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Where would you go if you have offers from all three, if you were interested in litigation?

My preference:
1) Cravath
2) Kirkland
3) Paul Weiss

Paul Weiss' litigation department is the best of the three (corporate, not so much). Cravath is radioactive right now - got hit much harder by the economy than either of the others. Your job isn't as safe there. Kirkland's the best all-around bet right now, but if you know you're going to do lit, probably a shade behind Paul Weiss.

The difference between Kirkland's free market system, and Cravath's forced rotation system, is huge. Don't underestimate that importance. Kirkland's system REALLY isn't for everyone.

ToTransferOrNot wrote:The difference between Kirkland's free market system, and Cravath's forced rotation system, is huge. Don't underestimate that importance. Kirkland's system REALLY isn't for everyone.

Would you mind elaborating?

The difference between Kirkland's free market system, and Cravath's forced rotation system, is huge. Don't underestimate that importance. Kirkland's system REALLY isn't for everyone.

Neither is Cravath's. Hence, the emphasis on fit.

ToTransferOrNot wrote:The difference between Kirkland's free market system, and Cravath's forced rotation system, is huge. Don't underestimate that importance. Kirkland's system REALLY isn't for everyone.

Actually, Kirkland's free market system is pretty common. Cravath's rigid and mandatory rotation system, on the other hand, is one-of-a-kind as far as I know.

jaen78 wrote:

ToTransferOrNot wrote:The difference between Kirkland's free market system, and Cravath's forced rotation system, is huge. Don't underestimate that importance. Kirkland's system REALLY isn't for everyone.

Actually, Kirkland's free market system is pretty common. Cravath's rigid and mandatory rotation system, on the other hand, is one-of-a-kind as far as I know.

Most firms that have the Kirkland system don't do it to the extent Kirkland does, though. If you have anything resembling a timid personality in re: hunting down the people you want to work with, and getting work from them, you're going to sink at Kirkland.

Similarly, Cravath's system is fairly unique, but many firms have a fairly structured partner rotation system that is, at least in large part, modeled on Cravath.

You basically have the two firms that are on the extreme end of the spectrum, so you need to make sure you're comfortable with that. TBF, I'm amazed that OP is having to make a choice without being fully educated on just how extreme Kirkland and Cravath take their systems.

Full disclosure: I'm going to be at K&E. I happen to like their system - and the extreme Free Market thing appealed to me. I would have been incredibly unhappy with a Cravath-style setup.