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2L here juggling two different summer associate offers. honestly lost and cannot decide. Like most strivers, I love NYC...from the ohio area but still know very well that cleveland isn't exactly that hot. Then again, JD seems like a better firm, and despite the fact that isn't "HQ" anymore, it still appears to be a large/good office. I really care more about long-term exit/career options than immediate QOL. also, leaning towards corporate

Where do you want to exit to?

Anonymous User wrote:V80

This is just getting out of hand.

That said, what sorts of exit options are you after? It sounds to me like you're looking for people to assure you that "V80" in New York is a better option than Jones Day in a small market. If you don't want to be in Ohio, I think this is pretty much a no-brainer, especially if you're after typical corporate exit options.

Didn't Justice Scalia work in JD Cleveland?

I know people who work at JD Cleveland and they absolutely rave about the environment, the team-based atmosphere of the firm, etc. Plus, the fact that it is in Cleveland alleviates some of the NY-centric stress. Hell, even Justice Scalia says its an ideal place for a law student to begin a career.

I interviewed at Jones Day Cleveland and really liked it, for whatever that's worth. Hard to compare it to an unnamed NYC firm tho..

OP here guys. Sorry, the V80 is Katten. I should have specified, I agree just specifying the vault ranking was relatively absurd. I know that Katten crushed people during the crash...but I can't find anything egregious about it as of late so I'm assuming they are back full steam (isn't Winston the one people say is struggling?)

Anonymous User wrote:OP here guys. Sorry, the V80 is Katten. I should have specified, I agree just specifying the vault ranking was relatively absurd. I know that Katten crushed people during the crash...but I can't find anything egregious about it as of late so I'm assuming they are back full steam (isn't Winston the one people say is struggling?)

The recession pulled the veil off, and showed who these firms really are. As you said, Katten crushed people, whereas JD had very limited damage, didn't defer summers, didn't freeze or lower salaries, etc. If long-term stability and job security is important, JD has been pretty exemplary in that regard relative to a number of its peers.

Also, I know a number of people who started at JD Cleveland and then transferred to JD DC. The "one firm worldwide" sounds trite but it does seem like people in DC fully respect their Cleveland counterparts and don't view it as "just a flyover office."

take JD > katten. that name will carry you and since its a large office I dont see the issue of it being in Ohio...

Anonymous User wrote:Also, I know a number of people who started at JD Cleveland and then transferred to JD DC. The "one firm worldwide" sounds trite but it does seem like people in DC fully respect their Cleveland counterparts and don't view it as "just a flyover office."

This sounds accurate from my experience as well. Transferring offices seems to be relatively easy. The firm doesn't structure itself as having a HQ and a number of satellite offices. Instead, the firm thinks of itself as being grouped by practice area, with lawyers that just happen to be in various geographic locations (in keeping with the whole "one firm worldwide" theme). Thus, if you are a JD lawyer in Cleveland who does M&A, you are no less important than someone who does the same thing in a bigger office. And, if you were to switch offices, you would still be a member of the same team anyway, since it is your practice group that is your core, rather than those in your geographic location.

If you enjoy Cleveland and would like to live there, this is a no-brainer. Go with JD in Cleveland. It's the big fish in that pond/lake so they should have the important work coming from that area, salary vs COL will be much better and, even if you plan to transfer outside of JD later, you were at one of top shops in the area so that will be noted.