Help me choose a firm?
Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:53 pm
I’ve been offered a practice-specific position at the top firm in my city (I’m calling this “firm x”). I really like the people at the firm, and in the practice group that I would be in, but I can’t say that I’m 100% sure that I want this practice group. I think I would like it, but I’ve never been a lawyer before, and I’ve never done any work in this particular field, so I have no idea if I’d really like it or if I'd even be good at it. At this point, I don’t feel strongly enough about any practice group to say that there’s one particular group that I know I’d be happy in, so the idea of immediately committing myself to one group makes me nervous.
I’ve also received offers from other very good firms in my city. These would not require me to choose a practice group right off the bat, which appeals to me. However, I would prefer to be at firm x (both because it is such a good firm and because I really like the people), and I am concerned about the financial stability of some of these firms. (That New Republic article scared the living daylights out of me. I know that that critique applies to most big law firms, but I think firm x might be in a slightly better position—but I could also be wrong about this.) I also tend to think that even if I have the chance to explore different practice groups next summer, there’s a possibility that the firm will end up putting me in a group that isn’t my very favorite anyway (or even the one I’d be in if I went to firm x, and I'd be fairly upset if this happened).
Splitting between groups is not an option (I've asked). These firms all pay market rates. I had a career before law school that I loved, but I wasn’t making as much money as I wanted to, and loving what I was doing wasn't enough for me, so I’m trying to approach this in a very practical manner. I'm really struggling with this decision, and I’d love to get people’s thoughts on my situation.
I’ve also received offers from other very good firms in my city. These would not require me to choose a practice group right off the bat, which appeals to me. However, I would prefer to be at firm x (both because it is such a good firm and because I really like the people), and I am concerned about the financial stability of some of these firms. (That New Republic article scared the living daylights out of me. I know that that critique applies to most big law firms, but I think firm x might be in a slightly better position—but I could also be wrong about this.) I also tend to think that even if I have the chance to explore different practice groups next summer, there’s a possibility that the firm will end up putting me in a group that isn’t my very favorite anyway (or even the one I’d be in if I went to firm x, and I'd be fairly upset if this happened).
Splitting between groups is not an option (I've asked). These firms all pay market rates. I had a career before law school that I loved, but I wasn’t making as much money as I wanted to, and loving what I was doing wasn't enough for me, so I’m trying to approach this in a very practical manner. I'm really struggling with this decision, and I’d love to get people’s thoughts on my situation.