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Help Me Choose a Firm (Seattle)

Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:17 am
by Anonymous User
With Perkins out. I wanted to know what other people would decide on between these three choices all being located in Seattle:

K&L Gates
Pros:
National (or International) Reputation
Market Pay ($125k? Not on NALP anymore)
Cool People
Third Largest Firm in Town

Cons:
Not a perfect offer rate (Seattle: 6 out of 7; Nationally: 71 out of 76)
Not HQ

Davis Wright Tremaine:
Pros:
Market Pay ($120k)
Cool People
Second Largest Firm In Seattle
Higher Regional Ranking
HQ in Seattle

Cons:
Not a National Reputation (Less Exit Options?)
Unclear Offer Rate

Satellite Offices (think Wilson Sonsini, DLA, Fenwick, Cooley, Orrick, etc.).:
Pros:
Above Market Pay ($160k)
Interesting Work (Start-ups/VC)
Perfect Offer Rates
Bro-y people

Cons:
Work longer
Inability to change practice area
Limited Exit Options?
Less opportunities to become partner
Not HQ

Re: Help Me Choose a Firm (Seattle)

Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 10:37 am
by Anonymous User
Former Seattle SA here, faced similar question. What do you want to do? Litigation, corporate? What are your career goals? How much debt (approx.) do you have? These questions matter for your issue.

Re: Help Me Choose a Firm (Seattle)

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:15 pm
by GM544
OP, we should talk. PM me.

Re: Help Me Choose a Firm (Seattle)

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:53 pm
by bl1nds1ght
Damnit! I wanted to see this conversation unfold :roll:

Re: Help Me Choose a Firm (Seattle)

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 2:05 pm
by nsideirish
40k extra per year at those satellite offices is awfully tempting. Plus, they are all well-regarded firms and would be a strong name on your resume.

Re: Help Me Choose a Firm (Seattle)

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 2:32 pm
by Anonymous User
bl1nds1ght wrote:Damnit! I wanted to see this conversation unfold :roll:
Feel free to take my poll as well.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... w=viewpoll

I think if I were in OP's position it would depend on where I wanted to end up and what I wanted to do. But in the end, that 40k difference would probably be my answer as well.

As for $$ at K&L, they are between 120k and 125k.