Paul Weiss vs Cravath - Culture? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Litigation practices are both top notch. Which one is reputed to have a better culture? Asking because I have callbacks for both but only have time to schedule one.

[Anonymous User]

They're both brutal places that will work you to death. Smaller chance of being staffed on a massive investigation with tons of doc review at Cravath, which is the clear choice here I think.

[Anonymous User]

I am starting at PW in Sept after summering last summer and enjoyed the culture. Seems to be weirder/okay with personalities, and less buttoned up with Cravath.

I wouldn't blame you for taking either.

That said, you definitely should schedule both callbacks.

[jbagelboy]

They're both brutal places that will work you to death. Smaller chance of being staffed on a massive investigation with tons of doc review at Cravath, which is the clear choice here I think.

I don't think the choice is at all clear for litigation. In fact, I think it might lean Paul Weiss, depending on how you view Cravath's partner rotation system, their blue chip clients (for which you will presumably have to work), and their formal culture. For M&A or banking, Cravath is the clear choice, but that's a different story.

[quiver]

OP, feel free to PM me. I was a litigation associate at one of these firms.

[Anonymous User]

Anecdotal from observing friends, and only based on their summer experiences in litigation:

PW = collegial, important not to stand out as gunner, important to attend social events, less formal, if you work a lot it's because you chose that life
Cravath = not really collegial, can blow off social events if you have work, work a lot, very formal and stuffy, if you work a lot it's because you have to

[Nebby]

My reaction when reading thread title

"lol"

[JenDarby]

I would much rather spend time with everyone I know that works at PW versus everyone that I know working at Cravath.

[Anonymous User]

Don't forget -- these are callbacks, not offers. You're not guaranteed an offer at either firm. You say you only have time to schedule one callback, but if I were you, I would schedule both.

[PeanutsNJam]

I would much rather spend time with everyone I know that works at PW versus everyone that I know working at Cravath.

This should be your most important consideration, OP. Exit options, partnership prospects, whatever will be the same at both firms. I'm not sure on what basis te other poster is saying you're more likely to do doc review at PW than Cravath.

Of course, if you're the kind of person who wants to brag to your peers about a Cravath offer and think you're too good for PW, then you should take Cravath.

[Good Guy Gaud]

I would much rather spend time with everyone I know that works at PW versus everyone that I know working at Cravath.

This should be your most important consideration, OP.

[jbagelboy]

I would much rather spend time with everyone I know that works at PW versus everyone that I know working at Cravath.

This should be your most important consideration, OP. Exit options, partnership prospects, whatever will be the same at both firms. I'm not sure on what basis te other poster is saying you're more likely to do doc review at PW than Cravath.

Of course, if you're the kind of person who wants to brag to your peers about a Cravath offer and think you're too good for PW, then you should take Cravath.

is there a difference in bragging rights between peers?

also OP did get an offer from cravath

[Anonymous User]

Anecdotal from observing friends, and only based on their summer experiences in litigation:

PW = collegial, important not to stand out as gunner, important to attend social events, less formal, if you work a lot it's because you chose that life

Anecdotal from observing friends, and only based on their summer experiences in litigation:

PW = collegial, important not to stand out as gunner, important to attend social events, less formal, if you work a lot it's because you chose that life

I will echo the part about not standing out as a gunner. Summers shit-talk summers they perceive as gunners. And yet, I don't think it's that uncommon for summers to stay late to get something done on time. But I get the feeling that there's a culture of downplaying such occasions because no one wants to come off as a gunner but everyone wants to do a good job on their assignments. It's a weird dynamic. I've heard the dynamic described as a Potemkin village of relaxation.

But there is zero limited pressure on summers to work late, but there's not a ton of effort to stop you either. You can work as hard as you want to, and there's basically an infinite amount of work, if you want it.

In terms of social events, I missed a ton. On one occasion my associate mentor observed the fact that I wasn't at some event. I couldn't tell if it was his subtle way of warning me that my absence was noticed to my detriment. Alternatively, I could just be paranoid. I choose to believe no one cares. My reviews were great and I got my offer. That's all the evidence I have.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Look, maybe your life is really that jam packed with important stuff that you can only do one of these callbacks, but I am almost certain you should figure out a way to do both.

[SLS_AMG]

They're both brutal places that will work you to death. Smaller chance of being staffed on a massive investigation with tons of doc review at Cravath, which is the clear choice here I think.

Lawyers and law students are so dramatic.

[Anonymous User]

Anecdotal from observing friends, and only based on their summer experiences in litigation:

PW = collegial, important not to stand out as gunner, important to attend social events, less formal, if you work a lot it's because you chose that life

Anecdotal from observing friends, and only based on their summer experiences in litigation:

PW = collegial, important not to stand out as gunner, important to attend social events, less formal, if you work a lot it's because you chose that life

I will echo the part about not standing out as a gunner. Summers shit-talk summers they perceive as gunners. And yet, I don't think it's that uncommon for summers to stay late to get something done on time. But I get the feeling that there's a culture of downplaying such occasions because no one wants to come off as a gunner but everyone wants to do a good job on their assignments. It's a weird dynamic. I've heard the dynamic described as a Potemkin village of relaxation.

But there is zero limited pressure on summers to work late, but there's not a ton of effort to stop you either. You can work as hard as you want to, and there's basically an infinite amount of work, if you want it.

In terms of social events, I missed a ton. On one occasion my associate mentor observed the fact that I wasn't at some event. I couldn't tell if it was his subtle way of warning me that my absence was noticed to my detriment. Alternatively, I could just be paranoid. I choose to believe no one cares. My reviews were great and I got my offer. That's all the evidence I have.

I'm the PW summer from above and generally agree with this.

Not that it should be a main concern, but to the extent you are worried about how pleasurable your summer is, PW is going to be much better than Cravath, which from what I understand, has actual working summers.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for the advice. Sounds like Paul Weiss is the better option because I could care less about bragging rights.

[merlin-]

They're both brutal places that will work you to death. Smaller chance of being staffed on a massive investigation with tons of doc review at Cravath, which is the clear choice here I think.

Lawyers and law students are so dramatic.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ ... to_cardiac_/

[Anonymous User]

They're both brutal places that will work you to death. Smaller chance of being staffed on a massive investigation with tons of doc review at Cravath, which is the clear choice here I think.

Lawyers and law students are so dramatic.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ ... to_cardiac_/

It's probably just me, but I find it incredibly perturbing that you've chosen to caption an article about a real woman who passed away with a big ol' smile. I know law students get off on being right, but damn.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for the advice. Sounds like Paul Weiss is the better option because I could care less about bragging rights.

But cravath does not have bragging rights over pw with respect to litigation. That's not a real part of this discussion.

[merlin-]

They're both brutal places that will work you to death. Smaller chance of being staffed on a massive investigation with tons of doc review at Cravath, which is the clear choice here I think.

Lawyers and law students are so dramatic.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ ... to_cardiac_/

It's probably just me, but I find it incredibly perturbing that you've chosen to caption an article about a real woman who passed away with a big ol' smile. I know law students get off on being right, but damn.

The smile was certainly not in relation to the article. Just the irony that this kind of stuff does happen. I don't think anyone would be laughing at someone else's death.