BakerHostetler Forum

[Anonymous User]

I know this isn't one of the firms typically talked about on these boards, but I'm considering an offer from their Cleveland office. Got a very different vibe there than other firms, e.g., NYC V20s that I visited.

Does anyone have any experience with that office? One of the things that appeals to me is it seems partnership is a realistic goal...but having never worked in a firm I still may not want that wherever I end up. So I'm also interested in any exit options out of there, either the Cleveland office or even another office like their NYC one.

[Anonymous User]

Bump. Would I be an idiot to consider them over a V10?

[Anonymous User]

I wouldn't work there over a V10. Maybe down the line, but not starting out. Salary and bonus are black box and below market. Chances of making partner are good, but unless you make equity partner pay is pretty much at 7th/8th year lockstep level. Quality of life is going to be significantly better than at a V10.

[Anonymous User]

OP, I know several young associates that have both good and bad things to say about Baker Cleveland. The pay is definitely not below market as only Jones Day pays associates more, but the hours reflect this type of pay as well. I know associates that frequently work past midnight and are back in the office early morning.

The quality of life at Baker Cleveland will most likely be better than a NYC firm, but I wouldn't say by much. If you have offers from V20s in NY, I'd start there and lateral over. You only get the chance to go NY big law once.

In regards to the other post, I'd give the same advice. Turning down a V10 takes a lot of guys for a firm outside the V50.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the responses. I think what has drawn me to the firm is their super nice, laid back atmosphere, the realistic chance at partnership, etc. I don't really see myself in NY as I'm more of an open spaces person and would likely go nuts after living in NY for a few weeks, let alone a few years. I honestly don't think I'd mind the hours being similar, as long as I didn't have to go home afterwards to a roommate in a shitty apartment after a 30 minute ride. At this point I think I'm talking myself into the right choice for me haha

[mt2165]

OP, where are you from? I'm from Cleveland, going to a NYC firm. If you want to stay in Ohio I would take Baker over some NYC V10. I just don't see the idea that coming from some NYC V10 will grant you something "better" than Baker down the line coming to fruition, Baker is about as good as it gets in Cleveland after JD. And you might pay off a little bit more debt, but I wouldn't think to much.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I'm actually from Pennsylvania but I would be fine practicing in Cleveland. I'm really narrowing it down to between Cleveland and Pittsburgh/Philly, but less so Philly. I have a better sense of my options outside of Cleveland, but since there isn't much on here about Baker I wanted to see if my impressions were accurate.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, I'm a 2L who just decided between offers in a couple different markets including NY and CA cities. I don't pretend to know what's best for certain career trajectories, I just had a similar decision process in terms of prestige vs. location so I figured I would share my thoughts on it.

I know a lot of people will say that you can always lateral out of NYC to the location you desire to end up in down the road, especially from a V20 firm, but I think location can be an absolute deciding factor over any prestige. Like you, I'm not quite the big city NYC-loving type. I came to law school in NY thinking I'd love to return to CA, but also that I might want to do the whole NYC biglaw for a few years to get the experience/prestige then lateral back to CA. After a year in NY I realized that location was basically the biggest factor for me in choosing between offers. Not the only factor, but the biggest.

NY is definitely a fun place with tons to do, and for a lot of my friends they absolutely love the NY lifestyle and of course the prestige that practicing at a V20-firm in NY comes with. But I like the ability to get in my car and drive to the store and go outside to throw the ball around whenever I want. Being in a big city like NY adds an extra layer of stress for me that I can't imagine dealing with when I start working the long hours that biglaw requires.

Plus, I am 99% sure the market I chose is where I want to live for the rest of my life if I can. I would imagine my decision process would be much different if I wasn't so set on settling down in that secondary market.

[Anonymous User]

I would (and, when I was in your position, did) take the job in the secondary market where the culture is a bit more relaxed and your pay gets you a lot more. You would have to make about $72,150 in Cleveland for the buying power that $160,000 gets you in NYC. You will presumably be making a fair amount more than that. It is totally, totally worth it to avoid living in NYC, in my opinion (I don't like the stress of New York at all).

And if you work there for a couple years and don't like it, there is still a good chance you'll be able to lateral into a major market if that's what you want to do. I lateraled from a city smaller than Cleveland to DC very easily after 2.5 years of practice, as did two other people with whom I worked in that smaller city.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks everyone for their input. The longest I ever stayed in NY was four days and in that time I was started to get annoyed with even minor things (and this is while being put up in fancy hotels by firms) so I doubt I would last long there. I have a good idea of where I want to be in the next 5-10 years at least, and since I have the option to be there now I don't think I would benefit from being in NY first. And to the above posters, that's encouraging to hear you can transfer to a city like DC after practicing in a smaller city, because who knows if I will want that in like 10-20 years.

[Devlin]

If you like the firm and the city then go for it man. Baker Hostetler is a fine firm. Go with your gut not what people say on these forums.

[Ohiobumpkin]

If you like the firm and the city then go for it man. Baker Hostetler is a fine firm. Go with your gut not what people say on these forums.

+1 best advice in this thread.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a current associate at a non-Cleveland BH office. Very solid, well-funded firm with a broad array of cross-office practices. Most remarkable is the quality of firm management and how truly holistically associates are trained and evaluated. 2016 will be the firm's 100th year. There's something to be said for staying power. Whether that equates to V10 is up to you and your desire for prestige. But, you certainly have potential for an excellent career at BH.

[Anonymous User]

I would (and, when I was in your position, did) take the job in the secondary market where the culture is a bit more relaxed and your pay gets you a lot more. You would have to make about $72,150 in Cleveland for the buying power that $160,000 gets you in NYC. You will presumably be making a fair amount more than that. It is totally, totally worth it to avoid living in NYC, in my opinion (I don't like the stress of New York at all).

And if you work there for a couple years and don't like it, there is still a good chance you'll be able to lateral into a major market if that's what you want to do. I lateraled from a city smaller than Cleveland to DC very easily after 2.5 years of practice, as did two other people with whom I worked in that smaller city.

Do you know if the DC office has made offers yet?

[Anonymous User]

.