Top Law Schools

Anonymous User wrote:i have a decent shot given my gpa and school. want to do litigation. the only reason i wouldn't is that i just hear really very negative things about the firm atmosphere and culture from pretty much anyone who has experience there. thoughts?

I have a cousin at Kirkland NYC and he says it's a sweatshop, even by New York standards.

UVA Cavalier wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:i have a decent shot given my gpa and school. want to do litigation. the only reason i wouldn't is that i just hear really very negative things about the firm atmosphere and culture from pretty much anyone who has experience there. thoughts?

I have a cousin at Kirkland NYC and he says it's a sweatshop, even by New York standards.

Another K&E anon here. Yeah, we work hard, but at least we're compensated accordingly (to a degree). Just lol at Cravath-scale bonuses.

Another KE anon here. Saying KE is a sweatshop is stupid, since every V10 is a sweatshop. Presumably, the differentiating factor is pay.

Regarding office transfers: assuming reviews are good (not hard to do), transferring is easy so long as there's a need. You probably won't be able to transfer to the Hong Kong office as a litigator, for example. SF is not hard, but is plenty easier for corporate and IP associates, since the CA offices are very PE and IP focused.

Other K&E anon.

Exactly to what was said above. You're going to work hard wherever you go in this range of firms. You might as well get paid more and like the people you work for.

And if you're looking to summer here, have an amazing summer full of incredible meals, fun events, and minimal work.

If you're an average biller - whatever that means (2000? 2200?) - then how far above market are bonuses? Or are they above at all?

K&E NYC also has some of the most socially well adjusted lawyers among the top flight shops. Personally, I'd rather go out and chill with my coworkers than just be polite or whatever. I mean, when your working 70+ hour weeks with these bros, minus well hit the bars and frat hard after work. amirite?

Anonymous User wrote:If you're an average biller - whatever that means (2000? 2200?) - then how far above market are bonuses? Or are they above at all?

I think firm average is 2200 (but restructuring is like 2500 average) IIRC. Last year, the average bonus was something like 2x the Cravath-scale bonus. It's based on a matrix of your hours and your review.

Anonymous User wrote:K&E NYC also has some of the most socially well adjusted lawyers among the top flight shops. Personally, I'd rather go out and chill with my coworkers than just be polite or whatever. I mean, when your working 70+ hour weeks with these bros, minus well hit the bars and frat hard after work. amirite?

Where the hell did this 'frat out' and 'work hard play hard' meme come from?