Top Law Schools

What qualifies a firm as "biglaw"?

Here's one source's "Top 250 Firms" (based on number of attorneys): http://www.ilrg.com/nlj250

Would all 250 qualify as "biglaw"? Or just the top 100?..50?...5? Or are there even more than this list of 250?

Thanks,
HHH

No-no on the double post, dear.

Biglaw is defined by the size of the building occupied by a particular firm.

For example:
--ImageRemoved--
Biglaw

--ImageRemoved--
Midlaw


Smalllaw (it's in the back, next to the Subway)

Any questions?

EDIT: I suppose I'll try and be a bit helpful too. Search reveals: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =2&t=31365

Let's be nice, now.

I'd answer if I actually knew, HHH.

notanumber: I, like you, enjoy searching for fun pics to spice up my hilarious posts. I know it takes extra time and effort so I want to give you props on the entertaining entry.

hungryhippo: I think there are two camps...One that defines it by size, the other by salary. By and large the bigger the firm the bigger the salary (as far as I can tell) but there are smaller elite boutiques that pay top dolla.

I think this story answers your question: http://www.ketv.com/news/20197534/detail.html

ruleser wrote:I think this story answers your question: http://www.ketv.com/news/20197534/detail.html

Ummmmm that's tragic. A guy fails a performance test and then sues because he doesn't like why he failed it?

OP, I can honestly say that although I throw the term "Big Law" around frequently, I have no idea what it means. In my head I imagine it to be a firm that has a combination of the following:

- in a physically large building
- starting salary of $120K+
- large number of employees

"Big Law" is a term used primarily by 0 and 1L's much in the same way undergraduate business school students refer to "The Fortune 500."

It's a very douchey term.

jerzgrl630 wrote:

ruleser wrote:I think this story answers your question: http://www.ketv.com/news/20197534/detail.html

Ummmmm that's tragic. A guy fails a performance test and then sues because he doesn't like why he failed it?

OP, I can honestly say that although I throw the term "Big Law" around frequently, I have no idea what it means. In my head I imagine it to be a firm that has a combination of the following:

- in a physically large building
- starting salary of $120K+
- large number of employees

I was going for the pun: overweight cop=Big Law

Maybe lost in the depth of the article

Biglaw refers to the #of employees at a firm

"Biglaw" is a legendary and mythical creature that many believe exists in various concrete jungles throughout the world. Sightings of him such as this one . . .



AHHH!

. . . clearly suggest that he is real.

Doritos wrote:notanumber: I, like you, enjoy searching for fun pics to spice up my hilarious posts. I know it takes extra time and effort so I want to give you props on the entertaining entry.

hungryhippo: I think there are two camps...One that defines it by size, the other by salary. By and large the bigger the firm the bigger the salary (as far as I can tell) but there are smaller elite boutiques that pay top dolla.

awesome Avatar

Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

Is this a serious comment?

T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

+1

ruleser wrote:

jerzgrl630 wrote:

ruleser wrote:I think this story answers your question: http://www.ketv.com/news/20197534/detail.html

Ummmmm that's tragic. A guy fails a performance test and then sues because he doesn't like why he failed it?

OP, I can honestly say that although I throw the term "Big Law" around frequently, I have no idea what it means. In my head I imagine it to be a firm that has a combination of the following:

- in a physically large building
- starting salary of $120K+
- large number of employees

I was going for the pun: overweight cop=Big Law

Maybe lost in the depth of the article

ummmmm yeah i got it. i figured i could get the joke AND comment on the ridiculousness of the article.

T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

Hi flame.

D. H2Oman wrote:

T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

+1

Well, I guess the both of you, with your particular brand of values, can look forward to your numerous divorces and alimony payments!

scionb4 wrote:

D. H2Oman wrote:

T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

+1

Well, I guess the both of you, with your particular brand of values, can look forward to your numerous divorces and alimony payments!

To be fair, that's all anyone can hope for.

hth

kittenmittons wrote:To be fair, that's all anyone can hope for.

hth

Pessimism win.

If Your law office looks like the above picture, its safe to say you do not work in biglaw.

Generally speaking, biglaw is a firm with more than about 200 lawyers, with more than one major office that pays the "market rate," i.e. the highest that anyone can reasonably expect to earn in a particular jurisdiction. In NY, if your starting salary is not 160K, exclusive of bonus, you do not work in biglaw.

reasonable_man wrote:

If Your law office looks like the above picture, its safe to say you do not work in biglaw.

Generally speaking, biglaw is a firm with more than about 200 lawyers, with more than one major office that pays the "market rate," i.e. the highest that anyone can reasonably expect to earn in a particular jurisdiction. In NY, if your starting salary is not 160K, exclusive of bonus, you do not work in biglaw.

Did you pull that definition out of your @$$?

I don't post here a lot, and since I actually started law school, I don't lurk as much, either, but it always baffles me when people have the idiocy to make personal attacks and try to shoot RM down. Maybe try spending a little time figuring out who you're talking to and consider that maybe he knows about this. Whereas you are the one pulling something out of your ass.

T14_Scholly wrote:

reasonable_man wrote:

If Your law office looks like the above picture, its safe to say you do not work in biglaw.

Generally speaking, biglaw is a firm with more than about 200 lawyers, with more than one major office that pays the "market rate," i.e. the highest that anyone can reasonably expect to earn in a particular jurisdiction. In NY, if your starting salary is not 160K, exclusive of bonus, you do not work in biglaw.

Did you pull that definition out of your @$$?

No. I pulled it from my 6 years of experience working in mid-sized law firms in NYC (2 of which as an attorney). Please explain to me how my definition is defective. I would LOVE to hear this...

scionb4 wrote:

T14_Scholly wrote:Biglaw is where you go if you want to have any worth as a lawyer and as a person.

Is this a serious comment?

No, it's a jealous one.