Top Law Schools

I'm trying to gauge the usefulness of prestige (by Vault standards or any other which might be as or more reliable - suggestions?) - specifically within V10. It's not by any means the deciding factor for me, and I don't think it affects much aside from exit options. That being said, exit options/career planning is kind of a big deal.

So, to the point: How much does being in the top 3 matter vs. being in 4-6 vs. being in 8-10? Is the entire top V10 generally samey for prestige, or does every rank count? I gather that being V10 is noticeably different than, say, V30 or V50, but once you get within the top 10, am I just splitting hairs?

V1 pays a lot more.

Jesus

Just say the firms and your practice area interests if you want people to discuss whatever minor differences exist. If you don't want to do that for whatever reason then type the firms into the search box at the bottom of this page, as every V10ish firm has been compared to every other V-10ish firm at some point on this site.

as long as you don't go to a V11 or V12 you'll be golden. But I can't warn you enough: stay in the V10.

dixiecupdrinking wrote:as long as you don't go to a V11 or V12 you'll be golden. But I can't warn you enough: stay in the V10.

The drop from V4 to V9 is PRECIPITOUS and one cannot underestimate the significance of that when applying to be the CEO of GE.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm trying to gauge the usefulness of prestige (by Vault standards or any other which might be as or more reliable - suggestions?) - specifically within V10. It's not by any means the deciding factor for me, and I don't think it affects much aside from exit options. That being said, exit options/career planning is kind of a big deal.

So, to the point: How much does being in the top 3 matter vs. being in 4-6 vs. being in 8-10? Is the entire top V10 generally samey for prestige, or does every rank count? I gather that being V10 is noticeably different than, say, V30 or V50, but once you get within the top 10, am I just splitting hairs?

FYI, many are going to assume you're a troll—and you very well may be one—but I'm in a good mood so I'll take your question seriously.

Vault rankings are not like the USNWR ranking which, for all its faults, roughly gets the top 20 or so law schools right. Vault rankings are based exclusively on surveys submitted by associates. And the submissions come disproportionately from corporate associates in NYC offices. So if you want to do transactional or M&A work in NYC, the Vault rankings are a fair (though very much imperfect) guide to "prestige" and "exit options." But if you're interested in litigation and/or wish to practice law outside of NYC, the Vault rankings are pretty useless. When it comes to litigation, most of the more "prestigious" firms aren't even in the "V10" at all.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm trying to gauge the usefulness of prestige (by Vault standards or any other which might be as or more reliable - suggestions?) - specifically within V10. It's not by any means the deciding factor for me, and I don't think it affects much aside from exit options. That being said, exit options/career planning is kind of a big deal.

So, to the point: How much does being in the top 3 matter vs. being in 4-6 vs. being in 8-10? Is the entire top V10 generally samey for prestige, or does every rank count? I gather that being V10 is noticeably different than, say, V30 or V50, but once you get within the top 10, am I just splitting hairs?

These are the people that won't last in big law for more than 2 years. You went to law school/are picking a firm for all of the wrong reasons. Wish you luck, your goin to need it

Anonymous User wrote:I'm trying to gauge the usefulness of prestige (by Vault standards or any other which might be as or more reliable - suggestions?) - specifically within V10. It's not by any means the deciding factor for me, and I don't think it affects much aside from exit options. That being said, exit options/career planning is kind of a big deal.

So, to the point: How much does being in the top 3 matter vs. being in 4-6 vs. being in 8-10? Is the entire top V10 generally samey for prestige, or does every rank count? I gather that being V10 is noticeably different than, say, V30 or V50, but once you get within the top 10, am I just splitting hairs?

The V10 subtiers are:

V1
V2-4
V5
V6-7
V8-10

ITT a lot of jealous people? Since when has TLS been so hostile to people with prestigious law firm offers?

On the other hand, OP--You are a dumbass. Seriously. Odds are that the firms you are deciding between have been dissected many, many times on this forum already. Just use the search function to search for the firm at which you have an offer, and odds are you will find threads contemplating the exact decision you're trying to make.

And as an aside, you can't expect us to possibly give you any advice without knowing the specific firms or your intended practice group.

Finally:

and I don't think it affects much aside from exit options.

False. Within the V10, what'll influence your exits (aside from being at WLRK, which is the only real exception) are your experiences and practice group. If you're a doc review idiot at S&C, good luck to you. But if you're running deals as a junior, go forth and gun my friend.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm trying to gauge the usefulness of prestige (by Vault standards or any other which might be as or more reliable - suggestions?) - specifically within V10. It's not by any means the deciding factor for me, and I don't think it affects much aside from exit options. That being said, exit options/career planning is kind of a big deal.

So, to the point: How much does being in the top 3 matter vs. being in 4-6 vs. being in 8-10? Is the entire top V10 generally samey for prestige, or does every rank count? I gather that being V10 is noticeably different than, say, V30 or V50, but once you get within the top 10, am I just splitting hairs?

