Boutique Firm (market) v. BigLaw (below market) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Currently trying to choose between an expanding litigation boutique firm (pays market in NYC) and a better established "BigLaw" firm. Not prestigious. Pays below market (I don't want to go into too much specifics but think $130-$145). Litigation department there. Doesn't rotate.

Am pretty sure I want to do litigation, but as a 2L, what do I know?

Both firms are in NYC. Boutique firm will work me harder (higher billable requirement) but they do pay market. As for "fit" honestly I liked them both.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

OP here - I'm a single guy and so don't really need to support anyone atm, I'm pretty sure I can do okay with $130-$145K.

[Law Sauce]

From just what you have told us, its tough to really say much. The only thing I am wondering is how a "better established 'Biglaw' firm in NYC" doesn't pay market. There are few biglaw firms in NYC that do not pay market. May be a sign that they are bottom tier (even lower tier biglaw in NYC usually pay market AFAIK).

[hephaestus]

From just what you have told us, its tough to really say much. The only thing I am wondering is how a "better established 'Biglaw' firm in NYC" doesn't pay market. There are few biglaw firms in NYC that do not pay market. May be a sign that they are bottom tier (even lower tier biglaw in NYC usually pay market AFAIK).

There are several vault firms that don't pay market in NY (eg Reed Smith).

[Anonymous User]

Bryan Cave pays $145K in NYC and is seventy-something on Vault.

[guano]

Quite a few non NY headquartered firms pay the same salary irrespective of office and pay based on their home market rate, even at their NY satellite.
Typically that's $135-145k. However, the billables requirement is typically also that of the home market, which is usually noticeably lower

[Law Sauce]

Fair enough

[Pokemon]

There are boutiques and then there are boutiques... so I would be aware of that.

Also, TLS wisdom says that you are more likely to be no-offered at a boutique than at a biglaw firm... take that with a grain of salt though.

[Allenowen]

What kind of litigation boutique is this? Is it on par with the more well-known ones that people read about in the papers? Susman, Bickel, etc.?

[Anonymous User]

What kind of litigation boutique is this? Is it on par with the more well-known ones that people read about in the papers? Susman, Bickel, etc.?

Not the OP but curious about this because you mentioned Bickel. Bickel pays 185K. Should one take Bickel or "BigLaw" at market (assuming it's not a very prestigious V50 firm), assuming of course you're going to be doing litigation anyway?

[bk1]

Not the OP but curious about this because you mentioned Bickel. Bickel pays 185K. Should one take Bickel or "BigLaw" at market (assuming it's not a very prestigious V50 firm), assuming of course you're going to be doing litigation anyway?

Nobody can answer this question when the only information provided is "Bickel vs V50."

[Anonymous User]

Is $185K worth choosing Bickel?

[bk1]

Is $185K worth choosing Bickel?

Again, there are so many things that go into this decision other than pure pay.

[Anonymous User]

I guess the better question is things like quality of life (Bickel works more hours than most firms unless we're talking V10), exit strategies, etc. If you want to do something other than litigation you would have to leave the firm.

Solid choice if you are interested in litigation and want to make lots of money, and of course got along with the people you interviewed with.

[anon168]

Is $185K worth choosing Bickel?

A firm like a Bickel pays above market not because it's charitable or has money to burn but because it has to.

[Anonymous User]

Bump. So I have an opportunity to work for a litigation boutique (not Bickel, Susman) etc. that pays 15-20K below NYC market. I also have an offer at a V100 out of NY that does primarily corporate work (some litigation, but not the driving force behind it.

I want to litigate, but am not 100% set on it and I'm worried about exit options/prestige impacting my career later on. What would be the difference in exit options? What is more important (good early responsibility/experience or prestige/exit options)?

[Anonymous User]

Bump

[mvp99]

Bump. So I have an opportunity to work for a litigation boutique (not Bickel, Susman) etc. that pays 15-20K below NYC market. I also have an offer at a V100 out of NY that does primarily corporate work (some litigation, but not the driving force behind it.

I want to litigate, but am not 100% set on it and I'm worried about exit options/prestige impacting my career later on. What would be the difference in exit options? What is more important (good early responsibility/experience or prestige/exit options)?

Do you have any debt?

[Anonymous User]

Bump. So I have an opportunity to work for a litigation boutique (not Bickel, Susman) etc. that pays 15-20K below NYC market. I also have an offer at a V100 out of NY that does primarily corporate work (some litigation, but not the driving force behind it.

I want to litigate, but am not 100% set on it and I'm worried about exit options/prestige impacting my career later on. What would be the difference in exit options? What is more important (good early responsibility/experience or prestige/exit options)?

Do you have any debt?

OP Here. No debt...I want litigation, but don't want to cut off exit options.