Ideal Biglaw Employment Path Forum

[glitched]

Okay, so if you wanted biglaw, and you had the grades/interviewing ability/good looks to go through any path to get there, what would be your best bet for the most bucks?

This is my guess at the ideal path:
1L Summer: Judical clerkship
2L Summer: SA at law firm
3L Post-graduation employment: A3 Clerkship
Post-clerkship: Associate at law firm

Or would it be better to:
1L Summer: SA at law firm
2L Summer: SA at law firm
3L Post-graduation employment: Associate at law firm

I don't really know what people do for winter... but i am damn well hoping that they... chill.

[bk1]

Well this is certainly putting the cart before the horse.

[protein]

Okay, so if you wanted biglaw, and you had the grades/interviewing ability/good looks to go through any path to get there, what would be your best bet for the most bucks?

This is my guess at the ideal path:
1L Summer: Judical clerkship
2L Summer: SA at law firm
3L Post-graduation employment: A3 Clerkship
Post-clerkship: Associate at law firm

Or would it be better to:
1L Summer: SA at law firm
2L Summer: SA at law firm
3L Post-graduation employment: Associate at law firm

I don't really know what people do for winter... but i am damn well hoping that they... chill.

my, you're a humble one

[glitched]

Okay, so if you wanted biglaw, and you had the grades/interviewing ability/good looks to go through any path to get there, what would be your best bet for the most bucks?

This is my guess at the ideal path:
1L Summer: Judical clerkship
2L Summer: SA at law firm
3L Post-graduation employment: A3 Clerkship
Post-clerkship: Associate at law firm

Or would it be better to:
1L Summer: SA at law firm
2L Summer: SA at law firm
3L Post-graduation employment: Associate at law firm

I don't really know what people do for winter... but i am damn well hoping that they... chill.

my, you're a humble one

i never said i had such qualities. i am saying IF.

[09042014]

1L: SA
2L: SA
1 grad year: A3 feeder Clerkship
2 grad year: Supreme Court Clerkship + $250,000 bonus
Big law wherever you want.

[JamMasterJ]

1L: SA
2L: SA
1 grad year: A3 feeder Clerkship
2 grad year: Supreme Court Clerkship + $250,000 bonus
Big law wherever you want.

DF is always credited



except when he trolls for NU

[09042014]

1L: SA
2L: SA
1 grad year: A3 feeder Clerkship
2 grad year: Supreme Court Clerkship + $250,000 bonus
Big law wherever you want.

DF is always credited



except when he trolls for NU

TBF I say it's as good at Cornell. Which is hugely insulting to NU.

[DaftAndDirect]

I have a feeling no good answers and a lot of speculation are the only things coming out of this thread.

[DaftAndDirect]

I have a feeling no good answers and a lot of speculation are the only things coming out of this thread.

[Law Sauce]

Okay, so if you wanted biglaw, and you had the grades/interviewing ability/good looks to go through any path to get there, what would be your best bet for the most bucks?

Good grades from a good school. Clerkship is just bonus for people who already had biglaw lined up.

[Moxie]

1L: SA
2L: SA
1 grad year: A3 feeder Clerkship
2 grad year: Supreme Court Clerkship + $250,000 bonus
Big law wherever you want.

Basically this, although 1L summer really doesn't make much of a difference. Granted, it's nice to do a 1L SA and get an offer so you don't have to stress about OCI, but if your interests lie somewhere else (PI, gov't, etc.) that summer is the best time to try them out.

A3 clerkships are highly coveted by all firms, and can open doors to the most elite firms. SCOTUS clerkships are even more prestigious.

[Good grades from a good school. Clerkship is just bonus for people who already had biglaw lined up.

But great clerkships can open up doors to firms a student couldn't get before (and are basically a pre-requisite at some firms) Biglaw is great in itself, but there's a reason people would kill to go to firms like W&C, Kellog Huber, etc.

[Law Sauce]

but there's a reason people would kill to go to firms like W&C, Kellog Huber, etc.

Yea but unless Im wrong, money isnt the biggest reason people want these ultra prestigious firms. Bonuses may be higher, but starting pay is similar and reaching partner is harder/impossible. Maybe reaching partner at a different firm is easier after you leave W&C?

[JamMasterJ]

1L: SA
2L: SA
1 grad year: A3 feeder Clerkship
2 grad year: Supreme Court Clerkship + $250,000 bonus
Big law wherever you want.

DF is always credited



except when he trolls for NU

TBF I say it's as good at Cornell. Which is hugely insulting to NU.

I just kidding. I'm actually applying there next cycle if I do well on the Oct LSAT

[Verity]

What's A3? Just want to get the lingo.

[bk1]

What's A3? Just want to get the lingo.

Article III Clerkship

[BackToTheOldHouse]

What's A3? Just want to get the lingo.

Alf, third season
--ImageRemoved--

[Moxie]

but there's a reason people would kill to go to firms like W&C, Kellog Huber, etc.

Yea but unless Im wrong, money isnt the biggest reason people want these ultra prestigious firms. Bonuses may be higher, but starting pay is similar and reaching partner is harder/impossible. Maybe reaching partner at a different firm is easier after you leave W&C?

Well W&C pays a higher salary (and is currently even more than NYC Biglaw salary + bonuses). Susman and Wachtell offer significantly better bonuses than NYC Biglaw, and while I can't find information on Kellogg Huber and similar firms, I imagine they at least match NYC biglaw, and most likely provide higher salaries. Plus, associates that join those firms after clerkships will get a $50,000 or $70,000 bonus (or $250,000 if coming from SCOTUS clerkship), so there's a big financial benefit.

