Kirkland Chicago Forum

[Anonymous User]

I don't know about the Chicago office but I summered in Kirkland's D.C. office and it was definitely not miserable. People worked hard but they really liked it. And that was more than repeating the summer talking points. I had two friends from college who were in their first few years there (I did something else for a while before law school so my college classmates were ahead of me) and they gave me the straight scoop.

Of course, offices vary so that probably isn't very helpful for Chicago.

Summer Associates are given the party line. If you tell a summer that working their blows someone will come yell at you.

Lol this

I'm the quoted anon maligned above. Look, I get what you're saying. And I'd generally agree. I know that's how it goes. That's why I made a point of explaining that this was different. They talked to me about things off the record and I kept it off the record. They also shared plenty of information about various people at the firm that confirmed my belief they weren't holding back. Of course, I'm sure there are others out there who had a different experience. It was anecdotal anyway.

[Anonymous User]

Everyone lies to summers. You have the lie you tell to them on the record and then the lie you tell them off the record. Its all lies. No one will tell you the truth because it's not worth having the hiring partner screaming into your ear 3 weeks letter when the dipshit summer tells them why they're not coming back.

And I LIKE my job. It's just not worth saying ANYTHING substantive to a summer.

I don't know about the Chicago office but I summered in Kirkland's D.C. office and it was definitely not miserable. People worked hard but they really liked it. And that was more than repeating the summer talking points. I had two friends from college who were in their first few years there (I did something else for a while before law school so my college classmates were ahead of me) and they gave me the straight scoop.

Of course, offices vary so that probably isn't very helpful for Chicago.

Summer Associates are given the party line. If you tell a summer that working their blows someone will come yell at you.

Lol this

I'm the quoted anon maligned above. Look, I get what you're saying. And I'd generally agree. I know that's how it goes. That's why I made a point of explaining that this was different. They talked to me about things off the record and I kept it off the record. They also shared plenty of information about various people at the firm that confirmed my belief they weren't holding back. Of course, I'm sure there are others out there who had a different experience. It was anecdotal anyway.

[09042014]

If your off the record convo didn't mention that most people hate big law, they were still lying.

[los blancos]

Best transactional chicago firm. Lit is harder. You shouldn't do general lit, so pick what type of lit you want and see which Chicago firm does it best.

Can you expand on why lit is harder and why you shouldn't do general lit?

I meant picking the best lit firm in chicago is a harder choice. First there are some elite boutiques that are better. Second, Sidley, and Mayer are basically peers. Jenner, Jones, Day, Night & Weekends, and WinsTTTon etc. are in the same league.

You shouldn't do general lit because it's a surefire way for you to end up with no specialty and no exit options.

Anyone know what some of the in-demand commercial lit subspecialties are these days?

[911 crisis actor]

Space law and complex space law litigation

[09042014]

Best transactional chicago firm. Lit is harder. You shouldn't do general lit, so pick what type of lit you want and see which Chicago firm does it best.

Can you expand on why lit is harder and why you shouldn't do general lit?

I meant picking the best lit firm in chicago is a harder choice. First there are some elite boutiques that are better. Second, Sidley, and Mayer are basically peers. Jenner, Jones, Day, Night & Weekends, and WinsTTTon etc. are in the same league.

You shouldn't do general lit because it's a surefire way for you to end up with no specialty and no exit options.

Anyone know what some of the in-demand commercial lit subspecialties are these days?

Not totally sure but I think IP, employment, antitrust (but that goes cold when republicans win), securities and banking, FCPA, and energy.

[bjsesq]

Anti-Trust is going to get a shitload bigger, particularly in the health care sector, because of the ACA. It is forcing medical organizations to consolidate to deal with capitation and the FTC is starting to go into freak out mode. See http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories ... itals.aspx.