2014 Texas OCI (UT and other schools bidding on TX) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Offers at Latham, K&E, JD, V&E, BB. Waiting on Akin, Sidley, STB, and NRF. All Houston. Want corporate for sure, but unsure of choice between energy transactions, projects, capital markets, and M&A.

I've really been impressed with the amount of support and contact I've had with JD, and I think I like the people there the best. I feel like I'm buying into the one firm worldwide kool aid and loved the offices/partners who interviewed me. But I also know I need to distinguish recruiting from firm strength, and chambers makes it look like LW, V&E, and BB are the top corporate players. Maybe K&E will be there too on the PE side.

Other than the people, I have no idea how to distinguish these firms. Am I over-thinking things by being so torn about JD? How do these firms stack up against one another?

I'm on the lit side but just accepted JD. I liked the boutique feel of the firm while still having JD's global reach (granted, it seems like they want to expand the office like crazy here in the next few years). On the more subjective side, I liked the laid-back feel of the firm; pretty much everyone was wearing jeans and they were all super friendly. Seemed like everyone legitimately enjoyed working there. At the end of the day it came down to a gut decision for me and I went with the place where I liked the people best.

Congrats, that's awesome! And yeah, that's the vibe I got from JD too. Everyone there was amazing and seemingly bought into the collaborative, team-based environment (no origination, no fighting for clients, unique compensation structure). As you said, the global reach is definitely a plus because deals/cases are staffed across multiple offices. If I were going into lit, I would take them in a heartbeat, but I think it's a little bit more iffy for me on the corporate side since it's not clear if their deal work is on par with some of the bigger players in town.

[Anonymous User]

Anybody got any updates on Porter?

Multiple rounds of offers have gone out, but there are obviously still people they are holding. I have not been dinged and have gotten silence from my contact with recruiting letting them know of another offer.

[Anonymous User]

Anybody got any updates on Porter?

Multiple rounds of offers have gone out, but there are obviously still people they are holding. I have not been dinged and have gotten silence from my contact with recruiting letting them know of another offer.

I think they're conservative with extending offers because of their tiny class size. But it sounds like a few more offers might trickle out as people start to decline.

[Anonymous User]

I know the guy who got the first offer. He had a NY about to expire, so he may have been a special case. It is possible only one round of offers has gone out.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know PH's 2014 offer rate?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have thoughts on Bracewell v. AK Houston?

[Anonymous User]

Aside from AK and BG, what other Houston firms are second half? Starting to get nervous that I'll only have a first half firm.

[Anonymous User]

Aside from AK and BG, what other Houston firms are second half? Starting to get nervous that I'll only have a first half firm.

Locke Lord is the only other 2nd half Biglaw as far as I know.

[Anonymous User]

Aside from AK and BG, what other Houston firms are second half? Starting to get nervous that I'll only have a first half firm.

Locke Lord is the only other 2nd half Biglaw as far as I know.

Thanks. I go to school out of state, and AK/BG didn't come to OCI. Haven't heard back from LL, but pretty sure I got dinged at this point. How bad will it look if I just stay for the full 10 weeks at a first-half only firm? I'm assuming most of the other SAs will only stay 6 then do a second half at AK/BG/LL.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks. I go to school out of state, and AK/BG didn't come to OCI. Haven't heard back from LL, but pretty sure I got dinged at this point. How bad will it look if I just stay for the full 10 weeks at a first-half only firm? I'm assuming most of the other SAs will only stay 6 then do a second half at AK/BG/LL.

I go to school in Texas (not UT). I know several people at my school that have a 1st-half big firm, and nothing on the 2nd half. Those that have the option to extend it beyond 6 weeks are taking that extension b/c they want the money. Others I know have found/are looking for something during the 2nd half.

There is not a right answer to this. If you feel that letting the firm know that they're your only option will somehow hurt you....then why not try to find something else for the 2nd half of summer where you go to school...if you haven't had any luck in Houston? Even if its with a mid-sized firm or even something with a federal judge?

[WokeUpInACar]

I'm pretty confident that any potential stigma from having only one offer would be balanced by a stronger perceived commitment to the firm.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on Bracewell Dallas, Kelly Hart & Hallman, or Thompson Coe Dallas

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone shed some light on current salaries for second, third, and forth year associates at V&E? All of the posts I've found online are old. I can't tell if they're definitely on the NYC pay scale or not.

