most laid back firm of V10, V20 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Within the V20, Jones Day seems to have a pretty solid work-live balance (only if measured on a BigLaw scale, of course). People were almost all gone from the office by 7:30 (unsure how much remote work happened from home later) etc. And they explicitly disclaim tying compensation to billable hours. The expectation is still somewhere in the 1900 to 2000 range (200 of which can be pro bono), but there isn't a lot of pressure to be hitting the higher numbers. HTH.

fwiw I have heard the exact opposite about Jones Day (s, Nights, and Weekends)

I'm the first anon above. I can only speak to the DC office so maybe it's different elsewhere. Honestly, I think the Jones Day joke exists more because it's an obvious play on words than because it's actually true (or at least compared to other V20 firms in DC/NYC). I have heard that the Texas office(s) refer to the NYC/DC offices that way; welcome to the big city. But people also refer to the firm as Mother Jones, not because it bears any resemblance to the liberal/progressive magazine but because it's a natural play on words and evokes a funny mental image. Ok carry on.

[Anonymous User]

Within the V20, Jones Day seems to have a pretty solid work-live balance (only if measured on a BigLaw scale, of course). People were almost all gone from the office by 7:30 (unsure how much remote work happened from home later) etc. And they explicitly disclaim tying compensation to billable hours. The expectation is still somewhere in the 1900 to 2000 range (200 of which can be pro bono), but there isn't a lot of pressure to be hitting the higher numbers. HTH.

fwiw I have heard the exact opposite about Jones Day (s, Nights, and Weekends)

I'm the first anon above. I can only speak to the DC office so maybe it's different elsewhere. Honestly, I think the Jones Day joke exists more because it's an obvious play on words than because it's actually true (or at least compared to other V20 firms in DC/NYC). I have heard that the Texas office(s) refer to the NYC/DC offices that way; welcome to the big city. But people also refer to the firm as Mother Jones, not because it bears any resemblance to the liberal/progressive magazine but because it's a natural play on words and evokes a funny mental image. Ok carry on.

Agreed that its just a joke play on words, and not meant to actually imply that the hours at Jones Day are any worse than anywhere else. In fact, after spending a summer there, always seemed like office was dead and pretty empty by about 7-7:30. Of course, hours, lifestyle, "laid back"-ness, etc. all depend on group. When I was there, people in real estate, for example, seemed especially high strung and stressed, working very long hours, but people in more niche groups such as labor and employment seemed far more laid back, worked a more humane schedule, and seemed far more satisfied overall. So it really varies.

[IAFG]

Trying to distinguish between NYC V20s is silly because they're largely made up of the same people. The same associates and partners, trained at the same schools, hired for similar reasons, lateralling around servicing the same clients. Yes, there are some superficial differences. If what you mean is "can I wear jeans to work?" We can help you with that.

[rayiner]

Hours "requirements" are flame. There are lots of V20's which really do meant it when they say their expectation is 1900-2000 hours. But these also staff work by picking th least busy people. So the push isn't to do more than that for the sake of hours, it's doing your fair share of the work when everyone is busy.

[dixiecupdrinking]

What a lynch mob. It's not crazy to think that there might be a cultural difference between S&C, Covington, and Debevoise, or whatever. Unfortunately thesealocust's post about firm stereotypes is probably about as precise as you can get as far as this information goes, but I don't think it's a stupid question.

[IAFG]

What a lynch mob. It's not crazy to think that there might be a cultural difference between S&C, Covington, and Debevoise, or whatever. Unfortunately thesealocust's post about firm stereotypes is probably about as precise as you can get as far as this information goes, but I don't think it's a stupid question.

No, it's not crazy to think they might have meaningful differences. But do they actually?

[letsdoit]

Its practice area/location, not really firm. 1) Don't work in NYC; 2) Do work in tax or regulatory. Do not go into corporate (unpredictable hours) or lit (constantly chugging hours).

what makes you say "do tax/regulatory"?

[thesealocust]

What a lynch mob. It's not crazy to think that there might be a cultural difference between S&C, Covington, and Debevoise, or whatever. Unfortunately thesealocust's post about firm stereotypes is probably about as precise as you can get as far as this information goes, but I don't think it's a stupid question.

Right, but OP asked about "laid back" twice, not cultural differences, and it's absurd to think any of these firms are anything but the opposite of laid back.

I'm actually pretty impressed with my first reply. I mean, people do spend time talking about the relative safety of motorcycles... it's just a little absurd that they do, because they're all two-wheeled death machines.

