Quinn Forum

[Anonymous User]

Yes, me. I've been an associate there for years. It's an awesome place to work. Significantly above-market pay (due to the little-known retention bonus), reasonable hours expectation (2100, extra comp if you bill more than that), 100% WFH forever, informal and fun culture, can do plaintiff-side work if interested, total free market system so associates have control over their practices - and by extension their lives.

In sum: It is a transparent firm that offers its associates a very fair deal.

And the culture thing is huge for me. I worked at several other law firms before and found the atmosphere to be oppressive, stuffy, and permeated by fear. Offices where you could hear a pin drop, everyone was on edge, and associates were dropping like flies every week. Quinn is not like that. Most of my colleagues are very happy to be here. It is actually is a pretty laid-back place that has retained some of its west coast startup identity. Yes the hours can be long and this type of work entails a certain level of unavoidable stress and pressure but QE provides an environment that is refreshingly devoid of BS - and I think about as fun as big law can be.

There is a lot of misinformation about Quinn on these forums. Happy to answer any questions.

I'm trying to land a spot with Quinn.
Is the 100% WFM for EVERYONE? Or, just those hired for remote positions?

[Anonymous User]

This is the retention bonus: https://www.abajournal.com/news/article ... fter_three

Re: 2100 hours- how many hours do you think the typical V10 lit associate bills annually (I think it’s fair to consider Quinn a top-10 lit firm)?

2100 is a lot less than some top lit groups expect (e.g. cravath, wachtell). IMO it’s closer to median for a top lit firm, not the crazy high outlier some suggest.

There may be firms where you can bill a bit less, but not many peer firms, I don’t think.

So while the hours aren’t low, they’re also not the worst, and not high enough to offset all the unique advantages Quinn offers (in my assessment, at least).

If you're in the firm you should be able to provide more than a public link. What's your year and overall comp for '22?

Seconding this request. Can anyone provide their year, approx. hours, and total comp (specifically how much is vested vs. unvested supplemental bonus)? The article is sort of helpful but it's from 2017 and says supplemental bonus varies with profits.

[Anonymous User]

Also, do agencies/clients generally say “we want to hire a good ol’ boy from [not Quinn]” as opposed to looking for the right experience and qualifications? How is Quinn different or how is this a knock against Quinn? I don’t think most exit options are open to people who don’t have experience/qualifications even if people find going up against their firm a pleasant experience.

It's not a knock at Quinn at all - it's a knock at the idea that people landing good jobs from Quinn means their reputation is "just fine."

Then how much does it matter?

Is your question why does it matter that you work for a place that is terrible to (and hated by) opposing counsel? If you can't answer that yourself then you probably belong at Quinn.

Eh, I don’t work there and am not likely to. But if someone finds the rest of it appealing and can get a job out of the firm, it sounds like non-Quinn people are a little over invested in how terrible it is.

This.

[Anonymous User]

Also, do agencies/clients generally say “we want to hire a good ol’ boy from [not Quinn]” as opposed to looking for the right experience and qualifications? How is Quinn different or how is this a knock against Quinn? I don’t think most exit options are open to people who don’t have experience/qualifications even if people find going up against their firm a pleasant experience.

It's not a knock at Quinn at all - it's a knock at the idea that people landing good jobs from Quinn means their reputation is "just fine."

Then how much does it matter?

Is your question why does it matter that you work for a place that is terrible to (and hated by) opposing counsel? If you can't answer that yourself then you probably belong at Quinn.

Eh, I don’t work there and am not likely to. But if someone finds the rest of it appealing and can get a job out of the firm, it sounds like non-Quinn people are a little over invested in how terrible it is.

This.

Disagree. I've been adverse to MANY firms, but there are only three that have left such a bad taste in my mouth that I feel it's worth commenting about them on some forum hardly anybody ever reads anymore. Quinn is obviously one of them, and I won't divert the thread by mentioning the others.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think anybody said there's no reason to go there. The handle lots of high value, interesting cases. And I have no reason to question the compensation (at least Quinn is transparent about asking for a lot of hours, and at least they pay more for high hours unlike some firms, though less than mine). All I'm saying is that if you work there, you are known by the company you keep.

