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What do people know about Kirkland DC? It seems to have a pretty good reputation for both corporate and lit, but are the hours appreciably worse than other top DC firms?

Awful quality of life/sweatshop reputation. I have yet to meet a current lawyer or alumnus who is happy. That said, the partners make a lot, and their litigation training sounds fantastic. They tend to take on cases that make me slightly uncomfortable (and I'm not very squeamish).

Talked with an alumnus from my school who was a summer there and is currently clerking at a Circuit.

He loved it and is planning on heading back when he is done.

Hours: NALP has an average billable hour jump from 2009 (mid-1900s) to 2010 (2200+).

I am not sure what happened there, but worth looking into those numbers to see if there was a huge influx of work or if associates got the axe.

I might consider asking what associates are on target to average this year if you are considering an offer.

Couple questions:

1. Hours: Does anyone know how much of the "excess" hours are because of the bonus incentive and how much is unavoidable? If someone was content to do 2000 hours and not get the larger bonus, how would that be viewed?

2. Clerkships: Does anyone know if they give a bigger bonus for two clerkships (assume District Court and then COA) than the normal rate for one clerkship? Last reference I could find listed the going rate for one clerkship as $50k (2007). Any update on that?

3. QOL: Does anyone actually have first (or second I guess) hand accounts of what it's like to work there? Are people happy? If yes/no, why?

FWIW, a junior partner at my firm lateraled as a senior associate from Kirkland DC, and said that he loved it and had nothing but good things to say about his time there.

Anonymous User wrote:3. QOL: Does anyone actually have first (or second I guess) hand accounts of what it's like to work there? Are people happy? If yes/no, why?

Roommate from undergrad is a litigation associate there. He went K-JD while I took several years in between. He's fairly miserable. He's a few years in at this point and his biggest complaints were the workload and the partners' lack of respect for his personal life. It's worth mentioning that he graduated summa cum from a t14, so he's not exactly a stranger to hard work. 9-9 most days and he's quite sure he's far from the hardest working associate in his class. The "eat what you kill" compensation structure among partners makes them especially eager to ride associates' asses into the ground, since how hard you work directly correlates with how much they personally take home. While in theory, the free market system allows you to vote with your feet and not take any further projects from that partner, when all of the partners have the same mentality, the option amounts to a false choice.

That being said, they're undeniably brilliant litigators who posture for trial, not settlement. If you want to be a trial lawyer based in D.C., there is probably no better place to work.

FWIW, I turned down an offer there on the basis of this information so I am not just a conduit here; I asked for my own sake and was persuaded to go elsewhere.

When I went there for a callback, someone who appeared to be part of the secretarial/administrative/back-office staff was riding the elevator with me up to the lobby, and this person said, "So, you're here for an interview?"

I said, "Yep, I guess a lot of us are coming through these days."

The Kirkland staff member chuckled and said, "The next round of victims..."

Can't be a good sign.

That said, I liked the people I met there (and actually even that staff member was friendly).

Anyone else still waiting to hear after a CB? Are they finished with CBs or doing more? Offers still going out?

Anonymous User wrote:Anyone else still waiting to hear after a CB? Are they finished with CBs or doing more? Offers still going out?

I have a CB this upcoming week.

Anonymous User wrote:Anyone else still waiting to hear after a CB? Are they finished with CBs or doing more? Offers still going out?

CB last week, expecting to hear within a week (well, if it's good news).

I assume they have a weekly hiring committee meeting where they make these decisions. Does anyone know when it is?

Anonymous User wrote:I assume they have a weekly hiring committee meeting where they make these decisions. Does anyone know when it is?

I was told middle of the week.

Did anyone hear from Kirkland DC yesterday or today?

Still nothing, huh?

Anonymous User wrote:Still nothing, huh?

Nothing so far here. Interviewed early last week.

I interviewed last Tuesday (9/11) and was told on Thursday. My understanding is that the hiring committee meets on Thursdays.

And by "was told," I meant was extended an offer.

Congrats. Does anyone have a sense of the CB to offer ratio?

So supposedly the hiring committee meets today.

I have to say, I really thought I would have heard by now...

Wait-list purgatory v. Offer hoarders and their "which firm" TLS polls

Anonymous User wrote:Wait-list purgatory v. Offer hoarders and their "which firm" TLS polls

Hah. So true. All of the polls on which of five firms to choose should include an option for "just make up your mind already."

Someone at my school got the call today.

School?