Top Law Schools

Looking at a V50 HQ in major market & V25 in secondary market I really like. Wouldn't mind working in the major market for a few years then making a move to secondary for COL $$$. But any downside to starting off in the secondary market in the first place?

Let's flip it around OP: what's the upside in starting in a market you don't want to be in long term?

LaLiLuLeLo wrote:Let's flip it around OP: what's the upside in starting in a market you don't want to be in long term?

From talking with folks, I think the HQ in major market does a lot bigger deals w/ big name clients. The office in secondary market has smaller, middle-market clients. So I guess exit ops? On the downside, it's in a high COL area.

Your SA may not be as fun, but that's probably it.

Generally I think it is better to be at a firm's HQ or at least one of their bigger offices because you get exposed to bigger clients and more partners/associates. But if you would rather live in the secondary market long term it probably makes sense to just start there.

I think it depends on the firm. If a firm truly embraces inter-office collaboration, it shouldn't matter what office you start in. For example, I'm currently in a smaller market at a big firm with offices in NYC, DC, etc. I do some work that comes out of the smaller market that I'm in and I also often work with partners in the major market offices on bigger deals.

You should talk to current associates to try to get a sense of how "real" any claimed inter-office work is.

You'll be invited to less parties.

Totally, 100 percent depends on the firm.