What are WLRK/Susman/etc actually like? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Any current or former associates from these or other firms where 3000 hours is expected willing to comment on what their life is/was actually like? What does that kind of lifestyle actually entail? What's the average week like? How often do you get a day off (as in, don't have to spend more than an hour or two working)? Was the preftige worth the squeeze?

[rpupkin]

Was the preftige worth the squeeze?

FYI, it's the substantially above-market compensation--not "the preftige"--that usually attracts folks to those two firms. Susman, for example, isn't more "prestigious" than elite defense-oriented boutiques, which tend to require fewer hours. But those boutiques generally pay significantly less than Susman.

[FascinatedWanderer]

Any current or former associates from these or other firms where 3000 hours is expected willing to comment on what their life is/was actually like? What does that kind of lifestyle actually entail? What's the average week like? How often do you get a day off (as in, don't have to spend more than an hour or two working)? Was the preftige worth the squeeze?

If you have a legitimate shot at Susman or Wachtell, reach out to the associates and meet up with one of them. If you're a credible candidate I've found they're quite happy to meet up.

[Anonymous User]

Any current or former associates from these or other firms where 3000 hours is expected willing to comment on what their life is/was actually like? What does that kind of lifestyle actually entail? What's the average week like? How often do you get a day off (as in, don't have to spend more than an hour or two working)? Was the preftige worth the squeeze?

If you have a legitimate shot at Susman or Wachtell, reach out to the associates and meet up with one of them. If you're a credible candidate I've found they're quite happy to meet up.

The trigger's been pulled, just trying to get an idea of what I'm in for. I read the "NY Corp is essentially a meth habit where you get paid" threads, and they're talking about 2500 hours being unhealthy and unsustainable, so I'm just trying to figure out how much worse it really is at these types of places, or if there's something (besides cash) that makes it worth it.

[Anonymous User]

Any current or former associates from these or other firms where 3000 hours is expected willing to comment on what their life is/was actually like? What does that kind of lifestyle actually entail? What's the average week like? How often do you get a day off (as in, don't have to spend more than an hour or two working)? Was the preftige worth the squeeze?

If you have a legitimate shot at Susman or Wachtell, reach out to the associates and meet up with one of them. If you're a credible candidate I've found they're quite happy to meet up.

The trigger's been pulled, just trying to get an idea of what I'm in for. I read the "NY Corp is essentially a meth habit where you get paid" threads, and they're talking about 2500 hours being unhealthy and unsustainable, so I'm just trying to figure out how much worse it really is at these types of places, or if there's something (besides cash) that makes it worth it.

A person who worked at both a generic V5 and WLRK described the difference to me as this:

At the generic V5, you may get an email/call at 10 or 11pm on Friday and find out that your Saturday/Sunday is ruined.

At WLRK, you may get an email/call at 10 or 11pm on Friday and be expected to work that very same night.

Having worked at a generic V100 among other firms/companies, I would typically not be in this situation, so I don't know how true either statement is, but there does appear to be some difference between WLRK, generic V5 and I got B's in school, I'm perfectly fine not responding during the weekend unless its a true emergency/fireable offense.

[Anonymous User]

Also, WLKR (Corp) is completely different than Susman (Lit). Can't really generalize them into the same category.

[HenryHankPalmer]

How Susman maintain such nightmarish hours doing exclusively lit? Does that come from being in trial all the time or what?

[Anonymous User]

How Susman maintain such nightmarish hours doing exclusively lit? Does that come from being in trial all the time or what?

Yes. Susman is a Lit "Boutique" (I consider them biglaw tbh).

[jkpolk]

Any current or former associates from these or other firms where 3000 hours is expected willing to comment on what their life is/was actually like? What does that kind of lifestyle actually entail? What's the average week like? How often do you get a day off (as in, don't have to spend more than an hour or two working)? Was the preftige worth the squeeze?

If you have a legitimate shot at Susman or Wachtell, reach out to the associates and meet up with one of them. If you're a credible candidate I've found they're quite happy to meet up.

