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Hi everyone,

I have an offer from Morgan Lewis in DC. Does anyone know much about the firm's reputation? It seems like they are involved in a lot of unique work and I do enjoy the people, but I don't see Morgan Lewis on any top 20 lists for DC. I'm not sure if this is significant or not.

However, I am comparing this offer with a couple of top 3 ranked firms in Chicago. I think I may enjoy Chicago more right now and perhaps transfer to DC in the future, but if it is a must that I begin my career in DC to eventually go on to the federal government, maybe MLB is the better pick?

I'd choose a top 3 firm in Chicago + living in Chicago over a mediocre(?) firm in DC + living in DC everytime.

To your second question, no, you don't have to start in DC to reach Big Fed one day. Try to find out which of the firms feed most into those kind of jobs

It depends on what you're going to MLB for. If you're going to Morgan Lewis DC for straight litigation, then no, you probably won't have the opportunities or cache that a top 3 firm in Chicago is going to give you. And yes,there will be a difference in the type of work (maybe) from the tip-top firms in DC. (Of course, I'd point out that there are hundreds of firms in DC so not making a Top 20 list isn't outrageous or anything). That said, if you're going to Morgan Lewis DC for labor and employment, then there aren't many better places. It's Band 1 on Chambers for that practice area, along with a few others. The other big players in DC for that area (Jones Day, Paul Hastings, etc.) are notably smaller in labor and employment and don't have the labor side.

So I'd say it depends on the practice area. And as for reputation, don't go by what the people (including me) on this board say. MLB has a fine reputation in the overall legal community. They have a ton of clients in the Fortune 100 and Fortune 500, and that wouldn't be so if they were merely a mediocre firm.