[Anonymous User]

All the anonymous Quinn haters should do an amicus brief in this case: https://www.law360.com/articles/1555389 ... quinn-atty. Make sure the judges know how you feel.

[BigLawPartner]

All the anonymous Quinn haters should do an amicus brief in this case: https://www.law360.com/articles/1555389 ... quinn-atty. Make sure the judges know how you feel.

Don't forget the case where Hagens Berman is accusing Quinn of sex bias in a dispute over appointment of lead class counsel.

[Anonymous User]

All the anonymous Quinn haters should do an amicus brief in this case: https://www.law360.com/articles/1555389 ... quinn-atty. Make sure the judges know how you feel.

Don't forget the case where Hagens Berman is accusing Quinn of sex bias in a dispute over appointment of lead class counsel.

Hagens Berman is a notorious, ambulance-chasing plaintiffs-side firm. They'll say or do anything for a quick buck, including filing frivolous suits and then ginning up misconduct claims to try to bleed other counsel out. I've no horse here, but the comment above carries no weight whatsoever.

[Anonymous User]

I know several people who have been at Quinn NY for decent amounts of time and have heard nothing good about it. From their anecdotes, the culture seems mean-spirited, petty, and competitive in an unhealthy way. And this was not always the message they were trying to convey in their stories, but it always emerged as a consistent thread.

[Anonymous User]

I know several people who have been at Quinn NY for decent amounts of time and have heard nothing good about it. From their anecdotes, the culture seems mean-spirited, petty, and competitive in an unhealthy way. And this was not always the message they were trying to convey in their stories, but it always emerged as a consistent thread.

You all realize Quinn has 1,000 attorneys? Show me a firm that doesn't have this. Someone can always tell you a story like this about any firm. If you've been around long enough, you realize most biglaw firms are pretty similar. There might be slight differences, but overall, nothing new here.

[Anonymous User]

I know several people who have been at Quinn NY for decent amounts of time and have heard nothing good about it. From their anecdotes, the culture seems mean-spirited, petty, and competitive in an unhealthy way. And this was not always the message they were trying to convey in their stories, but it always emerged as a consistent thread.

You all realize Quinn has 1,000 attorneys? Show me a firm that doesn't have this. Someone can always tell you a story like this about any firm. If you've been around long enough, you realize most biglaw firms are pretty similar. There might be slight differences, but overall, nothing new here.

Just because other firms may have this doesn't mean that Quinn doesn't have more of it. I (and I think others ITT) stand by my point that Quinn is more universally shitty than other firms I have encountered. Reputations don't come from nothing, and exceptions don't make the rule.

[Anonymous User]

I know several people who have been at Quinn NY for decent amounts of time and have heard nothing good about it. From their anecdotes, the culture seems mean-spirited, petty, and competitive in an unhealthy way. And this was not always the message they were trying to convey in their stories, but it always emerged as a consistent thread.

You all realize Quinn has 1,000 attorneys? Show me a firm that doesn't have this. Someone can always tell you a story like this about any firm. If you've been around long enough, you realize most biglaw firms are pretty similar. There might be slight differences, but overall, nothing new here.

Agree that someone can tell me a story like this about any firm, but the consistency with which I have heard such stories from a number of people at Quinn NY (and the fact that I have never personally known someone who told a story about how magnanimous or thoughtful or kind they found the place, and I have heard such stories about a lot of other firms) leads me to give some credence to their stories. With other firms I have heard horror stories about particular partners or practice groups, but not with the same overarching consistency. Of course it's all anecdata, but anecdata can be useful.

[Anonymous User]

It's also telling that the pushback from Quinn people here is to get personal and not actually provide a contrary perspective. Only one other firm has that reaction pretty consistently.

