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I'm currently struggling to choose between firms in DC and Philly. I've narrowed my choice down to two, and I have a great impression of each from CBs and second looks. Both firms have a strong litigation practice and at least one sub-practice I'm especially excited about, and as biglaw goes they seem to have decent W/L balance (lol). I love Philly as a city but am also one of those weirdos who likes Washington, and would be happy living in either. I do get the sense that the DC firm is more leanly staffed and would present earlier opportunities to be doing motions, depos, etc. instead of pure doc review for the first couple years.

My question is mostly whether one of these is going to leave me with stronger exit options and long-term career prospects than the other. Ultimately I hope to be an AUSA, which I understand to be a fairly hyper-competitive goal. In pursuit of that I would also like to keep my geographic options open in the event that my SO's career ever requires a significant move, and I wonder whether the DC firm would provide greater reach than the Philly firm, though the Philly firm is more "prestigious" within its market if that matters at all.

More in the short term, I'm wondering if either would have any bearing on my ability to pursue a CoA clerkship, or whether that's determined more or less entirely by grades and LORs regardless of my intended firm.

TYIA for advice.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm currently struggling to choose between firms in DC and Philly. I've narrowed my choice down to two, and I have a great impression of each from CBs and second looks. Both firms have a strong litigation practice and at least one sub-practice I'm especially excited about, and as biglaw goes they seem to have decent W/L balance (lol). I love Philly as a city but am also one of those weirdos who likes Washington, and would be happy living in either. I do get the sense that the DC firm is more leanly staffed and would present earlier opportunities to be doing motions, depos, etc. instead of pure doc review for the first couple years.

My question is mostly whether one of these is going to leave me with stronger exit options and long-term career prospects than the other. Ultimately I hope to be an AUSA, which I understand to be a fairly hyper-competitive goal. In pursuit of that I would also like to keep my geographic options open in the event that my SO's career ever requires a significant move, and I wonder whether the DC firm would provide greater reach than the Philly firm, though the Philly firm is more "prestigious" within its market if that matters at all.

More in the short term, I'm wondering if either would have any bearing on my ability to pursue a CoA clerkship, or whether that's determined more or less entirely by grades and LORs regardless of my intended firm.

TYIA for advice.

I am not sure it makes much of a difference. However, if you want to be an AUSA, or likewise, work for the DOJ Washington, DC certainly has better networking opportunities.

What is the Philly firm and the DC firm. PM me.