WLRK Chances? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the reply. The conventional wisdom for Corp biglaw holds that exit opps (in house, etc.) are maximized around year 3-4. Is your sense that great exits from WLRK are possible earlier than that (years 2-3)?

(Different anon, same reason.)

The reasoning behind leaving as a 3rd-5th year doesn't change because you're billing a ton of hours and have a cool name on your résumé, or else the same would be true of other V10 M&A practices. In your midlevel years, you've only just started to have a grip on what is happening around you. You're building meaningful trust with clients. Nobody wants you for their AGC role before then.

Seems like a question worth asking, because I have to imagine that the risk of associate burnout is higher at WLRK than some peer shops

Not sure this is true. As mentioned above, 1) they take really good care of their people and 2) hiring is tilted, relative to other firms, toward indicia of being able to handle the workload for long periods of time (banking/consulting experience, excellent LS grades, honors from top undergrads, etc.).

If you're worried you might want to pull the ripcord halfway through your first/second year, I'd reconsider whether this is really what you want. Sorry if that sounds paternalistic. Someone with OP's qualifications has a plethora of other options.

Could you talk a bit more about what you mean by "they take really good care of their people"? Putting aside the psychological toll that working in WLRK M&A might have, I've always wondered how associates at the firm cope with the physical and "logistical" demands of the job. As in, if all-nighters for 3 or 4 days in a row is the norm at WLRK, how do you actually function? Do you leave the office? Can you nap/shower/change/eat/etc. there - and is it all provided/covered by the firm? We always hear about "horror stories" of working in M&A in general and everyone seems to say WLRK is more workaholic than anywhere else, but there has to be a limit to what people can physically and logistically manage, right?

[Anonymous User]

Could you talk a bit more about what you mean by "they take really good care of their people"?

$$$$$$

[Pennoyer v. Meh]

Could you talk a bit more about what you mean by "they take really good care of their people"?

[Anonymous User]

Any wlrk offers out yet?

[Anonymous User]

Could you talk a bit more about what you mean by "they take really good care of their people"?

$$$$$$

Historically (other than around the '08 recession) WLRK bonuses for all associates have been 100% of their base comp. Recently, there have even been a few years where the bonus was greater than 100% of base comp. Other factors include on-demand meal service (not sure how/if that's changed during WFH), much more targeted investment in later career opportunities, and other perks that are only possible at a place of that size/profitability/prestige.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have an update on wlrk offers?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have an update on wlrk offers?

Still silence for me, cb earlier this week. Gotta imagine that ppl with cbs at the end of last week have heard back one way or the other

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have an update on wlrk offers?

Still silence for me, cb earlier this week. Gotta imagine that ppl with cbs at the end of last week have heard back one way or the other

Person with CB last week. Have not heard back at all.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have an update on wlrk offers?

Still silence for me, cb earlier this week. Gotta imagine that ppl with cbs at the end of last week have heard back one way or the other

Had a callback about a week ago. Nothing yet. A friend of mine had one around the same time and hasn't heard either.

[Anonymous User]

Finally got my ding (cb earlier this week)

[1000xEBITDA]

Any idea whether prior bulge bracket IBD experience and megafund PE investing experience would offer a meaningful boost for WLRK? Coming from HYS, average grades.

[Anonymous User]

I was previously an associate at WLRK, so posting anon:

Wachtell is a M&A firm, then a corporate firm, then a lit firm. What I mean by that is the power in the firm is concentrated in those practice areas in that order. Your best chance to build relationships to have a long lasting career at WLRK is to join those practices. If you just want the name on your resume, niche practices are strong and capable, but very hard to make partner from.

Lateraling is generally for WLRK caliber associates that were missed at OCI. When I was there, I think all of the laterals graduated from Yale law and they were superstars at firms like Sullivan, Kirkland, Cravath, etc. Even so, only about two laterals joined each year.

Wachtell does not give same day offers.

I am not at the firm anymore but I can tell you that it is worth it to be there. It is a fantastic place to practice law. You will work hard, you will grow as a lawyer, and you'll be permitted to make contacts and build relationships that will propel the rest of your career whether with the firm or not. Oh, and they take very good care of their people.

Can you say a bit more about Wachtell's litigation practice? You say it is behind M&A and corporate in power. How hard is it to make partner in that group?

Sure. Wachtell's litigation practice is fantastic. I think they absolutely excel in defending shareholder litigation, have a great securities litigation practice, are top notch in merger lit and have a superb white collar practice. Your best chance to make partner is to hitch your wagon to a powerful partner and do great work for them for eight years. The partners with influence tend to have success in making their favorite associates partners. This is probably the least egalitarian thing about WLRK, but in general, the people who make partner work exceptionally hard and deserve it.

A word of caution: if you want to make partner at WLRK, stay away from white collar or make it a very small part of your overall practice. Very few white collar associates make partner. Conversely, if you want to be an AUSA or go to government, there may not be a single better firm in the country in placing its associates in plum government positions.

In sum, I think my assessment is that it is somewhat easier than it is at peer firms to make partner in the litigation practice if you are able to stick it out and have a powerful advocate. Some litigators who do not make it are cast into a counsel role and then made partner some years later so that is also a path (though most counsel remain such for the duration of their WLRK careers).

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have an update on wlrk offers?

Still silence for me, cb earlier this week. Gotta imagine that ppl with cbs at the end of last week have heard back one way or the other

Had a callback about a week ago. Nothing yet. A friend of mine had one around the same time and hasn't heard either.