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on Bracewell Dallas, Kelly Hart & Hallman, or Thompson Coe Dallas

I contacted the Thompson Coe recruiter last week to notify of another offer and see if they had a timeline for decisions and never received a response. FWIW I checked the thread from last year and the first news of any offers was October.

Also, on a related note does anyone know whether Thompson Coe has a first or second-half program, or if they're flexible?

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone shed some light on current salaries for second, third, and forth year associates at V&E? All of the posts I've found online are old. I can't tell if they're definitely on the NYC pay scale or not.

Definitely on the NYC payscale.

Base Salary according to Vault (http://www.vault.com/company-profiles/l ... rview.aspx):

All U.S. offices
1st year: $160,000
2nd year:$170,000
3rd year:$185,000
4th year:$210,000
5th year:$230,000
6th year:$250,000
7th year:$265,000
8th year:$280,000
Summer associate: $3,077/week

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on Bracewell Dallas, Kelly Hart & Hallman, or Thompson Coe Dallas

I contacted the Thompson Coe recruiter last week to notify of another offer and see if they had a timeline for decisions and never received a response. FWIW I checked the thread from last year and the first news of any offers was October.

Also, on a related note does anyone know whether Thompson Coe has a first or second-half program, or if they're flexible?

So I guess we're still alive. And they're first-half only. They might be flexible but I didn't get that impression from talking with people in my screener or callback

[Anonymous User]

Any movement on Bracewell Dallas, Kelly Hart & Hallman, or Thompson Coe Dallas

Still no movement from Thompson Coe Dallas for me.
Ding two days ago from Kelly Hart & Hallman by mail (but it was ding from screener)

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from Winstead - Houston?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from Winstead - Houston?

They seem to take their time. Interviewed with them last year. CB was ~ 3 weeks after screener (first week of September), and didnt hear from them until ~ the first week of October.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from Dykema Dallas?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone received/accepted offers to Porter Hedges for next summer?

I accepted to PH this week and was wondering if anyone else had.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone received/accepted offers to Porter Hedges for next summer?

I accepted to PH this week and was wondering if anyone else had.

I received my offer recently and am still considering it. Anything in particular that made you decide upon PH?

Also, has anyone heard any movement from BH this week? It sounds like they tend to make moves on Tuesday so I'm curious.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone received/accepted offers to Porter Hedges for next summer?

I accepted to PH this week and was wondering if anyone else had.

I received my offer recently and am still considering it. Anything in particular that made you decide upon PH?

I really liked the people there. I had offers from other bigger first-half firms and I just liked the feel of PH more. I also asked them about their offer rate and they said they extend all summer offers with the expectation that you will receive a 2016 offer as well, so that was reassuring.

For me it was more important to find a place that I could work at for the long term as opposed to a big name for the short term. Hope that helps.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone received/accepted offers to Porter Hedges for next summer?

I accepted to PH this week and was wondering if anyone else had.

I received my offer recently and am still considering it. Anything in particular that made you decide upon PH?

I really liked the people there. I had offers from other bigger first-half firms and I just liked the feel of PH more. I also asked them about their offer rate and they said they extend all summer offers with the expectation that you will receive a 2016 offer as well, so that was reassuring.

For me it was more important to find a place that I could work at for the long term as opposed to a big name for the short term. Hope that helps.

Do you know about their 2014 offer rate specifically? In 2013, it was 6/8. And in 2012, it was 4/6.

[Anonymous User]

I really liked the people there. I had offers from other bigger first-half firms and I just liked the feel of PH more. I also asked them about their offer rate and they said they extend all summer offers with the expectation that you will receive a 2016 offer as well, so that was reassuring.

For me it was more important to find a place that I could work at for the long term as opposed to a big name for the short term. Hope that helps.

Thank you for the response. I like the people as well and am strongly considering them for the same reasons. However, the poster immediately above pointed out my main hesitation, no-offering 2 people the last two classes. I was told the same thing as you, that they expect to offer every summer. I was also told that when someone is no-offered, it is due to glaring workplace flaws or inappropriate social conduct. Good explanation, but it still seems off that it's an every year thing, so I'm not quite sure what to think there.