Houston - Texas vs. National Firms Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just received some offers from a few Houston firms and was wondering if anybody could provide some insight into the advantages/disadvantages of working for a big 3 Texas firm vs. an office of a NY V-10 firm. Prestige does not have anything to do with my decision whatsoever, but some questions I am mulling over are:
- Long-term prospects of the firm
- Career development
- Firm culture
- Ability to succeed long-term as someone not from Texas
- Exit options (both within Texas and elsewhere)

Happy to hear any thoughts you may have, particularly from those who have actually worked at some of these types of firms. I can't give any more details without outing myself. Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

First and foremost, you want to split your summer. If the firms say they won't let you split push a bit. I know some of the firms will tell you they only let people do the first 6 weeks if you want to split. That's bullshit. Other thoughts:

1) Are you interested in Litigation? The non-Texas firms seem to have much smaller litigation sections (though the big 3 firm I was at barely had any litigation offers to give).

2) All the firms are pretty stable over the medium term.

3) The Texas firms seem to give more responsibility earlier. I know a junior associate who traveled to Mexico to advise her client on a (relatively small) deal by herself. At one point the client asked her if they should accept the deal. She told them that there was probably more money on the table. The client was able to negotiate for a few million more $. I've never heard that happening at a NYC firm. The firm I was at also seemed to give more responsibility than the NYC firms.

4) Each of the three Texas firms have a different feel. They all proclaim to be more chill than the NYC firms, but that would surprise me since the NYC firms now have so many partners from V&E and BB. The billable hour requirement is better at the Texas firms. There is also, at least at the firm I was at, a sense that the big 3 Texas firms are a bit more built into the community.

5) Not being from Texas probably won't hurt you long term at any of the firms. That said, it might make getting the offer a bit harder.

6) The biggest thing to look at might be offer rates. Like I said, people interested in litigation, including myself, at my firm got fucked. Luckily, I had a clerkship lined up. I'd out my firm, but I'm doing a second clerkship that will be down in Texas and I might put my hat back in the ring if they are hiring clerks.

[Anonymous User]

Bumping for additional insight, particularly from practicing attorneys.

[BigZuck]

Bumping for additional insight, particularly from practicing attorneys.

I don't know that there are any practicing TX big law attorneys on TLS

Check out the UT OCI thread from the past couple of years if you want to not name the firms, this is too vague/general. Or just say what firms cuz you're anon so it doesn't matter.

[Anonymous User]

TX Big 3 associate here. In my half dozen years on TLS, this topic has been discussed in depth numerous times. Do a search.

Even if you don't care about prestige, firm prestige is important for the first and last factors on houriat. The fourth factor is a nonissue. Can't tell you anything else without knowing the firm and practice group.