Choosing between QE NY and Williams & Connolly DC Forum

[Anonymous User]

Reviving this thread. Similar situation. Different poster.

Interviewed at both locations during the past few months (tryin be discrete). Some initial observations and please comment.

First, I found W&C to be very stuffy. People looked tired, in the office, not very happy and frankly not very friendly. Trying to tell myself otherwise, but I just didn’t get a lot of energy from the associates. Granted, none of the people I talked to practiced the type of law I was interested in (i.e., white collar) so maybe I should talk to others who do. Just a bad vibe. Also, they sounded liked they worked ALOT. And they don’t get paid market. Frankly, that sucks and on top of that, they looked depressed in the office.

Quinn, on the other hand, everyone is friendly and warm. They pay above market, and they looked comfortable and refreshed. I don’t know. Tell me I’m not crazy. At the end of the day, is the “reputation” difference really worth it? Need guidance.

I agree with your W&C observations for the most part, but idk in my experience I would not call Quinn people "comfortable and refreshed" and/or "friendly and warm."

Poster here. I just had great interviews with all 6-8 Quinn people. They joked. Laughed. Smiled. Etc. Had the same amount of interviews with W&C and could barely get a smile. Then they beamed about the 1 to 1 staffing (1 partner to 1 associate) on some matters. You can’t tell me 1-1 does not equal long hours… for below market? Really trying to figure out what that “thing” is I’m missing in this equation. What is this intangible and is it worth it?

I continue to be confused by anyone choosing between these firms. W&C is a (1) traditional/white-shoe (2) one-office (3) predominantly criminal defense firm. Quinn is a (1) very untraditional (2) anywhere-office (3) predominantly civil lit firm. In the general category of “elite lit firm” it’s hard to think of two less similar firms. What do you want to do with your life?

[Anonymous User]

I continue to be confused by anyone choosing between these firms. W&C is a (1) traditional/white-shoe (2) one-office (3) predominantly criminal defense firm. Quinn is a (1) very untraditional (2) anywhere-office (3) predominantly civil lit firm. In the general category of “elite lit firm” it’s hard to think of two less similar firms. What do you want to do with your life?

I would not be surprised if many law school graduates--let alone 1Ls and 2Ls--couldn't answer the question of whether they want to do criminal defense or civil lit as a career choice.

[Anonymous User]

Still hoping someone can provide WC's comp table through the senior years. They match or beat market at junior levels, but I want to see what the gap is at 4th, 5th, 6th years.

[Anonymous User]

I continue to be confused by anyone choosing between these firms. W&C is a (1) traditional/white-shoe (2) one-office (3) predominantly criminal defense firm. Quinn is a (1) very untraditional (2) anywhere-office (3) predominantly civil lit firm. In the general category of “elite lit firm” it’s hard to think of two less similar firms. What do you want to do with your life?

I would not be surprised if many law school graduates--let alone 1Ls and 2Ls--couldn't answer the question of whether they want to do criminal defense or civil lit as a career choice.

The questioner was probably post-clerkship (only way you can get a job at W&C this time of year)

[Anonymous User]

The questioner was probably post-clerkship (only way you can get a job at W&C this time of year)

I'm in my clerkship and I'm still not sure whether I could answer that question...

[Anonymous User]

The questioner was probably post-clerkship (only way you can get a job at W&C this time of year)

I'm in my clerkship and I'm still not sure whether I could answer that question...

Same lol. I don’t know how people really know these things.

[CafcClerk]

I continue to be confused by anyone choosing between these firms. W&C is a (1) traditional/white-shoe (2) one-office (3) predominantly criminal defense firm. Quinn is a (1) very untraditional (2) anywhere-office (3) predominantly civil lit firm. In the general category of “elite lit firm” it’s hard to think of two less similar firms. What do you want to do with your life?

Is it really true that W&C is a predominantly criminal defense firm? They do tons of high-profile civil litigation work.

[Anonymous User]

As someone who interviewed at W&C lately, most of the partners I met do at least some civil work. In terms of civil work, as far as I could tell, it seems like they do good bit of patents, civil enforcement (so like civil fraud claims for example), and high-profile malpractice (clients being big law firms, top accounting firms, etc). Definitely best known for white collar, but seems like a good bit of civil too, especially civil that’s kind of related to white collar (like civil enforcement and malpractice).

If you look at partners’ bios on their website, you can get a good idea of what practice areas predominate.