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I keep going back and forth. I want to stay in Chicago for a while, but not sure about permanently. No idea what I want to practice. Need to decide soon and would love input (literally any input at all).

I know RS pays below market; that is not a huge deal to me.

I really liked interviewing with Reed Smith Chicago. I felt like everyone was very nice, you would get training early on, and once you were part of RS you were "in." People seemed to work very hard there. I have no idea about SH, but I met one partner there who was pretty arrogant/dismissive. Maybe he was just having a bad day though.

I received an offer from RS. Likely going to accept. Because RS bought of Sachnoff & Weaver five years ago, their office culture is unique. Everyone I have met was interesting and extremely laid-back. Seemed like a work hard, play hard sort of office. I don't know anything meaningful about Schiff Hardin, but I didn't like the people I interviewed with from Schiff. They seemed stuffy.

You know that Schiff no-offers a lot of people, right?

According to NALP, Reed Smith offered all 4 of its Chicago summers last year. Schiff offered 5 of 8. The choice is clear if you ask me.

SH 7/8 last summer

Anonymous User wrote:SH 7/8 last summer

Where did you get this info from?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:SH 7/8 last summer

Where did you get this info from?

The NALP form.

I interviewed with both offices on a CB, but accepted an offer from a different firm. I will say, I found a lot to dislike about Schiff Hardin during my callback. The attorneys I met just did not seem to be enjoying what they were doing,and the associates that took me to lunch had never even met each other. Going off vibe alone, I found RS to be much collegial/laid-back. If the 15k difference in salary does not bother you, than go with RS.

I'm not sure how all these anonymous posters sharing their views based on callbacks really helps the OP. Since OP has an offer from both, s/he has had callbacks at both. I think it would probably be far more useful for someone who is/knows an associate to offer their views. Otherwise, this feels more like a gang up on Schiff Hardin thread.

I accepted an offer at Schiff. I liked everyone I met with. Associates seemed busy/no real problems meeting hours. Pretty transparent management. Firm is very litigation heavy as compared with corporate.

Anonymous User wrote:SH 7/8 last summer

This summer (2012) it was 7/8. Last summer (2011) it was 5/8. Both pieces of info are from their NALP form.

6/8 Summer 2010 if anyone is curious.

RS cut salaries in major markets during the recession. Stands to reason that they might come back up to market levels (Schiff Hardin actually did this exact same thing). Tough to bank on this, and I have no inside info to back it up. Just saying.

Anonymous User wrote:RS cut salaries in major markets during the recession. Stands to reason that they might come back up to market levels (Schiff Hardin actually did this exact same thing). Tough to bank on this, and I have no inside info to back it up. Just saying.

OP here...don't know what to make of this. Thanks for the input. Still just as confused.

I am in the exact same position, but I have Greenberg in the mix too. Such a hard choice. I loved the people I met with at Schiff, but it is not a national firm. I wish I could get a better idea of work/life balance. It seems so hard to tell without working there, but I get the sense that Schiff really likes to take care of its people.

Did you two make your decisions yet? Just wondering...I'll be at Schiff this summer.

Anonymous User wrote:Did you two make your decisions yet? Just wondering...I'll be at Schiff this summer.

I went Reed, but it was a very tough choice. Ultimately it was a personal fit thing for me. Both great choices though. Good luck!

Bump this thread a couple years later with the same issue. Looking more on the corporate/transactional side. Any input?

Anything?

Anonymous User wrote:Bump this thread a couple years later with the same issue. Looking more on the corporate/transactional side. Any input?

Ditto. Curious to hear people's thoughts on this.

I chose RS and still feel great about it. Nothing against schiff. SH seemed more lit heavy but I was never interested in corp so I wasn't paying attention to that. You will get work in corporate at RS, the Chicago office stays busy there. Summer class is doubling in size next year. Lots of new additions to the office since last summer (ie growing). NY office just made the move to bump salaries to market. Not much talk of that here but if there was I wouldn't hear it anyway. Good signs all around though.

Anonymous User wrote:I chose RS and still feel great about it. Nothing against schiff. SH seemed more lit heavy but I was never interested in corp so I wasn't paying attention to that. You will get work in corporate at RS, the Chicago office stays busy there. Summer class is doubling in size next year. Lots of new additions to the office since last summer (ie growing). NY office just made the move to bump salaries to market. Not much talk of that here but if there was I wouldn't hear it anyway. Good signs all around though.

Thank you. I am leaning RS as well, great to hear positive things.

Any opinions on how these two compare to K&L Gates Chicago office? Making a similar decision here.

Anonymous User wrote:I chose RS and still feel great about it. Nothing against schiff. SH seemed more lit heavy but I was never interested in corp so I wasn't paying attention to that. You will get work in corporate at RS, the Chicago office stays busy there. Summer class is doubling in size next year. Lots of new additions to the office since last summer (ie growing). NY office just made the move to bump salaries to market. Not much talk of that here but if there was I wouldn't hear it anyway. Good signs all around though.

I thought the summer class was shrinking from 8 last year to 5 this year? Also, too bad about the salary. Was really hoping they'd bring it up with market after NY voted to do it.

Summer class was 6 last year. Will be doubled next summer. I am talking about RS Chicago to be clear. What I meant was associates aren't really talking about the bump, take that as you will. Decision makers might be but they wouldn't exactly keep me in the loop if they were.