[Anonymous User]

Yes, me. I've been an associate there for years. It's an awesome place to work. Significantly above-market pay (due to the little-known retention bonus), reasonable hours expectation (2100, extra comp if you bill more than that), 100% WFH forever, informal and fun culture, can do plaintiff-side work if interested, total free market system so associates have control over their practices - and by extension their lives.

In sum: It is a transparent firm that offers its associates a very fair deal.

And the culture thing is huge for me. I worked at several other law firms before and found the atmosphere to be oppressive, stuffy, and permeated by fear. Offices where you could hear a pin drop, everyone was on edge, and associates were dropping like flies every week. Quinn is not like that. Most of my colleagues are very happy to be here. It is actually is a pretty laid-back place that has retained some of its west coast startup identity. Yes the hours can be long and this type of work entails a certain level of unavoidable stress and pressure but QE provides an environment that is refreshingly devoid of BS - and I think about as fun as big law can be.

There is a lot of misinformation about Quinn on these forums. Happy to answer any questions.

I'm trying to land a spot with Quinn.
Is the 100% WFM for EVERYONE? Or, just those hired for remote positions?

100% WFH is available for all attorneys (not staff/paralegals).

[Anonymous User]

Does John Quinn still get a list every month of associates billing less than 200 hours a month? This was reported back in 2011. Curious what is the deal here.

This does not happen at QE. What currently happens is that associates who have billed less than 300 hours over the past two months are put on a low hours list and the firm’s designated staffing attorney reaches out and asks if you need help finding work. So if you’re averaging less than 150 hours per month for two months, someone will reach out.

I know that if your hours drop below a certain point at other firms (*Kirkland*) you’ll get calls asking about it. This is not unique to QE.

[Anonymous User]

Does John Quinn still get a list every month of associates billing less than 200 hours a month? This was reported back in 2011. Curious what is the deal here.

This does not happen at QE. What currently happens is that associates who have billed less than 300 hours over the past two months are put on a low hours list and the firm’s designated staffing attorney reaches out and asks if you need help finding work. So if you’re averaging less than 150 hours per month for two months, someone will reach out.

I know that if your hours drop below a certain point at other firms (*Kirkland*) you’ll get calls asking about it. This is not unique to QE.

I can confirm that this is correct. It's not a big deal, just a boilerplate email. Has happened to me numerous times over the years, nothing comes of it. They just give you a gentle nudge and see if you need help finding work. And it only happens if you are billing at a rate that would result in fewer than 1800 billable hours for the year (fewer than 300 hours over a 2-month period). Nobody wants to maintain that pace anyway since we need to hit 2100 to be eligible for year-end bonuses.

This is also literally one of the only things the firm does in the way of management or supervision. They take a pretty light touch. I would describe the firm's management style as transparent, minimal, and non-invasive.

[Anonymous User]

Regarding minimal management: does Quinn do reviews?

[Anonymous User]

Regarding minimal management: does Quinn do reviews?

Yes but they are VERY perfunctory and do not affect compensation.

[Anonymous User]

Regarding minimal management: does Quinn do reviews?

Yes but they are VERY perfunctory and do not affect compensation.

What are hours like? (someone considering an offer)

[Anonymous User]

Regarding minimal management: does Quinn do reviews?

Yes but they are VERY perfunctory and do not affect compensation.

What are hours like? (someone considering an offer)

You need to hit 2100 to get a full bonus. I’ve billed around 2150 most years, except for one outlier year where I went to multiple trials and hit 2400.

[Anonymous User]

Regarding minimal management: does Quinn do reviews?

Yes but they are VERY perfunctory and do not affect compensation.

What are hours like? (someone considering an offer)

You need to hit 2100 to get a full bonus. I’ve billed around 2150 most years, except for one outlier year where I went to multiple trials and hit 2400.

Same (another QE associate here).

[Anonymous User]

Does Quinn consider applicants who reapply? E.g., if I didn't get an offer after a screener at OCI but reapply later on while clerking? Also what is Quinn's clerk-hiring timeline like?

