Sidley or Paul Hastings (Chicago)? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Looking at transactional. Profits per partner and revenue per lawyer is higher at Hastings and I've heard they matched DPW. Sidley had some issues with that last year. Sidley has the better Chicago rep.

[Anonymous User]

Sidley without question. This is not a close call.

[trebekismyhero]

Sidley without question. This is not a close call.

[Anonymous User]

honestly this is not even close. whoever would pick paul hastings is going off of ny vault rankings and national profit numbers.

this is coming from a u of c student. my sense from hearing people talk about the chicago market non-stop for the last 12 months is that sidley is the best firm to work at in chicago, hands down.

[Anonymous User]

I appreciate what you guys are saying, but why though? Traditional reputation? Paul Hastings is pouring money into their Chicago office, it really seems like they're committed and this would be a way to get in at a relatively early stage.

[Anonymous User]

honestly this is not even close. whoever would pick paul hastings is going off of ny vault rankings and national profit numbers.

this is coming from a u of c student. my sense from hearing people talk about the chicago market non-stop for the last 12 months is that sidley is the best firm to work at in chicago, hands down.

/bills 2500 hours and receives below market bonus

/but we're the nice office in Chicago!

This doesn't mean Sidley isn't the right choice here, but its reputation for being a great place to work is still WAY overblown. It's Chicago biglaw and you're gonna get worked hard there just like anywhere else.

[Anonymous User]

I appreciate what you guys are saying, but why though? Traditional reputation? Paul Hastings is pouring money into their Chicago office, it really seems like they're committed and this would be a way to get in at a relatively early stage.

I don't know what "pouring money into their Chicago office"means, but it sounds like a marketing pitch. Sidley has better clients and does leaps and bounds better transactional work. Anyone in the transactional space in Chicago would tell you the same. This is such a hilariously easy choice that I'm skeptical you really understand much about the Chicago market.

[Cobretti]

Not that chambers is the end all be all, but when two offices are this different...

http://www.chambersandpartners.com/usa/ ... l-hastings

http://www.chambersandpartners.com/usa/ ... ley-austin

[zugzwanger]

Sidley x100

[Anonymous User]

Paul Hastings has been known to no-offer a few summer associates every year. At Sidley, you're virtually guaranteed an offer. Enjoy Sidley and congrats!

[bdubs]

There isn't a "right" answer here because the part of this that will make the most difference is which group you join. If you're unsure what kind of transactional work you want to do, that means you're unsure who you want to work with. At Sidley you will have a lot of options of practices with solid reputations. At PH, you will likely have fewer choices overall and even fewer in practices with good reputations in Chicago. Lateraling out of Sidley also won't be a problem because the firm has a sterling reputation in the area, but PH may limit you more because it has fewer local clients and less awareness in the market. Only choose PH if you know what you want to do, know they do it well, and like the people that you will be working with more than the equivalent group at Sidley.

[jbagelboy]

Not that chambers is the end all be all, but when two offices are this different...

http://www.chambersandpartners.com/usa/ ... l-hastings

http://www.chambersandpartners.com/usa/ ... ley-austin

this should be your answer

[Anonymous User]

To be fair, Sidley lawyer here, but Sidley by a landslide.