V15 Partner/OCI Interviewer Answering Questions... Forum

[itbdvorm]

What are your thoughts on Foley Larder? Thanks for all of your help!

I know their Milwaukee office does/used to do a lot of MLB work, which always seemed neat. In NY...don't really know what they do. Sorry.

[itbdvorm]

Should PE vs. Public M/A exit options really be a major factor in weighing summer offers between peer firms?

I'd say "maybe". The deals are different, and pros and cons to both. If you got the sense you liked the people substantially more at one firm than the other that may also be connected to which type of deal you liked more.

[itbdvorm]

Cravath or PW for litigation? Any thoughts? Does Cravath name really carry that much weight in NY scene?

Really don't know on this one...I know people rave about PW, but I probably would have picked Cravath in your shoes. Not that my much younger self knew what he was doing

I suspect, more than in NY, it's outside of NY where it will carry the most weight.

[Anonymous User]

Cravath or PW for litigation? Any thoughts? Does Cravath name really carry that much weight in NY scene?

Really don't know on this one...I know people rave about PW, but I probably would have picked Cravath in your shoes. Not that my much younger self knew what he was doing

I suspect, more than in NY, it's outside of NY where it will carry the most weight.

Not to turn this into the "which firm should I go to" thread, but I've done 2nd looks at Cravath and DPW and feel pretty lost about the choice. Interested in litigation. Drawn by DPW's marginally better hours. Pushing the other way is more substantive work as younger associate at Cravath. Wondering if you have any tips?

[rpupkin]

Not to turn this into the "which firm should I go to" thread, but I've done 2nd looks at Cravath and DPW and feel pretty lost about the choice. Interested in litigation. Drawn by DPW's marginally better hours. Pushing the other way is more substantive work as younger associate at Cravath. Wondering if you have any tips?

When in doubt, I say go with the firm that will give you more substantive work early on.

[Anonymous User]

Cravath or PW for litigation? Any thoughts? Does Cravath name really carry that much weight in NY scene?

Really don't know on this one...I know people rave about PW, but I probably would have picked Cravath in your shoes. Not that my much younger self knew what he was doing

I suspect, more than in NY, it's outside of NY where it will carry the most weight.

Not to turn this into the "which firm should I go to" thread, but I've done 2nd looks at Cravath and DPW and feel pretty lost about the choice. Interested in litigation. Drawn by DPW's marginally better hours. Pushing the other way is more substantive work as younger associate at Cravath. Wondering if you have any tips?

I considered the same thing, and with those two, the rotation system at Cravath was the overriding difference. Your experience will be drastically different moving between partners every year or so vs. a more general assignment-based system. Figure out which of those two models appeals more to the way you work.

[Anonymous User]

Is it unusual for firms to have interviewees complete a job application for that firm ahead of time? I was asked to bring one in completed for my interview and thought it was really odd.

[Anonymous User]

If I have an in-office screener (outside of OCI) with a partner and was told I would hear back in a few weeks time, yet it's been nearly a month and some folks have heard back about rejections, should I email to follow-up the partner, or would it be better just to wait and see? Thank you so much for taking questions!

[Anonymous User]

as someone considering firms now it's hard to gauge which firms are stable or not... are there any firms in NY you have heard financial rumblings about?

[itbdvorm]

Cravath or PW for litigation? Any thoughts? Does Cravath name really carry that much weight in NY scene?

Really don't know on this one...I know people rave about PW, but I probably would have picked Cravath in your shoes. Not that my much younger self knew what he was doing

I suspect, more than in NY, it's outside of NY where it will carry the most weight.

Not to turn this into the "which firm should I go to" thread, but I've done 2nd looks at Cravath and DPW and feel pretty lost about the choice. Interested in litigation. Drawn by DPW's marginally better hours. Pushing the other way is more substantive work as younger associate at Cravath. Wondering if you have any tips?

I considered the same thing, and with those two, the rotation system at Cravath was the overriding difference. Your experience will be drastically different moving between partners every year or so vs. a more general assignment-based system. Figure out which of those two models appeals more to the way you work.

