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In people's experience, is there any difference in office culture, hours, work, etc, between biglaw in Chicago and NY. I am asking because of someone who is currently working in the NY office of a T25 firm (this firm isn't based in either city) and is considering moving to the Chicago office of the same firm. Based on anyone's experience, what differences are there, if any, between working in big law in one city vs the other? I have heard that in Chicago people are less likely to work super late, but more likely to be in the office by 8. Is there any truth to something like this, or any other tibits people might have on the differences between the two cities. Thanks for the input.

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Summered at Kirkland...it sounded like most people went home between 5-7 (unless there was a trial or live deal or something), ate dinner w/ family, and logged in remotely afterwards if necessary. Was just a summer so i'm sure there's a chance they painted a rosier picture for us, but I talk to first-years at the firm who i knew in law school and so far they've had the same experience.

I don't know about being in the office until 8. My firm in Chicago is very big on teleworking after 6 and I think most of my friends at firms in Chicago are the same way. As far as Chicago vs. NY it is hard to generalize. I have friends at big firms in NYC and not sure if they work that much more than Chicago. Probably overall a little less insane than the V10 or V15 in NYC. But Kirkland Chicago probably is no different than Skadden or S&C in terms of hours, probably work more there.

Edit: Lived in NYC before law school, but personally I chose Chicago cause I like the lower COL a lot more and it is just more my speed. Someone who has worked in both cities and is more experienced can probably give a better overview of both

Going home at 7 and working after dinner/workout is becoming increasingly more common everywhere, including NY. Super-old partners who don't get it are retiring. (This only makes it marginally more tolerable, as you still can't make reliable plans if something comes up)

The going home at 6 is a thing in my secondary market. What I didn't realize as a summer was that almost everybody works after dinner, like everyday. Idk, I personally would rather just stay in the office and work and be truly done when I get home, but everyone is different.

Anonymous User wrote:Summered at Kirkland...it sounded like most people went home between 5-7 (unless there was a trial or live deal or something), ate dinner w/ family, and logged in remotely afterwards if necessary. Was just a summer so i'm sure there's a chance they painted a rosier picture for us, but I talk to first-years at the firm who i knew in law school and so far they've had the same experience.

sounds like, on balance, their lives are in balance

Anonymous User wrote:The going home at 6 is a thing in my secondary market. What I didn't realize as a summer was that almost everybody works after dinner, like everyday. Idk, I personally would rather just stay in the office and work and be truly done when I get home, but everyone is different.

In my experience you're rarely truly done when you work for/with the people who are going home and logging in from 8-11 or whatever. Lot of flipping a draft to someone at night and then getting an email an hour later on your phone asking that you make their revisions.

dixiecupdrinking wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:The going home at 6 is a thing in my secondary market. What I didn't realize as a summer was that almost everybody works after dinner, like everyday. Idk, I personally would rather just stay in the office and work and be truly done when I get home, but everyone is different.

In my experience you're rarely truly done when you work for/with the people who are going home and logging in from 8-11 or whatever. Lot of flipping a draft to someone at night and then getting an email an hour later on your phone asking that you make their revisions.

Previous Anon. I'm not corporate so that's not my experience. Its pretty rare I get additional things at night. The extra hours are just needed to make hours for the year and get the work done when busy.