TX Partnership Prospects: Better to start in TX or NYC Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm curious if anyone on this board has noticed a trend or has anything anecdotal to add.

The comparison would be for NYC V15 firms vs. V&E/BB/Latham(TX). If you were trying for partner at one of these shops in TX, would you have a better shot if you started there or if you lateraled from NY as a mid-level. Assume TX ties aren't a problem. This would be for transactional/tax. My thoughts were that you would have more total experience coming from NYC but that you would have better energy knowledge and client prospects if you had been in TX the whole time. At the same time, I feel like I've seen a lot of out-of-state laterals making partner.

[Anonymous User]

I'm curious if anyone on this board has noticed a trend or has anything anecdotal to add.

The comparison would be for NYC V15 firms vs. V&E/BB/Latham(TX). If you were trying for partner at one of these shops in TX, would you have a better shot if you started there or if you lateraled from NY as a mid-level. Assume TX ties aren't a problem. This would be for transactional/tax. My thoughts were that you would have more total experience coming from NYC but that you would have better energy knowledge and client prospects if you had been in TX the whole time. At the same time, I feel like I've seen a lot of out-of-state laterals making partner.

I asked this question a million times before making my decision. I was between a V3 and the Big 3 in TX. The clear answer I received was that its better to go top vault in NYC for a few years if you dont know where you want to end up. If you for sure want to end up in Texas, there is 0 benefit to not starting there and may hurt you because you dont know what their needs will be in 5-6 years or w/e. plus you lose time making connections with partners, clients, etc.

I ended up choosing to go straight to Texas.

[Anonymous User]

I asked this question a million times before making my decision. I was between a V3 and the Big 3 in TX. The clear answer I received was that its better to go top vault in NYC for a few years if you dont know where you want to end up. If you for sure want to end up in Texas, there is 0 benefit to not starting there and may hurt you because you dont know what their needs will be in 5-6 years or w/e. plus you lose time making connections with partners, clients, etc.

I ended up choosing to go straight to Texas.

Thank you! This fits with what I've heard elsewhere. I'm also leaning toward just starting in Texas.

[Anonymous User]

I asked this question a million times before making my decision. I was between a V3 and the Big 3 in TX. The clear answer I received was that its better to go top vault in NYC for a few years if you dont know where you want to end up. If you for sure want to end up in Texas, there is 0 benefit to not starting there and may hurt you because you dont know what their needs will be in 5-6 years or w/e. plus you lose time making connections with partners, clients, etc.

I ended up choosing to go straight to Texas.

Thank you! This fits with what I've heard elsewhere. I'm also leaning toward just starting in Texas.

Are you a 1L or 0L? If you are a 2L then you should have already gone through the process and made your decision. If not you shouldn't be worried about partnership prospects because you don't know where you will get offers. Just worry about doing well in school, and if you have a 1L SA position in Texas, go in and kill it so you have an offer or two going into OCI.

[Anonymous User]

Are you a 1L or 0L? If you are a 2L then you should have already gone through the process and made your decision. If not you shouldn't be worried about partnership prospects because you don't know where you will get offers. Just worry about doing well in school, and if you have a 1L SA position in Texas, go in and kill it so you have an offer or two going into OCI.

Yeah, I assumed I would get this given the date I'm asking. 2L contemplating applying for 1st year positions over the summer. I know it's a long shot.

[Anonymous User]

I am a 2L who is going to DC for the summer. I recently got engaged and my partner lives and owns a home in Texas. My goal is to get an offer from the DC firm, and see if I can use it as leverage for direct application submissions to firms in Texas.


Any thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

I am a 2L who is going to DC for the summer. I recently got engaged and my partner lives and owns a home in Texas. My goal is to get an offer from the DC firm, and see if I can use it as leverage for direct application submissions to firms in Texas.


Any thoughts?

Assuming this is DC biglaw looking for TX biglaw, they will ask you if you have the offer and you likely won't get anything without it. Beyond that, it's the usual 3L hiring boat. You can check the NALP forms to see which firms to target by looking at how many entry levels are starting who weren't previous summer associates. You could also consider applying for TX clerkships. Definitely work to keep your grades up. It could depend a lot on what city the home is in as well (Chances for 3L spot: Houston>Dallas>Austin). Although DC experience also might play well in Austin.

[Old Gregg]

Planning your actions based on something that has less than a 1% chance of happening in 10 years is absurdly stupid. If your goal is to keep as many doors open as possible, then you should probably be starting out in NYC, assuming you have an offer at an ultra-prestigious firm. But really no point in ditching an offer at V&E in Houston for White & Case in NYC.

[Anonymous User]

Planning your actions based on something that has less than a 1% chance of happening in 10 years is absurdly stupid. If your goal is to keep as many doors open as possible, then you should probably be starting out in NYC, assuming you have an offer at an ultra-prestigious firm. But really no point in ditching an offer at V&E in Houston for White & Case in NYC.

OP. Yeah, you're right of course. My thinking was that energy experience and client contact would also make it more likely I could land a good in house job in Texas. I also agree with you that when you move beyond the top 15 firms or so then I don't think it's much of a move up (maybe that's when the NYC bias kicks in). Thanks for your input. I guess the consensus is start in Texas if you know you want to end up there, otherwise start in New York.

[dead head]

I'm still confused: what does OP have lined up already, and what is speculation? Because it's pretty bold to assume that you'll be able to pick up either an NYC V15 or top Texas firm in 3L OCI.

[Anonymous User]

I'm still confused: what does OP have lined up already, and what is speculation? Because it's pretty bold to assume that you'll be able to pick up either an NYC V15 or top Texas firm in 3L OCI.

Sorry, don't mean to suggest I'm assuming at all. TX is lined up and would be applying for NYC in 3L OCI. More trying to determine if this is something that is worthwhile to pursue. If it is, then I'm going go after it aggressively, but knowing that I almost certainly won't get it. If not, then I'm very happy with where I am. I'm waiting to see grades from this semester as well. I know how impossible 3L hiring is but also that most of it occurs at the top firms.

[84651846190]

You're not going to make partner at a biglaw firm. The sooner you accept this, the better your life will be.

Even you if do make partner, it will have a lot more to do with random things you cannot control than it will have to do with firm/geography.

[tonidee]

I am a 2L who is going to DC for the summer. I recently got engaged and my partner lives and owns a home in Texas. My goal is to get an offer from the DC firm, and see if I can use it as leverage for direct application submissions to firms in Texas.


Any thoughts?

Assuming this is DC biglaw looking for TX biglaw, they will ask you if you have the offer and you likely won't get anything without it. Beyond that, it's the usual 3L hiring boat. You can check the NALP forms to see which firms to target by looking at how many entry levels are starting who weren't previous summer associates. You could also consider applying for TX clerkships. Definitely work to keep your grades up. It could depend a lot on what city the home is in as well (Chances for 3L spot: Houston>Dallas>Austin). Although DC experience also might play well in Austin.

Thanks. The firm has an 100% offer rate. A recent engagement is pushing me into the Texas market. I am applying for clerkships as well. I am targeting firms that have DC and Texas offices.