And these "boutiques" often offer better partnership prospects than NYC Biglaw, I'm not sure what would make you think otherwise. Odds aren't good in either situation, but considering the huge summer classes NYC Biglaw firms bring in and how few partners they name every year, they can't be worse anywhere else. (Plus using an example, W&C almost never takes laterals, so all promoted partners have been with the firm since their clerkship ended)

A3 is an Article III clerkship, with US Court of Appeals circuits or a US District Court.

Edit to say: people want these "ultra-prestigious firms" for the prestige and stability. I'm sure money is a factor for many, since their higher salaries are not going to be affected by the economy the way Biglaw bonuses have been.

[glitched]

What's A3? Just want to get the lingo.

Asshol3 Clerkship. You gotta be an asshole to get it..


lol it stands for article 3 clerkship: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Th ... nstitution

[Verity]

thanks all

[Law Sauce]

but there's a reason people would kill to go to firms like W&C, Kellog Huber, etc.

Yea but unless Im wrong, money isnt the biggest reason people want these ultra prestigious firms. Bonuses may be higher, but starting pay is similar and reaching partner is harder/impossible. Maybe reaching partner at a different firm is easier after you leave W&C?

Well W&C pays a higher salary (and is currently even more than NYC Biglaw salary + bonuses). Susman and Wachtell offer significantly better bonuses than NYC Biglaw, and while I can't find information on Kellogg Huber and similar firms, I imagine they at least match NYC biglaw, and most likely provide higher salaries. Plus, associates that join those firms after clerkships will get a $50,000 or $70,000 bonus (or $250,000 if coming from SCOTUS clerkship), so there's a big financial benefit.

And these "boutiques" often offer better partnership prospects than NYC Biglaw, I'm not sure what would make you think otherwise. Odds aren't good in either situation, but considering the huge summer classes NYC Biglaw firms bring in and how few partners they name every year, they can't be worse anywhere else. (Plus using an example, W&C almost never takes laterals, so all promoted partners have been with the firm since their clerkship ended)

A3 is an Article III clerkship, with US Court of Appeals circuits or a US District Court.

Edit to say: people want these "ultra-prestigious firms" for the prestige and stability. I'm sure money is a factor for many, since their higher salaries are not going to be affected by the economy the way Biglaw bonuses have been.

O Ok interesting

[nealric]

Biglaw associate here:

1L summer: nobody really cares as long as you did something law related and can talk about is intelligently. Nobody really cares if some judge let you do free grunt work for them. 1L SA is a great way to make money and get in with a firm if you can swing it. Most firms (including mine) don't really hire 1Ls.
2L summer: summer associate. This is basically mandatory.
Post 3L: start work; clerk if you are into litigation

An article III clerkship is pretty useless if you want to do transactional work.

[quakeroats]

1L: SA
2L: SA
1 grad year: A3 feeder Clerkship
2 grad year: Supreme Court Clerkship + $250,000 bonus
Big law wherever you want.

Only if you want litigation. 250k sounds like a lot until you consider taxes, and the salary and bonuses you missed.

[Verity]

Biglaw associate here:

1L summer: nobody really cares as long as you did something law related and can talk about is intelligently. Nobody really cares if some judge let you do free grunt work for them. 1L SA is a great way to make money and get in with a firm if you can swing it. Most firms (including mine) don't really hire 1Ls.
2L summer: summer associate. This is basically mandatory.
Post 3L: start work; clerk if you are into litigation

An article III clerkship is pretty useless if you want to do transactional work.

Interested in the bolded. Will firms hire you for transactional work with the same bonuses and general receptivity? Or if you want M&A at WLRK will you basically have wasted a few years?

[Renzo]

Biglaw associate here:

1L summer: nobody really cares as long as you did something law related and can talk about is intelligently. Nobody really cares if some judge let you do free grunt work for them. 1L SA is a great way to make money and get in with a firm if you can swing it. Most firms (including mine) don't really hire 1Ls.
2L summer: summer associate. This is basically mandatory.
Post 3L: start work; clerk if you are into litigation

An article III clerkship is pretty useless if you want to do transactional work.

Interested in the bolded. Will firms hire you for transactional work with the same bonuses and general receptivity? Or if you want M&A at WLRK will you basically have wasted a few years?

You will have wasted your time, but you might still get a bonus. Many firms, however, only give class year credit/bonuses if you're coming into litigation. After all, what have you learned about about mezzanine debt structures while you were clerking that would justify it?

[Verity]

Biglaw associate here:

1L summer: nobody really cares as long as you did something law related and can talk about is intelligently. Nobody really cares if some judge let you do free grunt work for them. 1L SA is a great way to make money and get in with a firm if you can swing it. Most firms (including mine) don't really hire 1Ls.
2L summer: summer associate. This is basically mandatory.
Post 3L: start work; clerk if you are into litigation

An article III clerkship is pretty useless if you want to do transactional work.

Interested in the bolded. Will firms hire you for transactional work with the same bonuses and general receptivity? Or if you want M&A at WLRK will you basically have wasted a few years?

You will have wasted your time, but you might still get a bonus. Many firms, however, only give class year credit/bonuses if you're coming into litigation. After all, what have you learned about about mezzanine debt structures while you were clerking that would justify it?

Yeah, I prefer orchestra too.