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Fortunate to have two lateral offers. The V10 is for a Chambers Band 4 practice group in the home office. V50 is in a growing satellite office in a different market. Comp would probably be higher at the V10, b/c of bonuses, but both employ same lockstep salary. Might have to take a class-year cut at the V10.

How much would the Chambers rank of the practice group influence my exit options, if I ever did leave? Is the V10 prestige that much better than the V50 that it should weigh heavily in my decision?

Really appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

For me compensation and location of firm would matter most. Exit options just seem so squishy in that qualifying their strength is all based on conjecture.

Taking a class year cut is bullshite in my opinion. If the V50 is in a cool city and you make more there (b/c of not having the class year cut), that'd probably be the choice I'd make.

V10 is in a city almost anyone would consider much cooler, although I have put down roots in the other market and it is closer to my wife and I's families.

Re: exit options, if I ever stepped down to a lower ranked firm, wouldn't I have more options at the V10 by virtue of the fact that its prestige is greater than the vast majority of other firms? Or is this not necessarily the case and would my specific practice area outweigh the V10 name?

The class year cut is my choice, however it seems advantageous to take the cut b/c otherwise I'd be competing against people with a year under their belt for bonuses, advancement, etc.

Not sure I follow your math regarding the class year cut, but okay.

My sense is that there are 1) exit options created by the firm and 2) exit options created by the work you do.

I think exit options created by the firm have to do with the reputation of the firm and a track record of feeding associates to certain companies or certain types of companies. In terms of the reputation of the firm, I'm not convinced despite the TLS common wisdom that there a real difference in this regard between any of the V100. I mean if a company is a client of a V100, they probably don't think that firm is a total piece of crap, right? In terms of track-record, who knows, it's pretty anecdotal.

I think exit options created by the work you do is probably what will make the difference in terms of exit options between a V10 and V50. Is either firm particularly good at your practice area? Do they work with clients that you would want to work for? Will you have much interaction as an associate with said clients?

My 2 cents.

Thanks for your input. It seems to hard to believe there is little difference in reputation re exit options among the V100 or else why would anyone focus so much on it and subject themself to V10 hours?

Anyone else have any thoughts on whether Chambers practice band rating or firm name matter more for exits?

It would really be easier if you gave firm names and practice groups, as you're anonymous. Really hard to give concrete advice with such generalities.

It would be impossible not to out myself if I did that. Maybe that doesn't matter I don't know. I will PM you and maybe you can provide some insight. Thanks.

Anonymous User wrote:Thanks for your input. It seems to hard to believe there is little difference in reputation re exit options among the V100 or else why would anyone focus so much on it and subject themself to V10 hours?

Anyone else have any thoughts on whether Chambers practice band rating or firm name matter more for exits?

Personally, I chose to take less firm name prestige in favor of fit and project ownership as a junior. I figure I can make myself marketable so long as I have desirable skills.