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Trying to decide between cost of living and exit options down the road. 50/50 on lit and corporate at this point (no idea). I could see myself trying to stay at a firm for as long as possible, but I also may try for academia/PI after a few years, so paying off debt quickly is somewhat important.

AK Dallas is not in the same stratosphere as Mayer Brown and White & Case NY

I think the two New York ones are better choices all around outside of COL.

Curious, when was your White & Case cb->offer dates?

To maximize flexibility re exit options down the road, go with either of the NY firms. To minimize COL, obviously go to Dallas.

Is there such a big difference in the NY firms that it would just be crazy to take Dallas as far as experience goes? Does anyone have any sense of the health of these firms regarding retention etc?

I know someone in Hunton AK Dallas and he/she has a very good work-life balance, but I don't think the compensation is market and lock-step.

Mayer Brown NY and White & Case NY are both much better firms, but I can see taking Hunton AK if you want low COL and to kind of coast. The sophistication in work is going to be a huge difference with Hunton being much more middle market stuff.

Anonymous User wrote:I know someone in Hunton AK Dallas and he/she has a very good work-life balance, but I don't think the compensation is market and lock-step.

Mayer Brown NY and White & Case NY are both much better firms, but I can see taking Hunton AK if you want low COL and to kind of coast. The sophistication in work is going to be a huge difference with Hunton being much more middle market stuff.

I believe Hunton AK just announced about a week ago that they are going to 190K in Texas (just so you don't base your decision on compensation).

https://abovethelaw.com/2018/08/biglaw- ... e-hanging/

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I know someone in Hunton AK Dallas and he/she has a very good work-life balance, but I don't think the compensation is market and lock-step.

Mayer Brown NY and White & Case NY are both much better firms, but I can see taking Hunton AK if you want low COL and to kind of coast. The sophistication in work is going to be a huge difference with Hunton being much more middle market stuff.

I believe Hunton AK just announced about a week ago that they are going to 190K in Texas (just so you don't base your decision on compensation).

https://abovethelaw.com/2018/08/biglaw- ... e-hanging/

They only matched for first years from what I heard. Also not market bonuses.

Yeah, yikes. They start at market and then make judgements for the next years based on performance with no numbers on what that means. Sounds very sketch.

Anonymous User wrote:I know someone in Hunton AK Dallas and he/she has a very good work-life balance, but I don't think the compensation is market and lock-step.

Mayer Brown NY and White & Case NY are both much better firms, but I can see taking Hunton AK if you want low COL and to kind of coast. The sophistication in work is going to be a huge difference with Hunton being much more middle market stuff.

Is that person at Hunton AK on the lit or transactions side of things? And when you say "very good work-life balance" is that an impression you've made or did the person tell you this? Whenever I hear that someone has a good work-life balance I'm all ears because it's such a rarity at big firms.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I know someone in Hunton AK Dallas and he/she has a very good work-life balance, but I don't think the compensation is market and lock-step.

Mayer Brown NY and White & Case NY are both much better firms, but I can see taking Hunton AK if you want low COL and to kind of coast. The sophistication in work is going to be a huge difference with Hunton being much more middle market stuff.

Is that person at Hunton AK on the lit or transactions side of things? And when you say "very good work-life balance" is that an impression you've made or did the person tell you this? Whenever I hear that someone has a good work-life balance I'm all ears because it's such a rarity at big firms.

OP, it’s clear that you really want to go to HAK and are just looking for ways to justify that decision. Just go there if you want to so much.

OP here. That quoted conversation didn't involve me at all. This thread if anything has turned me away from HAK. Apologies in advance for undetected sarcasm

I would go to one of the NY firms -- that should give you an opportunity to lateral into Dallas later if you wanted to a firm that's better than HAK (or still go to HAK if you wanted).

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I know someone in Hunton AK Dallas and he/she has a very good work-life balance, but I don't think the compensation is market and lock-step.

Mayer Brown NY and White & Case NY are both much better firms, but I can see taking Hunton AK if you want low COL and to kind of coast. The sophistication in work is going to be a huge difference with Hunton being much more middle market stuff.

Is that person at Hunton AK on the lit or transactions side of things? And when you say "very good work-life balance" is that an impression you've made or did the person tell you this? Whenever I hear that someone has a good work-life balance I'm all ears because it's such a rarity at big firms.

Lit. It is just a perception. I have no idea what the hours actually are, but several long vacations were taken. That is not to say he/she didn't work really hard to do that, but seems unusual for an associate. I have no personal knowledge so take it with a grain of salt.

If you want to try for academia (long-shot) or prestigious PI like AUSA I would not go to Hunton. Mayer Brown or White and Case NY are going to give you much better exit options.