Another Help Me Decide -- V20s v. V60s -- $$ v. QoL Forum

[Anonymous User]

Would I be crazy to pick a V60 satellite office in a primary market (LA) over a V20 in NY HQ office?

The V60 pays 30K less, but they seem more laid back, and the attorneys generally seemed happy about their QOL.
The V20 is prestigious, but known to be super sweatshoppy (though probably no more than other biglaw NY firms..). I liked the people in my V60 interview a bit better, but I don't want to base my decision on the people I met in my interviews since it was a small selection.

Don't have a clear preference yet for corporate or lit, but V20 is known more for corporate practice, whereas V60 is probably known equally for both. Concerned about exit options as well.

I guess generally my concerns involve QOL/$$. I've worked in biglaw in NY before, so I know the demands, and the V60 probably has better QOL....but that said, it's hard to turn down 30K + prestige....

Thoughts??

[yellowjacket2012]

you'd be crazy to pick either, you're choosing big law, lol

[speedyj88]

I'm just applying to law school now so take my comments for what they are.

I think one thing you should consider is the amount of money you're taking home at the end of the day and your basic living expenses that would be higher in New York. From what I've heard, taxes are pretty high in New York and expecially in NYC. Beyond that, rent is substantially cheaper in LA so maybe when all is said and done, the $$ isn't a big factor.

[Anonymous User]

Is it wrong for me to be jealous? FML

[Anonymous User]

--LinkRemoved--

This has been my friend while figuring out that I was certain I wanted to be in a secondary market.

If you make $130,000 in California you are taking home only $16,000 less after taxes than making $160,000 in NYC. Something to think about.

[Anonymous User]

Choose depending on location - if you want to be in LA long term, best to start your career there. If location isn't an issue, start at the V20 and go from there.

[Anonymous User]

What V60 pays 130k in LA? Morgan Lewis? I thought Reed Smith was the only one at that scale.

[seespotrun]

expecially

[ResolutePear]

expecially

[speedyj88]

expecially

Haha, good catch. My point still stands.

[vanwinkle]

Is anyone at a V100 firm truly happy about their QoL?

I'd accept a scale of "more tolerable" and "less tolerable", but ... happy? Really? I wouldn't trust anything that involved people at top law firms appearing to be "happy about their QOL", especially since it was probably in a recruitment setting where they had their game face on.

[LurkerNoMore]

Is anyone at a V100 firm truly happy about their QoL?

I'd accept a scale of "more tolerable" and "less tolerable", but ... happy? Really? I wouldn't trust anything that involved people at top law firms appearing to be "happy about their QOL", especially since it was probably in a recruitment setting where they had their game face on.

This.

I would not make this decision by QOL, but by where you want to live. LA and NYC are very different places.

Also, that $30k difference is only your first year difference. Generally speaking, firms that don't start at top of the market also don't pace raises at top of the market. So while the NYC firm have a $160, $175, $190, $210, $230k projected income, the LA firm is likely to have something closer to $130, $140, $150, $160, $175k. If bonuses ever kick back in, they will also be higher in NYC.

Finally, I'd be a bit suspicious of the COL difference between LA and NYC. Commuting times in LA, just like NYC, will most likely limit you to more expensive housing. Whether you will see the supposed difference is questionable (at least to the degree the calculators suggest).