Insights on DC Firms? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I apologize for my 0L-ness, but any idea of the selectivity of some of the lower ranked firmed in DC like Venable, Steptoe, etc, (I know that rankings mean less and less a you diverge from NYC and corporate) like will you still need absolutely stellar grades from a t-14?

You need at least solid grades for any DC V100, but outside W&C, Covington, Wilmer, and a few branch offices like Gibson or Jenner, they don't have to be "absolutely stellar." But I think below say top 1/4 at a T14, you're in choppy water. However, remember that most DC firms that aren't Covington, Wilmer, Hogan, etc, have quite small summer classes. So a lot comes down to fit and execution in the interviews. I had a V5 offer in NYC and no V100 offers in DC, while my friend with similar grades from the same school went to Sidley DC.

[dood]

I apologize for my 0L-ness, but any idea of the selectivity of some of the lower ranked firmed in DC like Venable, Steptoe, etc, (I know that rankings mean less and less a you diverge from NYC and corporate) like will you still need absolutely stellar grades from a t-14?

You need at least solid grades for any DC V100, but outside W&C, Covington, Wilmer, and a few branch offices like Gibson or Jenner, they don't have to be "absolutely stellar." But I think below say top 1/4 at a T14, you're in choppy water. However, remember that most DC firms that aren't Covington, Wilmer, Hogan, etc, have quite small summer classes. So a lot comes down to fit and execution in the interviews. I had a V5 offer in NYC and no V100 offers in DC, while my friend with similar grades from the same school went to Sidley DC.

agree with this. also, as someone mentioned, many offices in DC have smaller, more specialized practices -- these will absolutely want someone who fits that practice.

[Anonymous User]

I apologize for my 0L-ness, but any idea of the selectivity of some of the lower ranked firmed in DC like Venable, Steptoe, etc, (I know that rankings mean less and less a you diverge from NYC and corporate) like will you still need absolutely stellar grades from a t-14?

You need at least solid grades for any DC V100, but outside W&C, Covington, Wilmer, and a few branch offices like Gibson or Jenner, they don't have to be "absolutely stellar." But I think below say top 1/4 at a T14, you're in choppy water. However, remember that most DC firms that aren't Covington, Wilmer, Hogan, etc, have quite small summer classes. So a lot comes down to fit and execution in the interviews. I had a V5 offer in NYC and no V100 offers in DC, while my friend with similar grades from the same school went to Sidley DC.

I'm top 10-15% at a t-14 and just from feeling around the DC firms I still don't feel confident it's good enough to land a good DC gig because it's not Law Review. As am 0L what should you expect you need if you are dead set on a solid DC firm? Law Review at T-14. Please realize how extremely unlikely that is for you (anyone). Even a good amount of LR folks come up empty in DC

If you want to do a little experiment, go on a DC firms website and rea the bios of their associates. If they are not diverse, odds are they were law review at a T-14

[bdubs]

I'm top 10-15% at a t-14 and just from feeling around the DC firms I still don't feel confident it's good enough to land a good DC gig because it's not Law Review. As am 0L what should you expect you need if you are dead set on a solid DC firm? Law Review at T-14. Please realize how extremely unlikely that is for you (anyone). Even a good amount of LR folks come up empty in DC

I think this might be overly pessimistic. Not every DC firm is filled with exclusively HYS or T-14+LR. It's very possible to get a number of offers from DC firms without being on LR, but it isn't guaranteed either. Your best bet is to hedge yourself by focusing on DC and another market where you can be competitive, regardless of where in the class you fall.

When it comes time to choose a bid list for DC you should be cognizant of the GPA requirements of the various firms at your school and the relative size of their classes. Playing your cards right will maximize your chances of having a realistic possibility of winding up in DC.

Other factors than grades like URM status, ties, school, and previous WE in a field can also play a big role in your level of success too.

[FSK]

I'm top 10-15% at a t-14 and just from feeling around the DC firms I still don't feel confident it's good enough to land a good DC gig because it's not Law Review. As am 0L what should you expect you need if you are dead set on a solid DC firm? Law Review at T-14. Please realize how extremely unlikely that is for you (anyone). Even a good amount of LR folks come up empty in DC

I think this might be overly pessimistic. Not every DC firm is filled with exclusively HYS or T-14+LR. It's very possible to get a number of offers from DC firms without being on LR, but it isn't guaranteed either. Your best bet is to hedge yourself by focusing on DC and another market where you can be competitive, regardless of where in the class you fall.

When it comes time to choose a bid list for DC you should be cognizant of the GPA requirements of the various firms at your school and the relative size of their classes. Playing your cards right will maximize your chances of having a realistic possibility of winding up in DC.

Other factors than grades like URM status, ties, school, and previous WE in a field can also play a big role in your level of success too.

Yeah. I go to GW, so I have a skewed set of data to look at, but there's certainly tiers. A&P/Covington/Wilmer/W&C are clearly one tier, but then Hogan/Venable are much more accessible...

[mt2165]

So a not completely random slightly related question, if one is primarily interested in DC-centric practices (regulatory/government affairs/lobbying) do those practices have even slight (non-negligible) presences in other markets or should you just stick to DC? I don't think I want DC over NYU for the actual city just the practice areas and the potential to lateral into biggov.

USER WAS BANNED FOR POSTING AS A 0L

[Anonymous User]

I've seen firms at SLS that have 40% Hs (maybe top 45-40%) median for callbacks for their LA or NY office and 75% Hs (better than top 10%) median in DC. DC is crazy.