Best Litigation Firms - NYC Forum

[phonepro]

I did a search but didn't find what I was looking for.

What are some of the best litigation firms in NYC (both large firms and boutiques) that hire summer associates.

[Helmholtz]

http://www.chambersandpartners.com/USA/Editorial/43209

[thesealocust]

Both Quinn and Boies are arguably better, or more up and coming, or at least might pay more, than that list suggests. They're also more plantifier, which can be cool. If you're into that kind of thing.

[Anonymous User]

It really depends what you want and what your expectations for "lit" are. Do you mean firms that get the biggest cases? Firms that let young associates do the most? Firms that go to trial a lot?

Also, do you mean best NYC based firm, or best firm with an NYC office?

[Bronte]

What's the scoop on these "elite boutiques" I hear talked about (e.g., Irell & Manella)? I see they're very selective. Why don't they show up on, say, Chambers rankings?

[thesealocust]

Irell has no NYC office.

[IzziesGal]

I'm an SA in NYC right now....and I am in school in the Bay Area. While Quinn has a really good reputation on the West Coast (fun, good work, good atmosphere, good people), the same is unfortunately not true in NYC. I know a summer at Quinn NYC who is just miserable....pulling late nights and weekends as an SA, and just not enjoying it at all. Sad to say but the East Coast-West Coast difference is HUGE for this firm apparently. Just an FYI.

[FlightoftheEarls]

I'm an SA in NYC right now....and I am in school in the Bay Area. While Quinn has a really good reputation on the West Coast (fun, good work, good atmosphere, good people), the same is unfortunately not true in NYC. I know a summer at Quinn NYC who is just miserable....pulling late nights and weekends as an SA, and just not enjoying it at all. Sad to say but the East Coast-West Coast difference is HUGE for this firm apparently. Just an FYI.

I don't think that's a Quinn thing, but purely a NYC/non-NYC thing.

I know SAs at tons of different NYC firms who are pulling late nights and occasional weekends, myself included. Perhaps your experience hasn't been the same (and I'm sure there are some firms where this isn't the case), but a lot of these firms are just incredibly busy and the SAs are getting pretty substantive work. And a lot of it.

[IzziesGal]

I'm an SA in NYC right now....and I am in school in the Bay Area. While Quinn has a really good reputation on the West Coast (fun, good work, good atmosphere, good people), the same is unfortunately not true in NYC. I know a summer at Quinn NYC who is just miserable....pulling late nights and weekends as an SA, and just not enjoying it at all. Sad to say but the East Coast-West Coast difference is HUGE for this firm apparently. Just an FYI.

I don't think that's a Quinn thing, but purely a NYC/non-NYC thing.

I know SAs at tons of different NYC firms who are pulling late nights and occasional weekends, myself included. Perhaps your experience hasn't been the same (and I'm sure there are some firms where this isn't the case), but a lot of these firms are just incredibly busy and the SAs are getting pretty substantive work. And a lot of it.

You could be right about the geographic difference. We are getting substantive work at my firm (drafting motions, writing portions of briefs, diligence on deals, etc.), but we are strongly encouraged to leave at 5:30/6. In fact, almost all of the attorneys tell us not to stay late or spend weekends working on whatever assignment they hand out. I have heard from people at other NY firms that this hasn't been the case everywhere.

[Moxie]

You could be right about the geographic difference. We are getting substantive work at my firm (drafting motions, writing portions of briefs, diligence on deals, etc.), but we are strongly encouraged to leave at 5:30/6. In fact, almost all of the attorneys tell us not to stay late or spend weekends working on whatever assignment they hand out. I have heard from people at other NY firms that this hasn't been the case everywhere.

I am an SA at a NYC V10 firm, but our atmosphere sounds more similar to your West Coast experience than the NYC experiences you're referring to. If we're not out by 6:30pm the partners will come and tell us to head out and leave out work for the AM, and they have strongly discouraged us being in the office on weekends. I'm sure it's not like this everywhere (or even at most firms), but I am enjoying having substantive experience while not killing myself working 70-80 hours a week. They'll be plenty of time for that in a few years

[tipler4213]

tag

[IzziesGal]

You could be right about the geographic difference. We are getting substantive work at my firm (drafting motions, writing portions of briefs, diligence on deals, etc.), but we are strongly encouraged to leave at 5:30/6. In fact, almost all of the attorneys tell us not to stay late or spend weekends working on whatever assignment they hand out. I have heard from people at other NY firms that this hasn't been the case everywhere.

I am an SA at a NYC V10 firm, but our atmosphere sounds more similar to your West Coast experience than the NYC experiences you're referring to. If we're not out by 6:30pm the partners will come and tell us to head out and leave out work for the AM, and they have strongly discouraged us being in the office on weekends. I'm sure it's not like this everywhere (or even at most firms), but I am enjoying having substantive experience while not killing myself working 70-80 hours a week. They'll be plenty of time for that in a few years

I'm an SA in NYC, not on the West Coast.

[Anonymous User]

Not to hijack your thread, but are there any litigation heavy firms that DON'T have the sweatshop reputation?

[seriouslyinformative]

Not to hijack your thread, but are there any litigation heavy firms that DON'T have the sweatshop reputation?

Kramer Levin. I hear Patterson Belknap and Kasowitz Benson are relatively light on the hours (by NY standards). Hughes Hubbard, I think, also is pretty chill. They don't call it Booze, Rubbers, and Weed for nothing...

[seriouslyinformative]

If we're not out by 6:30pm the partners will come and tell us to head out and leave out work for the AM, and they have strongly discouraged us being in the office on weekends.

It's just a summer program thing. Once you start, that will almost never happen. Believe me.

[RVP11]

If we're not out by 6:30pm the partners will come and tell us to head out and leave out work for the AM, and they have strongly discouraged us being in the office on weekends.

It's just a summer program thing. Once you start, that will almost never happen. Believe me.

Really, it's a summer program at firms that always give 100% offers thing.

[Anonymous User]

On the West Coast lit note, I've done some searching but can't seem to pinpoint what gpa the West Coast lit boutiques (Irell Manella / Munger Tolles / Quinn Emanuel specifically) are looking for from East Coast T10 applicants. The TLS profiles for Irell and Quinn suggest they use hard grade cutoffs, but don't specify. Anyone know?