V30 in NYC v. V100 in Chicago Forum

[Anonymous User]

Having a hard time choosing between a traditional v30 in NY (think Milbank, CWT, Fried Frank) and a v100 in Chicago (think Katten, Seyfarth, Baker). It seems to me that the quality of work is far greater at the NY firm, since the v100 is much more mid-market focused. But, CoL and other factors make Chicago a more attractive city.

My question is how different will my exit options likely be out of the NY firm in 3 or 4 years as compared to the v100 chicago firm? Im thinking of something transactional and I am open to working in whatever area would give me the best chance of going in-house or doing other appealing exit options.

[Anonymous User]

Added poll

[Anonymous User]

Any comments?

[Anonymous User]

I need some advice, anyone?

[Anonymous User]

This is a choice about your life. Go to the city you want and don't turn back. A kid from my class turned down Cravath and S&C to work at a Katten/Schiff level firm because that's the best he could get. Considering how few the top firms (Kirkland, Sidley, Winston, Mayer, and Jenner) are hiring, it's not bad to end up in the next rung.

Plus, the firms you are citing for NY, especially Cadwalader and Fried Frank, were some of the most notorious for laying off associates etc.

[Anonnn]

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[avb87]

I don't understand your poll - there's no option that Chicago is better?

I agree with the above poster that you may be better off in Chicago based on cost of living and other factors. Chicago is a great city and if I weren't tied to NYC I would probably have gone to school there & applied to jobs there. Also remember that vault is skewed heavily toward NY firms, so V30 NYC and V100 Chicago might be of more comparable quality than the numbers suggest.

[Anonymous User]

OP

I was simply trying to get a feel of how much better my exit options would be after working at the v30 with its more national client base compared to the v100 which has less of a brand name. I cant imagine my options would open up more out of the lower ranked chicago firm, but I guess I could be wrong. This is all I was trying to figure out, more than simply asking which would be better for me.

All, thanks for the comments, if a v30 in NYC would not open up future doors significantly more than the v100, there is much less of a reason for me to go there.

[de5igual]

OP

I was simply trying to get a feel of how much better my exit options would be after working at the v30 with its more national client base compared to the v100 which has less of a brand name. I cant imagine my options would open up more out of the lower ranked chicago firm, but I guess I could be wrong. This is all I was trying to figure out, more than simply asking which would be better for me.

All, thanks for the comments, if a v30 in NYC would not open up future doors significantly more than the v100, there is much less of a reason for me to go there.

While it's true that exit options are correlated to firm prestige, it's a lot more nuanced than just a Vault pecking order. First, what type of exit options are you looking to do? If you want to settle and practice in Chicago, working at the V100 (which probably is still very well respected) and making connections with local attorneys at other firms and in house >>> any prestige bump by the V30

[Anonymous User]

OP

I was simply trying to get a feel of how much better my exit options would be after working at the v30 with its more national client base compared to the v100 which has less of a brand name. I cant imagine my options would open up more out of the lower ranked chicago firm, but I guess I could be wrong. This is all I was trying to figure out, more than simply asking which would be better for me.

All, thanks for the comments, if a v30 in NYC would not open up future doors significantly more than the v100, there is much less of a reason for me to go there.

While it's true that exit options are correlated to firm prestige, it's a lot more nuanced than just a Vault pecking order. First, what type of exit options are you looking to do? If you want to settle and practice in Chicago, working at the V100 (which probably is still very well respected) and making connections with local attorneys at other firms and in house >>> any prestige bump by the V30

I think I may want to go in-house at a major company, and I'm not really set on settling anywhere in particular. That was the dilemma. But, I guess the truth is that I dont really know where I'm headed... So I'm pretty sure I going to go with the Chicago firm, because I'd rather live there at least for a while. Thanks all

[Anonymous User]

Also, just wondering why a few people voted "not comparable career potential"?