My understanding is that at each meeting they give some offers, ding some people and hold some people for further consideration. If you haven’t heard, it probably means you’re still under consideration.

[Anonymous User]

Any idea whether prior bulge bracket IBD experience and megafund PE investing experience would offer a meaningful boost for WLRK? Coming from HYS, average grades.

My guess is you're better positioned than KJDs from CCN with top 10% grades and no real finance experience.

[Anonymous User]

Any idea whether prior bulge bracket IBD experience and megafund PE investing experience would offer a meaningful boost for WLRK? Coming from HYS, average grades.

My guess is you're better positioned than KJDs from CCN with top 10% grades and no real finance experience.

Also curious: I’m roughly top 15-20% at CCN (not sure what an A- average works out to), with financial advisory experience at a non-IB/MBB but international firm. Really interested in corporate governance issues and did my undergraduate thesis on a related topic, if that makes any difference.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Any idea whether prior bulge bracket IBD experience and megafund PE investing experience would offer a meaningful boost for WLRK? Coming from HYS, average grades.

My guess is you're better positioned than KJDs from CCN with top 10% grades and no real finance experience.

Eh, I doubt average grades from HLS will cut it, based purely off of historical EIP trends, assuming "average" means three or four H's. OP's background is appealing but won't overcome the grades threshold because there are presumably also people at magna with IBD experience. Wouldn't know about Y/S.

[Anonymous User]

Any idea whether prior bulge bracket IBD experience and megafund PE investing experience would offer a meaningful boost for WLRK? Coming from HYS, average grades.

My guess is you're better positioned than KJDs from CCN with top 10% grades and no real finance experience.

Eh, I doubt average grades from HLS will cut it, based purely off of historical EIP trends, assuming "average" means three or four H's. OP's background is appealing but won't overcome the grades threshold because there are presumably also people at magna with IBD experience. Wouldn't know about Y/S.

I agree with this, but in my (very limited) experience knowing who got offered and who didnt, the value of finance related work experience is being overstated. Great grades + some ability to demonstrate interest and competence in business/corporate governance is what you need. That second factor can be related to prior work experience in finance, or can be something else (like "I worked for a company that was involved in a proxy battle and got interested in corporate governance"). IME magna grades + no finance bg but some other somewhat believable story (i.e., not "i liked wolf of wall street) is sufficient, but average grades + finance bg is not.

[Anonymous User]

Any idea whether prior bulge bracket IBD experience and megafund PE investing experience would offer a meaningful boost for WLRK? Coming from HYS, average grades.

My guess is you're better positioned than KJDs from CCN with top 10% grades and no real finance experience.

Eh, I doubt average grades from HLS will cut it, based purely off of historical EIP trends, assuming "average" means three or four H's. OP's background is appealing but won't overcome the grades threshold because there are presumably also people at magna with IBD experience. Wouldn't know about Y/S.

I agree with this, but in my (very limited) experience knowing who got offered and who didnt, the value of finance related work experience is being overstated. Great grades + some ability to demonstrate interest and competence in business/corporate governance is what you need. That second factor can be related to prior work experience in finance, or can be something else (like "I worked for a company that was involved in a proxy battle and got interested in corporate governance"). IME magna grades + no finance bg but some other somewhat believable story (i.e., not "i liked wolf of wall street) is sufficient, but average grades + finance bg is not.

...I think the better question is if you truly had that experience, why on earth would you go to law school? You could be working at far more prestigious organizations with better pay than Wachtell. (Unless you worked in back office and you're overstating your actual role/involvement in these organizations...)

[Anonymous User]

Any idea whether prior bulge bracket IBD experience and megafund PE investing experience would offer a meaningful boost for WLRK? Coming from HYS, average grades.

My guess is you're better positioned than KJDs from CCN with top 10% grades and no real finance experience.

Eh, I doubt average grades from HLS will cut it, based purely off of historical EIP trends, assuming "average" means three or four H's. OP's background is appealing but won't overcome the grades threshold because there are presumably also people at magna with IBD experience. Wouldn't know about Y/S.

I agree with this, but in my (very limited) experience knowing who got offered and who didnt, the value of finance related work experience is being overstated. Great grades + some ability to demonstrate interest and competence in business/corporate governance is what you need. That second factor can be related to prior work experience in finance, or can be something else (like "I worked for a company that was involved in a proxy battle and got interested in corporate governance"). IME magna grades + no finance bg but some other somewhat believable story (i.e., not "i liked wolf of wall street) is sufficient, but average grades + finance bg is not.

Agreed. I was top 15% from T10 (not target schools for WLRK) with Top BB IBD (GS/MS)+buyside background, and I was not even invited to the interview.

[Anonymous User]

Any idea if - all else equal - offer chances are higher or lower for a prospective litigation associate at WLRK? Separately, are hours expectations the same for litigation as corporate?

[Anonymous User]

Any idea if - all else equal - offer chances are higher or lower for a prospective litigation associate at WLRK? Separately, are hours expectations the same for litigation as corporate?

[Sackboy]

Any idea if - all else equal - offer chances are higher or lower for a prospective litigation associate at WLRK? Separately, are hours expectations the same for litigation as corporate?

This is about as hired gun as it gets. Poster clearly doesn't care about what they do and just wants that $$$$$ for as little work as possible.