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I'm wondering what everyone thinks about this. Here is the hypo:

You are about to graduate in May and have two job offers. Job 1 is at a biglaw firm in a major market paying $160,000 plus bonus. Job 2 is at a relatively unknown law firm, not in a major market, paying $500,000. Pay trajectory for job 1 is standard; for job 2 it is at least $500k. Assume both are litigation. Considering the various differences (pay, exit options, quality of life, etc.) - which would you choose?

Who is this "prestige" going to affect other then fellow lawyers? Even then most of them will laugh at you for turning down a 500k/year job, additionally, everyone else in the world will be much more impressed that your making crazy bank straight out of law school rather then being a member of some "bigtime" firm. My two cents at least, guess things may be different if you truly want to go into BigLaw for life and pal around with Marty Lipton etc.

I voted for the money.

Prestige matters amongst other law students / lawyers, who are generally not as good looking, interesting, or fun as the rest of the population. Money goes much farther, especially when you look like a law student / lawyer.

Prestige is for egomaniacs.

Where are the jobs that pay 500k and where can I sign up?

Firstly, why in Jupiter's name are you anonymous? Secondly, I voted for the money. In general, I do have an affinity for prestige, however I would much prefer the exit option of retiring in five to seven years, rather than going in house at Google/goldman/Walmart in five to seven years.

Money can buy prestige. Case closed.

Prestige don't pay the bills, bro.

omninode wrote:Money can buy prestige. Case closed.

You only need about $6 to buy a whole bottle of it at Ralphs

I'll take both.

Prestige. But subjective based on what I view as prestigious. But I value money way more than the opinions of others.

what MARKET SHATTERING firm pays $500k for first years?

Did you post anonymously so no one will know how much of an idiot you sound like?