class + studying pretty consistently for the past 2 months. You really fucking think that I'm going to complain about doing less work and getting paid 160k (if I'm that fortunate, G-d willing), you are out of your fucking mind.

OK, in your case, maybe biglaw is the right call. (Insert f-words here).

[irishman86]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

Yeah, particularly in New York City. 160k in NYC is like a 80k-90k salary elsewhere. In California, you can get 45 hr / wk government jobs that pay that much.

Government jobs are hiring? I think you're a confused 1L.

Your hours depend on your practice group. If you do M&A work, sure, it's going to be unpredictable and long. But other transactional groups have steadier hours. Also, if you work biglaw in ANY city, you're going to be working similar hours.

A lot of midlaw firms will work you at similar hours but pay you less. A lot of PI jobs require long hours for a fraction of the pay.

Also NY averages between 2000-2100 billable hours, more so the first. I don't know where you people got the idea that they are required to bill 2400+ hours. Not every NY firm is like Cravath.

If you want good hours and biglaw, look at Texas, not California.

[Curry]

This thread is getting way off base.

[20160810]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

Yeah, particularly in New York City. 160k in NYC is like a 80k-90k salary elsewhere. In California, you can get 45 hr / wk government jobs that pay that much.

Government jobs are hiring? I think you're a confused 1L.

Your hours depend on your practice group. If you do M&A work, sure, it's going to be unpredictable and long. But other transactional groups have steadier hours. Also, if you work biglaw in ANY city, you're going to be working similar hours.

A lot of midlaw firms will work you at similar hours but pay you less. A lot of PI jobs require long hours for a fraction of the pay.

Also NY averages between 2000-2100 billable hours, more so the first. I don't know where you people got the idea that they are required to bill 2400+ hours. Not every NY firm is like Cravath.

If you want good hours and biglaw, look at Texas, not California.

Read the employment board. There are several posters that do NYC biglaw and will confirm that the hours are worse at almost every firm than biglaw in other cities (except maybe DC). Sure, biglaw's no picnic anywhere, but if you think you're making a career at the firm billing 2000-2100 hours in NYC, you're stoned.

[Kronk]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

I've always fucking worked 80 hours a week and weekends. As a 1L I've clocked between 90 and 120 hours of class + studying pretty consistently for the past 2 months. You really fucking think that I'm going to complain about doing less work and getting paid 160k (if I'm that fortunate, G-d willing), you are out of your fucking mind.

How much time at law school do you spend on your menstrual cycle?

[Kronk]

I'm curious what percentage of TLS posters will lose their biglaw hard-ons when they realize (1.) that $160,000 isn't actually that much money and (2.) how much working 80 hours a week actually sucks.

Yeah, particularly in New York City. 160k in NYC is like a 80k-90k salary elsewhere. In California, you can get 45 hr / wk government jobs that pay that much.

Government jobs are hiring? I think you're a confused 1L.

Your hours depend on your practice group. If you do M&A work, sure, it's going to be unpredictable and long. But other transactional groups have steadier hours. Also, if you work biglaw in ANY city, you're going to be working similar hours.

A lot of midlaw firms will work you at similar hours but pay you less. A lot of PI jobs require long hours for a fraction of the pay.

Also NY averages between 2000-2100 billable hours, more so the first. I don't know where you people got the idea that they are required to bill 2400+ hours. Not every NY firm is like Cravath.

If you want good hours and biglaw, look at Texas, not California.

Government jobs are indeed hiring. There obviously aren't a lot of openings, but there are openings. Federal Public Defenders are hiring in my area right now, amongst others. My point isn't ruined even if you replace government with non-profit though. You can start at 70k or so at a lot of non-profits in the Bay Area.

And as for the COL in SF--it expensive for sure, but you can find spots to live cheaper (like the Mission). In New York, if you want anything cheaper you have to leave Manhattan and live in Brooklyn. Which isn't that bad actually, but isn't Manhattan.