Top Law Schools

I currently clerk with a judge in Knoxville. Have been interviewing with a number of firms in Nashville, and continue to receive offers from other firms for interviews. Also have a few interviews in Knoxville.

I'm wanting to do litigation. I'm wondering how people usually rank Nashville firms in terms of their litigation practice (generally)? As for me personally, I am looking to do labor/employment litigation, trucking litigation, med mal, white collar, toxic torts. I know at any big firm you're going to be exposed with commercial litigation, which is fine with me, but I'm not sure just yet if that's what I would want to specialize in as I develop my practice (might change with work that comes in). Based on these interests, are there any suggestions of firms that may be a better fit than others?

Currently interviewing with Waller Lansden; Butler Snow; Frost Brown Todd; also with smaller firms like King & Ballow (small, but primarily a national practice); and Kay, Griffin, Enkema & Colbert. Also have interest from and expect to interview with Bass Berry Sims; Bradley Arant; Baker Donelson; and Bone McAllester. No idea if I will get offers, but I hope so. Just trying to go ahead and get a good idea of which firms might be better fits for me as I interview.

Wanting to get good experience while maintaining work life balance. I know I'll have to work plenty, but still want time at home to be with kids. I've heard from a few people that King & Ballow don't have a great reputation--that they work associates ragged and demand too much, and have a ton of turnover (when I interviewed, one of the new associates looked miserable...). Anyone confirm this? Any similar concerns with other firms in town?

Also interviewing with State Attorney General's Office and the Nashville DA's Office. Anyone know of their reputation about work in the office, collegiality of work environment, etc.?

Thanks guys. Any help is greatly appreciated. I've been out of town for a long time. Grew up there, but moved away for college and law school, and now am back clerking in Knoxville.

Bump

Here is another thread on Nashville firms: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=261171

If you want to do litigation, I wouldn't do Butler Snow. Also, don't be so sure you will do a whole lot of commercial litigation. A lot of big firms in Nashville like to say that (I guess in that it sounds more prestigious), but a lot of it will be l&e or insurance defense/med mal defense.

IMO, you will get much better experience at somewhere like Kay Griffin (insurance defense) or one of the labor & employment firms like Ogletree, Littler. Not particularly prestigious, but will hone your litigation skills.

Don't know anything about King & Ballow, but its website looks like a Geocities page from 1998. Neal & Harwell is good for litigation, but they apparently just no-offered the entire summer class so I would be a little cautious (I know you wouldn't be a summer associate, but still).

The Waller associates I know are very happy there. Good place to be if you want to be in Nashville long-term. Frost Brown is out of Louisville and they do a lot of construction work.

I know you didn't mention it, but Dickinson Wright (out of Detroit) has 1950 minimum billable hours, which is not bad, but pretty high for Nashville IMO. Might want to check FBT on NALP as well for minimum billable hours.