On the corporate side, the top three in New York (Wachtell, S&C, and Cravath) have strong practices across the board. You also benefit from the generalist approach at S&C and Cravath and the pay at Wachtell (where you most likely will only do M&A and restructuring). Professionally, you can't go wrong with any of these choices. The only exception is if you know you want to do bankruptcy, PE, etc. If you want litigation, go to Susman, BSF, MTO, etc.

zweitbester wrote:ITT a lot of jealous people? Since when has TLS been so hostile to people with prestigious law firm offers?

On the other hand, OP--You are a dumbass. Seriously.

you're better than this

zweitbester wrote:ITT a lot of jealous people? Since when has TLS been so hostile to people with prestigious law firm offers?

Yeah, dude. That's why we gave him shit. Because of the offers.

bjsesq wrote:

zweitbester wrote:ITT a lot of jealous people? Since when has TLS been so hostile to people with prestigious law firm offers?

Yeah, dude. That's why we gave him shit. Because of the offers.

This

If he can't do the minimal research to recognize the subtiers of the v10 then he deserves what he's gettng

bjsesq wrote:

zweitbester wrote:ITT a lot of jealous people? Since when has TLS been so hostile to people with prestigious law firm offers?

Yeah, dude. That's why we gave him shit. Because of the offers.

No, seriously. It's gotten worse as of late. About 50% is justified, to be fair, but the other 50% seems just hostile to people who have offers at prestigious firms. I feel like every thread about a V10, even written in an non-obnoxious manner, attracts hostility.

zweitbester wrote:

bjsesq wrote:

zweitbester wrote:ITT a lot of jealous people? Since when has TLS been so hostile to people with prestigious law firm offers?

Yeah, dude. That's why we gave him shit. Because of the offers.

No, seriously. It's gotten worse as of late. About 50% is justified, to be fair, but the other 50% seems just hostile to people who have offers at prestigious firms. I feel like every thread about a V10, even written in an non-obnoxious manner, attracts hostility.

Seems odd to pick this as your battlefield site, especially when you noted the idiocy of the post.

bjsesq wrote:

zweitbester wrote:

bjsesq wrote:

zweitbester wrote:ITT a lot of jealous people? Since when has TLS been so hostile to people with prestigious law firm offers?

Yeah, dude. That's why we gave him shit. Because of the offers.

No, seriously. It's gotten worse as of late. About 50% is justified, to be fair, but the other 50% seems just hostile to people who have offers at prestigious firms. I feel like every thread about a V10, even written in an non-obnoxious manner, attracts hostility.

Seems odd to pick this as your battlefield site, especially when you noted the idiocy of the post.

Not really trying to pick a battle. Just wanting people to chill the fuck out. I mean three or so posts just to shit on the guy are great, but but the five or so posts doing the same thing after that are kind of dumb in their own right.

I think I was number three of joke posts, so I am glad to have made the cut.

bjsesq wrote:I think I was number three of joke posts, so I am glad to have made the cut.

You're #4.

Could've redeemed yourself if you had a helpful piece of advice in it too. That's what I tried to do in mine.

But Tiago's post is end of thread and exactly right (and I failed to read it before writing my post).

bjsesq wrote:I think I was number three of joke posts, so I am glad to have made the cut.

You were #2

V1 does pay a lot more

So I think I'm #3

I will try to remember the slam post rule of three from now on.

Is there any measurable differences between the V11-17 though? Not a HYS student so the V11 is my glass ceiling

TheThriller wrote:Is there any measurable differences between the V11-17 though? Not a HYS student so the V11 is my glass ceiling

Can't tell if this is a joke or not, so I'll treat it as if you are serious. You don't need to go to HYS to work at a V10 firm.

Pick the highest ranked one unless theres a practice area one is far better in objectively. Culture and shit and what people say is important (i.e. picking the place you feel fits you the most) is complete and utter bullshit. It's a huge myth that one V10 firm is a better fit for you than another and just perpetuated by people who like to justify to themselves that they have picked the "right firm" for them.

You'll work your ass off until the wee hours every night at any of the V10 firms (and plenty more) and while some firms may have more people you enjoy being around, it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, shit stinks whether you eat flowers or taco bell.

Morgan12Oak wrote:Pick the highest ranked one unless theres a practice area one is far better in objectively. Culture and shit and what people say is important (i.e. picking the place you feel fits you the most) is complete and utter bullshit. It's a huge myth that one V10 firm is a better fit for you than another and just perpetuated by people who like to justify to themselves that they have picked the "right firm" for them.

You'll work your ass off until the wee hours every night at any of the V10 firms (and plenty more) and while some firms may have more people you enjoy being around, it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, shit stinks whether you eat flowers or taco bell.

This makes little sense. If you find yourself in a certain department with a workgroup you hit it off with, why is that not more important than the negligible difference between V9 and V6? If you are going to gett buttfucked by hours, why not do it with some people you can tolerate?