Skadden vs. Goodwin vs. Mintz (all Boston) Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm interested in litigation and recently did callbacks with these offices. Not sure if I want to stay in Boston long-term (past three-four years). Which would offer the best exit options?

Thanks!

[mvp99]

TLSers will tell you to come back when you have offers

[Anonymous User]

OP here: Sorry, didn't want to oust myself to some fellow TLSers! I got offers from Goodwin and Mintz. Waiting on Skadden and hoping to hear back within a week or so.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden > Goodwin > Mintz. If you were more certain on Boston long-term, Skadden vs. Goodwin might be a harder choice, but the flexibility of a strong presence elsewhere means Skadden would be the right choice if you got the offer.

[Anonymous User]

Mintz>>>>>>>Goodwin>Skadden. If you care about quality of life at all. Mintz is one of the best ranked QOL firms in the country. I've heard skadden is a labor camp in that office.

[Anonymous User]

OP: Thank you for the responses! Yeah, I have heard that Mintz has more respect for personal life. And the people that I met there were awesome. However, I'm more concerned with having strong exit options, esp since I might be moving to the Midwest with my partner (currently stationed in the Northeast) after a few years in Boston. And it's been hard to find info on Skadden's Boston office culture, so I really appreciate the feedback!

[Anonymous User]

Mintz>>>>>>>Goodwin>Skadden.

Off-the-mark advice for an OP who listed two (related but not synonymous) concerns: (1) not married to the Boston market and (2) exit options.

Mintz is well-stocked with good people but its reputation doesn't extend far beyond the northeast. Goodwin reaches further and Skadden offers first-rate branding.

It's between Goodwin and -- if (s)he gets it -- Skadden.

[Anonymous User]

Off-the-mark advice for an OP who listed two (related but not synonymous) concerns: (1) not married to the Boston market and (2) exit options.

Mintz is well-stocked with good people but its reputation doesn't extend far beyond the northeast. Goodwin reaches further and Skadden offers first-rate branding.

It's between Goodwin and -- if (s)he gets it -- Skadden.

Yes but that all depends on what OP wants do do when s/he leaves Boston. Part of the problem with big litigation shops is that when you look for exit options, you have no real experience to offer. "I managed discovery and was able to draft a few motions" is not that appealing to smaller shops. They have 4th years that have taken 30 depos. So, if OP wants to be at a QOL/early responsibility shop (the two often go hand-in-hand) then it may make more sense to turn down big law. If OP wants more big law upon moving to the midwest, then Skadden makes sense.

--Former Skadden attorney.

[Anonymous User]

To the former Skadden attorney, are you still in biglaw or at a smaller shop? (just curious)

Also, is this lack of experience concern still pretty high at a smaller office? Because Skadden's office is tiny. And Mintz is a little less than 300.

[Anonymous User]

Most of these posts are incredibly misinformed. Don't talk about the Boston market when you haven't gone through the Boston recruiting process (e.g. at the very least gone to CB's at these firms mentioned, or preferably worked in the Boston market).

Yes, Skadden has a great brand name nationally, but the Boston office is not the massive factory like it is in NY or other offices. Skadden is a very small office in Boston, although it does high quality M&A and litigation work. It leverages its international brand name, as well as the selling power of its small partner pool (high-profile poaches from other Boston firms who carry a lot of clout) to do well-regarded work in Boston. So due to the size of the firm and the fairly high level work you will get exposed to, you WILL be staffed leanly and you WILL get to do high level work, unlike the typical story for most mega firms in major markets. You will also get the support of Skadden specialists (e.g. tax, IP, etc.) from across the world, but you'll be on small teams, and you will get to work with just a couple partners very closely.

The downside? It's a very intense office, and the Skadden culture for being intense about work is definitely there. Skadden Boston is proud of that culture and they pitch it to you that way. You might end up working NY-level hours in Boston, which isn't the norm. Also, I don't know how well the folks in big Skadden offices view Skadden Boston. When I went through the recruiting process, attorneys in other Skadden offices had little to no opinion of the Skadden Boston office. They viewed it as just a satellite (even though Skadden Boston generates its own work), and most hadn't worked with them. Also, if prestige is really a concern to you, then people tend to look down at smaller offices as "satellites." Skadden is a very unique/peculiar office in Boston, and they definitely promote themselves that way.

Other posters are on the nose about Mintz--great people, great work in Boston, but a limited national footprint. Depends on how much you care about the prestige nationally or your exit options outside of Boston.

Goodwin is one of the three uncontested full service firms in Boston. I did not end up at Goodwin, but you will have a hard time finding anyone in Boston who has a bad thing to say about the firm. They continue to get a ton of work, the firm is ostensibly healthy enough that it's moving into a brand new office in Seaport in a couple years, and the people are generally quite sociable, friendly, and down to earth. At least on the corporate side, one downer is that their hours are pretty rough for Boston. I would go to Goodwin hands down, unless you really liked the fit at Mintz or Skadden more.

[Anonymous User]

Most of these posts are incredibly misinformed. Don't talk about the Boston market when you haven't gone through the Boston recruiting process (e.g. at the very least gone to CB's at these firms mentioned, or preferably worked in the Boston market).

Yes, Skadden has a great brand name nationally, but the Boston office is not the massive factory like it is in NY or other offices. Skadden is a very small office in Boston, although it does high quality M&A and litigation work. It leverages its international brand name, as well as the selling power of its small partner pool (high-profile poaches from other Boston firms who carry a lot of clout) to do well-regarded work in Boston. So due to the size of the firm and the fairly high level work you will get exposed to, you WILL be staffed leanly and you WILL get to do high level work, unlike the typical story for most mega firms in major markets. You will also get the support of Skadden specialists (e.g. tax, IP, etc.) from across the world, but you'll be on small teams, and you will get to work with just a couple partners very closely.

The downside? It's a very intense office, and the Skadden culture for being intense about work is definitely there. Skadden Boston is proud of that culture and they pitch it to you that way. You might end up working NY-level hours in Boston, which isn't the norm. Also, I don't know how well the folks in big Skadden offices view Skadden Boston. When I went through the recruiting process, attorneys in other Skadden offices had little to no opinion of the Skadden Boston office. They viewed it as just a satellite (even though Skadden Boston generates its own work), and most hadn't worked with them. Also, if prestige is really a concern to you, then people tend to look down at smaller offices as "satellites." Skadden is a very unique/peculiar office in Boston, and they definitely promote themselves that way.

Other posters are on the nose about Mintz--great people, great work in Boston, but a limited national footprint. Depends on how much you care about the prestige nationally or your exit options outside of Boston.

Goodwin is one of the three uncontested full service firms in Boston. I did not end up at Goodwin, but you will have a hard time finding anyone in Boston who has a bad thing to say about the firm. They continue to get a ton of work, the firm is ostensibly healthy enough that it's moving into a brand new office in Seaport in a couple years, and the people are generally quite sociable, friendly, and down to earth. At least on the corporate side, one downer is that their hours are pretty rough for Boston. I would go to Goodwin hands down, unless you really liked the fit at Mintz or Skadden more.

Fantastic breakdown. Not OP, but thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Ropes & Gray

[Anonymous User]

OP here: Echoing the previous post -- wonderful breakdown! Thank you for the responses, TLSers!