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Hey TLS,

Im a rising 2L at MVP that is considering a midlaw offer that has a strong VC practice group in its market (Cincy) vs. a V50 biglaw offer in Orange County.

I want to practice VC law, and will probably try for WSGR/Cooley/Fenwick/Gunderson again next summer. But I dont have high hopes given that 3L application process is much more competitive. Would it be dumb to turn down the biglaw offer given that the only reason I want to go to a law firm is to practice VC law? Otherwise I would much prefer to go in-house. In-house options at the midlaw firm seem to be pretty good; startups + various F500 companies based in Cincy are clients (Proctor&Gamble, Macys, GE Global, the Bengals etc.)

How do you feel about living in Ohio vs California? What does the V50 office do?

I prefer Cali and would try to move back in a few years either to a CA firm with a VC practice or inhouse at a startup/corp.

I would be doing general corp stuff at the Biglaw firm. Mainly M&A. I'm not really cut out to work dem biglaw hours though haha.

I'd go biglaw. Much easier to lateral when you start at a recognized name. Plus M&A is good generalist experience that you'll be able to spin.

Anonymous User wrote:I prefer Cali and would try to move back in a few years either to a CA firm with a VC practice or inhouse at a startup/corp.

I would be doing general corp stuff at the Biglaw firm. Mainly M&A. I'm not really cut out to work dem biglaw hours though haha.

the only difference between biglaw and midlaw is that midlaw pays less. if you're good you'll be worked like a slave in both biglaw and midlaw

dood wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I prefer Cali and would try to move back in a few years either to a CA firm with a VC practice or inhouse at a startup/corp.

I would be doing general corp stuff at the Biglaw firm. Mainly M&A. I'm not really cut out to work dem biglaw hours though haha.

the only difference between biglaw and midlaw is that midlaw pays less. if you're good you'll be worked like a slave in both biglaw and midlaw

Yep. Also, I'd imagine it would be rather difficult to land an in-house gig in California from your regional Ohio midlaw firm.

Look, if your long-term goal was to make a life for yourself in Cincinnati, then the midlaw option would make sense. But it doesn't sound like that's your long-term goal.

Mid sized firm in Cincinnati sounds like a great way to never leave Cincinnati as long as you live.

The advice seems pretty one-sided towards biglaw. What are peoples thoughts on starting a career inhouse? Im planning to apply to some companies that hire straight out of law school, but some of the are non-CA based.

Would it be easier to lateral from an out of state inhouse gig to a related industry in CA than CA biglaw to CA inhouse ?

Thanks!