ATL's Firm Insider Ratings Forum

[Anonymous User]

How reliable are these? The high ratings for firms like Davis Polk and Simpson Thacher (both with A- ratings) line up with what I've heard from other sources as those firms being great places to work, but as somebody in the process of choosing a firm, the lower ratings of some firms (e.g. a C- for SullCrom and a B- for Kirkland) worry me—but I'm not sure if they should.

Source: http://abovethelaw.com/careers/law-firms/

[TTH]

Define "reliable." It's an attempt to quantify aggregate gossip about firms.

[Anonymous User]

Define "reliable." It's an attempt to quantify aggregate gossip about firms.

Reliable as in an accurate measure showing how people working at a particular firm see that firm. I know that it's not a perfect indication, but I was wondering how rough of a proxy it is. For example, does it really suck that much more to work at SullCrom (C-) versus Davis Polk (A-)?

[Anonymous User]

Define "reliable." It's an attempt to quantify aggregate gossip about firms.

Reliable as in an accurate measure showing how people working at a particular firm see that firm. I know that it's not a perfect indication, but I was wondering how rough of a proxy it is. For example, does it really suck that much more to work at SullCrom (C-) versus Davis Polk (A-)?

No, these metrics strike me as highly subjective. I have friends that SullCrom that absolutely love their time there, but others don't like the culture (or to them the lack thereof). Other friends really hate what they perceive as passive aggressiveness at DPW, but others love the people.

[Anonymous User]

Define "reliable." It's an attempt to quantify aggregate gossip about firms.

Reliable as in an accurate measure showing how people working at a particular firm see that firm. I know that it's not a perfect indication, but I was wondering how rough of a proxy it is. For example, does it really suck that much more to work at SullCrom (C-) versus Davis Polk (A-)?

No, these metrics strike me as highly subjective. I have friends that SullCrom that absolutely love their time there, but others don't like the culture (or to them the lack thereof). Other friends really hate what they perceive as passive aggressiveness at DPW, but others love the people.

Obviously there are going to be people at each firm who love it and others who hate it. There are also people who think that Congress is doing an awesome job. And people who thought that The Shawshank Redemption was an awful movie. I'm sort of going in with the assumption that I will not be the exception to the rule.

[keg411]

I think those are old and outdated (though I could be wrong, but the last time I checked it out, some of the information seemed like it was incorrect). Lateral Link/The ATL Career Center profiles should have more updated information.

[Anonymous User]

I think those are old and outdated (though I could be wrong, but the last time I checked it out, some of the information seemed like it was incorrect). Lateral Link/The ATL Career Center profiles should have more updated information.

Can you link me to these? Can't seem to find them. I thought that these were shut down in favor of the newer (or so I thought) ATL/careers site that I linked to.

[keg411]

I think those are old and outdated (though I could be wrong, but the last time I checked it out, some of the information seemed like it was incorrect). Lateral Link/The ATL Career Center profiles should have more updated information.

Can you link me to these? Can't seem to find them. I thought that these were shut down in favor of the newer (or so I thought) ATL/careers site that I linked to.

Hmm.. I'm not sure. It's weird because the new "rating" thing seems super outdated and has information from like 2009, but the other site is gone. I have zero idea what's going on over there.

[Anonymous User]

Doesn't seem very reliable. They gave my firm an A- for compensation, when it's known that our compensation (other than first year salary) is much less than market.

[Anonymous User]

I would argue that these ratings are based on what people THINK their firm should be, rather than what it actually is, because they don't know about life at any other firm.

[Law Sauce]

I think those are old and outdated (though I could be wrong, but the last time I checked it out, some of the information seemed like it was incorrect). Lateral Link/The ATL Career Center profiles should have more updated information.

Can you link me to these? Can't seem to find them. I thought that these were shut down in favor of the newer (or so I thought) ATL/careers site that I linked to.

Hmm.. I'm not sure. It's weird because the new "rating" thing seems super outdated and has information from like 2009, but the other site is gone. I have zero idea what's going on over there.

http://www.laterallink.com/career_center/

[keg411]

I think those are old and outdated (though I could be wrong, but the last time I checked it out, some of the information seemed like it was incorrect). Lateral Link/The ATL Career Center profiles should have more updated information.

Can you link me to these? Can't seem to find them. I thought that these were shut down in favor of the newer (or so I thought) ATL/careers site that I linked to.

Hmm.. I'm not sure. It's weird because the new "rating" thing seems super outdated and has information from like 2009, but the other site is gone. I have zero idea what's going on over there.

http://www.laterallink.com/career_center/

There we go -- that looks right .

[newbienew]

Thanks for posting this, Law Sauce. It looks like a great resource.