The trigger's been pulled, just trying to get an idea of what I'm in for. I read the "NY Corp is essentially a meth habit where you get paid" threads, and they're talking about 2500 hours being unhealthy and unsustainable, so I'm just trying to figure out how much worse it really is at these types of places, or if there's something (besides cash) that makes it worth it.

A person who worked at both a generic V5 and WLRK described the difference to me as this:

At the generic V5, you may get an email/call at 10 or 11pm on Friday and find out that your Saturday/Sunday is ruined.

At WLRK, you may get an email/call at 10 or 11pm on Friday and be expected to work that very same night.

Having worked at a generic V100 among other firms/companies, I would typically not be in this situation, so I don't know how true either statement is, but there does appear to be some difference between WLRK, generic V5 and I got B's in school, I'm perfectly fine not responding during the weekend unless its a true emergency/fireable offense.

The WLRK situation you describe above happens regularly at generic v5. The "difference" if any is going to be straight staffing related and the fact that WLRK takes on some pseudo-financial advisor roles which increases the range of stuff they opine on/negotiate which is uncommon in my experience at generic v5.

[Anonymous User]

Don’t know anyone who worked at Susman, I but know multiple people who worked at Wachtell. All in corp, obviously. It made them gain 50+ lbs, have a nervous breakdown, and break up with their SO, respectively. The longest made it 2 years. They are all happy now. Two went to different firms and one took a much more random and lower-paid route (not giving details to avoid outing the person). I know people who have had meltdowns working at Cravath et al. too, but they didn’t flame out as quickly and spectacularly as the Wachtell folks. The silver lining is that they all paid off their loans quickly (although FWIW, one of them confirmed they do not get paid anything near 2x market bonuses anymore).

I’d take a relatively normal firm like DPW, STB, or
Cleary over Wachtell any day.

[Anonymous User]

[quote="Anonymous User"]Don’t know anyone who worked at Susman, I but know multiple people who worked at Wachtell. All in corp, obviously. It made them gain 50+ lbs, have a nervous breakdown, and break up with their SO, respectively. The longest made it 2 years. They are all happy now. Two went to different firms and one took a much more random and lower-paid route (not giving details to avoid outing the person). I know people who have had meltdowns working at Cravath et al. too, but they didn’t flame out as quickly and spectacularly as the Wachtell folks. The silver lining is that they all paid off their loans quickly (although FWIW, one of them confirmed they do not get paid anything near 2x market bonuses anymore).

I’d take a relatively normal firm like DPW, STB, or
Cleary over Wachtell any

[Anonymous User]

Don’t know anyone who worked at Susman, I but know multiple people who worked at Wachtell. All in corp, obviously. It made them gain 50+ lbs, have a nervous breakdown, and break up with their SO, respectively. The longest made it 2 years. They are all happy now. Two went to different firms and one took a much more random and lower-paid route (not giving details to avoid outing the person). I know people who have had meltdowns working at Cravath et al. too, but they didn’t flame out as quickly and spectacularly as the Wachtell folks. The silver lining is that they all paid off their loans quickly (although FWIW, one of them confirmed they do not get paid anything near 2x market bonuses anymore).

I’d take a relatively normal firm like DPW, STB, or
Cleary over Wachtell any

I work at one of DPW, STB, or Cleary and have worked across from WLRK and I don't know where I land on this. I work a lot, and while my hours billed are surely less than they would be at WLRK it's not like I have any control of my days, weeks, evenings or weekends. I'm still on call 24/7 and expected to drop everything on at most like an hour's notice as context requires and so even if the (often unrealized) hope of free time is worth something, I'm not sure that it's worth 200 grand or whatever the delta actually is.

[Anonymous User]

Work at V5 corporate (not M&A) and have work across from them regularly. Something that sticks out to me is that they don’t always have specialty support teams. When I ask who their tax ppl are they just handle it themselves. Maybe their M&A deals have heavier staffing tho.