[Jimbo_Jones]

Yo OP, you don't get to the top of the pack by being laid back. Just sayin'

[84651846190]

Yo OP, you don't get to (or stay at) the top of the pack by being laid back. Just sayin'

FTFY.

[dixiecupdrinking]

What a lynch mob. It's not crazy to think that there might be a cultural difference between S&C, Covington, and Debevoise, or whatever. Unfortunately thesealocust's post about firm stereotypes is probably about as precise as you can get as far as this information goes, but I don't think it's a stupid question.

Right, but OP asked about "laid back" twice, not cultural differences, and it's absurd to think any of these firms are anything but the opposite of laid back.

I'm actually pretty impressed with my first reply. I mean, people do spend time talking about the relative safety of motorcycles... it's just a little absurd that they do, because they're all two-wheeled death machines.

Yeah, to be honest I'm impressed with it, too.

[JamesDean1955]

What a lynch mob. It's not crazy to think that there might be a cultural difference between S&C, Covington, and Debevoise, or whatever. Unfortunately thesealocust's post about firm stereotypes is probably about as precise as you can get as far as this information goes, but I don't think it's a stupid question.

Right, but OP asked about "laid back" twice, not cultural differences, and it's absurd to think any of these firms are anything but the opposite of laid back.

I'm actually pretty impressed with my first reply. I mean, people do spend time talking about the relative safety of motorcycles... it's just a little absurd that they do, because they're all two-wheeled death machines.

Yeah, to be honest I'm impressed with it, too.

I don't know, I mean, it was OK.

[r6_philly]

Which motorcycle is the safest?

Mine!

[thesealocust]

Which motorcycle is the safest?

Mine!

An R6? Yeah no

Somebody parks a pristine white 848 right outside of my apartment. It fill me with a primal yearning.

[r6_philly]

Which motorcycle is the safest?

Mine!

An R6? Yeah no

Somebody parks a pristine white 848 right outside of my apartment. It fill me with a primal yearning.

R6 was the first time I raced on. I will pick my AMA Formula Xtreme bike (it was loosely a ZX10 but nothing stock) over anything anyone can come up here

Basically, I make anything go fast

[Big Shrimpin]

There is no laid back in big city biglaw, just varying levels of office formality and numbers of people who like to get drunk during the week.

[Tanicius]

There is no laid back in big city biglaw, just varying levels of office formality and numbers of people who like to get drunk during the week.

Disagree. There were some firms I did for callbacks for in LA there are legitimately low-key. Smaller offices tend to be better from what I've seen.

[09042014]

There is no laid back in big city biglaw, just varying levels of office formality and numbers of people who like to get drunk during the week.

Disagree. There were some firms I did for callbacks for in LA there are legitimately low-key. Smaller offices tend to be better from what I've seen.

How would you possibly know this from a callback.

[formerprelawhopeful]

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz FTW

[IAFG]

There is no laid back in big city biglaw, just varying levels of office formality and numbers of people who like to get drunk during the week.

Disagree. There were some firms I did for callbacks for in LA there are legitimately low-key. Smaller offices tend to be better from what I've seen.

How would you possibly know this from a callback.

Dude, because the associates said so. Duh.

[09042014]

There is no laid back in big city biglaw, just varying levels of office formality and numbers of people who like to get drunk during the week.

Disagree. There were some firms I did for callbacks for in LA there are legitimately low-key. Smaller offices tend to be better from what I've seen.

How would you possibly know this from a callback.

Dude, because the associates said so. Duh.

Multiple Quinn associates told me that they don't work a lot.

[84651846190]

All of the Quinn associates I know work extremely hard. Like 2600-2800 hard.

[09042014]

All of the Quinn associates I know work extremely hard. Like 2600-2800 hard.

Yea, which is why it's funny they told me they didn't.

[Tanicius]

I met a Quinn associate who straight up told me she sleeps under her desk and not to go there. As for the LA firm that I did a callback with, it wasn't just associates and partners emphasizing it; one of my best friends who's a year above me did her summer there and loved it for its culture.

[Big Shrimpin]

There is no laid back in big city biglaw, just varying levels of office formality and numbers of people who like to get drunk during the week.

Disagree. There were some firms I did for callbacks for in LA there are legitimately low-key. Smaller offices tend to be better from what I've seen.

How would you possibly know this from a callback.

Dude, because the associates said so. Duh.

TYFT

Every firm pulls the wool over interviewees' eyes. Hell, most firms shield summers from work.