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Could we get a running list of firms in NYC that are on the better end of associate quality of life (to the extent that this is generalizable)? I get that NY biglaw is miserable, but it seems pretty clear that some (e.g., Skadden) are worse than others (e.g., Patterson Belknap).

I would also be interested to hear how particular practice areas/specializations factor in.

I have a friend at Buckley Sander and have heard great things (slightly lower comp, but lower billables and good substantive experience). Also heard good things about Hughes Hubbard but I have no idea how much you can safely extrapolate from anecdotes.

Like you said, this is often going to depend highly on practice group within a firm -- and beyond that, what partner(s) you end up working with on a regular basis. My general sense is that transactional work is a lot more unpredictable (droughts and floods) than litigation.

Anonymous User wrote:I have a friend at Buckley Sander and have heard great things (slightly lower comp, but lower billables and good substantive experience). Also heard good things about Hughes Hubbard but I have no idea how much you can safely extrapolate from anecdotes.

Like you said, this is often going to depend highly on practice group within a firm -- and beyond that, what partner(s) you end up working with on a regular basis. My general sense is that transactional work is a lot more unpredictable (droughts and floods) than litigation.

Stroock (dependent on practice group though- Not bankruptcy)

Not Brown Rudnick lol