[Anonymous User]

It's also telling that the pushback from Quinn people here is to get personal and not actually provide a contrary perspective. Only one other firm has that reaction pretty consistently.

I’ll try to offer a fresh take that isn’t personal. I am a 2nd or 3rd year at Quinn and my experience has been really positive overall. I’ve billed right around 2,400 each year I’ve been here, which I understand is high but it’s also not that unusual compared with friends from my T6 class who also did biglaw in NY/DC. In fact I know several who have consistently outbilled me and at the end of the day, the stepped up bonus at Quinn is a nice perk. Is it worth all of the extra time and effort? Of course not, but if you’re going to be working that much anyway, it’s nice to get something above market.

I have not had the experience of people being petty and over the top aggressive, and of the dozens of people here I have worked with, the vast majority are really pleasant and kind, and seem to take a genuine interest in my well-being and development as an associate. People here seem smart and hard working and eager to succeed, but I’ve never clashed with a coworker or felt that other juniors were petty or competitive toward me. I of course can’t speak to what the experience is like on the other side of the ‘v’ but I would guess that a lot of the firm’s reputation for aggressiveness is driven by the nature of the disputes for which we’re hired. For the matters I have been a part of, I have certainly seen some aggressive lawyering, but just as often as not it’s come from our opposing counsel.

It’s not a perfect place, by any means, and I can’t speak to much of what’s been said here about reputation and exit options, etc. I do think it’s a good place to work if you’re serious about litigation and getting early experience. Some of the cons from my perspective are a general lack of support staff and some of the other perks (like free food and bigger offices) that I see my classmates enjoying at other, large firms. I do appreciate the casual dress code and WFH flexibility.

[Anonymous User]

Does Quinn consider applicants who reapply? E.g., if I didn't get an offer after a screener at OCI but reapply later on while clerking? Also what is Quinn's clerk-hiring timeline like?

Yes to the first part of your question. Can’t speak to clerkship timeline.

[Anonymous User]

It's also telling that the pushback from Quinn people here is to get personal and not actually provide a contrary perspective. Only one other firm has that reaction pretty consistently.

I’ll try to offer a fresh take that isn’t personal. I am a 2nd or 3rd year at Quinn and my experience has been really positive overall. I’ve billed right around 2,400 each year I’ve been here, which I understand is high but it’s also not that unusual compared with friends from my T6 class who also did biglaw in NY/DC. In fact I know several who have consistently outbilled me and at the end of the day, the stepped up bonus at Quinn is a nice perk. Is it worth all of the extra time and effort? Of course not, but if you’re going to be working that much anyway, it’s nice to get something above market.

I have not had the experience of people being petty and over the top aggressive, and of the dozens of people here I have worked with, the vast majority are really pleasant and kind, and seem to take a genuine interest in my well-being and development as an associate. People here seem smart and hard working and eager to succeed, but I’ve never clashed with a coworker or felt that other juniors were petty or competitive toward me. I of course can’t speak to what the experience is like on the other side of the ‘v’ but I would guess that a lot of the firm’s reputation for aggressiveness is driven by the nature of the disputes for which we’re hired. For the matters I have been a part of, I have certainly seen some aggressive lawyering, but just as often as not it’s come from our opposing counsel.

It’s not a perfect place, by any means, and I can’t speak to much of what’s been said here about reputation and exit options, etc. I do think it’s a good place to work if you’re serious about litigation and getting early experience. Some of the cons from my perspective are a general lack of support staff and some of the other perks (like free food and bigger offices) that I see my classmates enjoying at other, large firms. I do appreciate the casual dress code and WFH flexibility.

are you in the new york or DC office?

[thisismytlsuername]

Regarding minimal management: does Quinn do reviews?

Yes but they are VERY perfunctory and do not affect compensation.

What are hours like? (someone considering an offer)

You need to hit 2100 to get a full bonus. I’ve billed around 2150 most years, except for one outlier year where I went to multiple trials and hit 2400.

2400 with multiple trials? Did you also take multiple months off?