I would say this seems more meaningful than "more substantive work as a junior" - I don't know if anyone can really say with certainty that you'd receive more substantive work as a junior at Cravath than at DPW, but what do I know

[itbdvorm]

Is it unusual for firms to have interviewees complete a job application for that firm ahead of time? I was asked to bring one in completed for my interview and thought it was really odd.

I think I remember filling in basic info for a firm or two? doesn't seem like a big deal unless extensive

[itbdvorm]

If I have an in-office screener (outside of OCI) with a partner and was told I would hear back in a few weeks time, yet it's been nearly a month and some folks have heard back about rejections, should I email to follow-up the partner, or would it be better just to wait and see? Thank you so much for taking questions!

Never hurts to follow-up politely.

[itbdvorm]

as someone considering firms now it's hard to gauge which firms are stable or not... are there any firms in NY you have heard financial rumblings about?

true financial rumblings? no

but obviously firms seem to be rising or falling all the time

[Anonymous User]

Cravath or PW for litigation? Any thoughts? Does Cravath name really carry that much weight in NY scene?

Really don't know on this one...I know people rave about PW, but I probably would have picked Cravath in your shoes. Not that my much younger self knew what he was doing

I suspect, more than in NY, it's outside of NY where it will carry the most weight.

Not to turn this into the "which firm should I go to" thread, but I've done 2nd looks at Cravath and DPW and feel pretty lost about the choice. Interested in litigation. Drawn by DPW's marginally better hours. Pushing the other way is more substantive work as younger associate at Cravath. Wondering if you have any tips?

I considered this choice and went with DPW, since I preferred their assignment system, liked the partners better there, and felt they had a closer government connection (great for anyone who might want to be a federal prosecutor). I know some people who made my choice and others that went to Cravath, and I think they are equally fair.

As for the "name" discussion--all these firms are elite and well known and respected by people who work with law firms; none of them are known by people who don't know about law firms. My parents and their friends for example have no idea what davis polk or cravath is.

[FSK]

Whats your favorite burrito?

[deepseapartners]

Back in your associate days, what was the best vacation you took, and why?

[daedalus2309]

Facing a tough choice here with firms

Marry, fuck, kill: Cravath, WLRK, SullCrom

TIA

[itbdvorm]

Cravath or PW for litigation? Any thoughts? Does Cravath name really carry that much weight in NY scene?

Really don't know on this one...I know people rave about PW, but I probably would have picked Cravath in your shoes. Not that my much younger self knew what he was doing

I suspect, more than in NY, it's outside of NY where it will carry the most weight.

Not to turn this into the "which firm should I go to" thread, but I've done 2nd looks at Cravath and DPW and feel pretty lost about the choice. Interested in litigation. Drawn by DPW's marginally better hours. Pushing the other way is more substantive work as younger associate at Cravath. Wondering if you have any tips?

I considered this choice and went with DPW, since I preferred their assignment system, liked the partners better there, and felt they had a closer government connection (great for anyone who might want to be a federal prosecutor). I know some people who made my choice and others that went to Cravath, and I think they are equally fair.

As for the "name" discussion--all these firms are elite and well known and respected by people who work with law firms; none of them are known by people who don't know about law firms. My parents and their friends for example have no idea what davis polk or cravath is.

Not talking parents and friends - one circle out from NYC is where there's surprising variety. Everyone knows Cravath, not sure everyone knows Paul Weiss. Of course, everyone knows Jones Day too, not saying you should pick them over Paul Weiss

[itbdvorm]

Whats your favorite burrito?

Depends on my mood. I do enjoy Chipotle.

[itbdvorm]

Back in your associate days, what was the best vacation you took, and why?

Honeymoon.

[itbdvorm]

Facing a tough choice here with firms

Marry, fuck, kill: Cravath, WLRK, SullCrom

TIA

Me, I'd take the money.

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on Jones Day for transactional?

[Anonymous User]

Have you hired a staff attorney working at your firm to full time associate? If so, why?

[Anonymous User]

Does your firm easily accommodate summers who want to split the summer intra-firm with the NYC office and their home market office, or do they need to have a good reason? Do you have any knowledge on the other V15s?

[itbdvorm]

Thoughts on Jones Day for transactional?

Not bad. A step below the top tier in NY but they always seem to be trying to move up.