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Please help me choose a firm!

MVP top 25% rising 2L here. I want to do some kind of transactional work and possibly go in-house at some point or go part-time at a firm so I can have a family. I've narrowed down my offers to Simpson Thacher NY and Sidley Austin Chicago. I like people/culture at both, so that's not an issue (Neither seems to be a party firm or overly cut-throat).

Simpson Thacher
Pros:
Fantastic PE, M&A, and general corporate work.
Prestige

Cons:
Highly leveraged, no shot at partnership if I end up wanting it someday.
It's in NY. I hate NY.
The hours are brutal. Associate in funds group said they leave between 11:00 p.m. and 1:00 am every night.

Sidley Austin
Pros:
Hours are long but not brutal
It's in Chicago. I like Chicago. Chicago is cheaper, so I can pay off student loans more quickly.
I hear they do a lot of public company M&A, so perhaps I'd have a better shot at lateraling in-house?
Lower leverage in case I want to try to make partner

Cons:
It's Band 4 Nationally for its corporate work.
It's in Chicago. I keep hearing that I should start out in NY if I want to be a great corporate attorney.
It has a minimum billable hour requirement.
Not as prestigious as Simpson. Maybe I'll have slightly worse exit opportunities because of that.


What do you all think? Will I be an eternally sub-par corporate attorney if I start at a slightly less prestigious firm in Chicago?

Stop chasing prestige. Your personal life and finances will be materially better if you pick Sidley Chicago. The work will be marginally less prestigious.

You have to decide on what really motivates you at the end of the day. You will be a fine lawyer coming out of either law firm. Also biglaw sucks no matter where you go so wouldn't you rather live in a place you enjoy?

This wouldn't be a question at all for me because I hate NYC and would never want to work as much as NYC associates do. But plenty of people choose that path for their own reasons. You need to figure out who you are and make a decision for yourself. No one can tell you how to balance your personal goals and priorities.

Also partnership prospects are so laughably low at either that it's not worth considering in your decision.

OP -- I'm not disagreeing with your characterization of either firm, but how do you know about the hours, particularly for Sidley? My point is that you're clearly leaning toward Sidley, and that may be the absolutely right choice, but I would just make sure you aren't basing it entirely on what a couple of associates told you about hours at each place.

unlicensedpotato wrote:OP -- I'm not disagreeing with your characterization of either firm, but how do you know about the hours, particularly for Sidley?

I spoke with two of the Sidley associates about hours. They said they bill around 2200, but that it varies. They also said they work every weekend, but no more than three or four hours. A partner also said the office clears out around 6 pm, even though people sometimes jump back online for an hour or two at night.

unlicensedpotato wrote:OP -- I'm not disagreeing with your characterization of either firm, but how do you know about the hours, particularly for Sidley? My point is that you're clearly leaning toward Sidley, and that may be the absolutely right choice, but I would just make sure you aren't basing it entirely on what a couple of associates told you about hours at each place.

Yeah, that's pretty much the information on which I'm basing my knowledge of hours. But, hours aren't the only reason I'd choose Sidley. The other factors are also important, especially exit options. And I'm not sure which firm has better exit options (I've been given conflicting answers).

Anonymous User wrote:

unlicensedpotato wrote:OP -- I'm not disagreeing with your characterization of either firm, but how do you know about the hours, particularly for Sidley?

I spoke with two of the Sidley associates about hours. They said they bill around 2200, but that it varies. They also said they work every weekend, but no more than three or four hours. A partner also said the office clears out around 6 pm, even though people sometimes jump back online for an hour or two at night.

I don't work at Sidley so I have no clue either way. But that's exactly how people would describe multiple firms that I've summered and worked at (V75ish, non-NY) and deal teams at those worked all night fairly regularly. I would just have realistic expectations.

Lol at seriously considering taking less money (once CoL is factored in) to live in a city you hate because of some marginal "prestige" difference. Sidley is widely considered to be among the best firms in Chicago. I'm sure your exit options will be fine. Enjoy Sidley.

The primary benefit of NYC Biglaw imo is that you have the money to enjoy the city when (if ever) you have a weekend or an evening off. I can't imagine how awful it would be to work at a soul crushing job just to go home and also hate my apartment and neighborhood and social options. Sidley Chicago is 100% the right choice for you.

Sacred Cow wrote:Lol at seriously considering taking less money (once CoL is factored in) to live in a city you hate because of some marginal "prestige" difference. Sidley is widely considered to be among the best firms in Chicago. I'm sure your exit options will be fine. Enjoy Sidley.

this

180k in Chicago is 180

Sacred Cow wrote:Lol at seriously considering taking less money (once CoL is factored in) to live in a city you hate because of some marginal "prestige" difference. Sidley is widely considered to be among the best firms in Chicago. I'm sure your exit options will be fine. Enjoy Sidley.

OP here. Thanks for the advice, everyone. Now, 90% sure I'll accept Sidley's offer.
Didn't mention this, but Sidley also gave me the Diversity Scholarship, meaning even more $$$.
So, I guess I'll take relative happiness and money over pfestige.

Anonymous User wrote:

Sacred Cow wrote:Lol at seriously considering taking less money (once CoL is factored in) to live in a city you hate because of some marginal "prestige" difference. Sidley is widely considered to be among the best firms in Chicago. I'm sure your exit options will be fine. Enjoy Sidley.

OP here. Thanks for the advice, everyone. Now, 90% sure I'll accept Sidley's offer.
Didn't mention this, but Sidley also gave me the Diversity Scholarship, meaning even more $$$.
So, I guess I'll take relative happiness and money over pfestige.

Jesus, kid. What are you doing.

Don't jump to Sidley so quick. Can't be a great corporate attorney if you don't start your career in NYC. Impossible.

Anonymous User wrote:

Sacred Cow wrote:Lol at seriously considering taking less money (once CoL is factored in) to live in a city you hate because of some marginal "prestige" difference. Sidley is widely considered to be among the best firms in Chicago. I'm sure your exit options will be fine. Enjoy Sidley.

OP here. Thanks for the advice, everyone. Now, 90% sure I'll accept Sidley's offer.
Didn't mention this, but Sidley also gave me the Diversity Scholarship, meaning even more $$$.
So, I guess I'll take relative happiness and money over pfestige.

Yeah I would seriously question your sanity if you chose STB in this situation.

RaceJudicata wrote:Don't jump to Sidley so quick. Can't be a great corporate attorney if you don't start your career in NYC. Impossible.

This. Your career will thank you later.

Pokemon wrote:

RaceJudicata wrote:Don't jump to Sidley so quick. Can't be a great corporate attorney if you don't start your career in NYC. Impossible.

This. Your career will thank you later.