Page 1 of 1

Firms with best exit opps

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:41 am
by Anonymous User
Hi all . In preparing my bidlist I am interested in getting a general sense of what firms have the best exit opportunities for associates. I don't plan on being in big law for anything more than 5 years so this is really important to me. I want the option to move into a government role, if I am able to break the DC market, or move in house if I decide to stay in New York. Do you all have any general knowledge on which NYC and DC firms are best for either of those two transitions and by contrast what firms do not perform as well in this aspect? ( Btw I am median at CCN if thats relevant) Thanks!

Re: Firms with best exit opps

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:57 am
by hangold
Sorry to say, but the answer to your question isn't going to be as simple as listing a few firms. Exit opportunities are going to vary depending on the practice group, which clients the firm interacts with, etc. For instance, it'll be easier (but still not easy) to become an AUSA from DPW's lit practice than from Weil (just an example, nothing wrong with Weil).

Re: Firms with best exit opps

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:05 am
by North
hangold wrote:the answer to your question isn't going to be as simple as listing a few firms.

Re: Firms with best exit opps

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 1:53 am
by Anonymous User
hangold wrote:Sorry to say, but the answer to your question isn't going to be as simple as listing a few firms. Exit opportunities are going to vary depending on the practice group, which clients the firm interacts with, etc. For instance, it'll be easier (but still not easy) to become an AUSA from DPW's lit practice than from Weil (just an example, nothing wrong with Weil).
to be fair, thats still overgeneralizing..it would be a stretch to say that is for sure "easier" to become an AUSA from DPW than at Weil. Exits vary incredibly widely from place to place and often times will even depend on the specific deals/cases you work on while at a particular firm.

Re: Firms with best exit opps

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 1:59 am
by rpupkin
hangold wrote:For instance, it'll be easier (but still not easy) to become an AUSA from DPW's lit practice than from Weil (just an example, nothing wrong with Weil).
Why?

Re: Firms with best exit opps

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 6:44 pm
by Anonymous User
Generally, exit options depend on your experience. So the important thing is to go to a reputable firm and start doing work that can set you up for the next gig, assuming you don't want to make partner at your current firm.

There are some firms where your experience will matter less and employers will give you the benefit of the doubt such as associates from WLKR, W&C, Susman etc, but the associates at those places generally have impressive resumes even relative to the already stellar resumes that MOST Law Firm associates have.

Re: Firms with best exit opps

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:32 pm
by FluidMosaic
Anonymous User wrote:Hi all . In preparing my bidlist I am interested in getting a general sense of what firms have the best exit opportunities for associates. I don't plan on being in big law for anything more than 5 years so this is really important to me. I want the option to move into a government role, if I am able to break the DC market, or move in house if I decide to stay in New York. Do you all have any general knowledge on which NYC and DC firms are best for either of those two transitions and by contrast what firms do not perform as well in this aspect? ( Btw I am median at CCN if thats relevant) Thanks!

Unless you can get real competitive firms at OCI, I'd say whichever consulting firms do OCI at your school.

Re: Firms with best exit opps

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2017 11:52 pm
by lawlorbust
Anonymous User wrote:Hi all . In preparing my bidlist I am interested in getting a general sense of what firms have the best exit opportunities for associates. I don't plan on being in big law for anything more than 5 years so this is really important to me. I want the option to move into a government role, if I am able to break the DC market, or move in house if I decide to stay in New York. Do you all have any general knowledge on which NYC and DC firms are best for either of those two transitions and by contrast what firms do not perform as well in this aspect? ( Btw I am median at CCN if thats relevant) Thanks!
McKinsey, BCG, Bain

Re: Firms with best exit opps

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 12:55 pm
by deepseapartners
OP, why did you say "either in-house in NYC or government in DC?" Those are two pretty different career paths after a certain point, do you not have an idea of what kind of role you want after you transition out of Biglaw? Or are you being generic on purpose because you actually really don't care and just want out asap? If the latter, then you should be able to get a sweet in-house gig from any of the V10 corporate practices within a few years, assuming you do good work, are likeable, etc. But it kinda sounds like you are asking for more general life advice, in which case you won't get a solid answer until you give more info about what you see yourself doing in 5 years, or even what you like about legal work.