Most Important Considerations for SA Firm Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have a couple of offers right now and am hoping to finalize where I am going to go next summer by the end of the week. I was wondering what you all would say the most important considerations are in picking a firm. I'm fairly confident in my choice, and I made an extensive pro/con list but I want to ensure I don't miss anything. Thanks in advance!

[BasilHallward]

I have a couple of offers right now and am hoping to finalize where I am going to go next summer by the end of the week. I was wondering what you all would say the most important considerations are in picking a firm. I'm fairly confident in my choice, and I made an extensive pro/con list but I want to ensure I don't miss anything. Thanks in advance!

You have the best gauge for this since you have the pro/con list and are weighing the variables to fit your personal preferences. With that said, location and offer rate were the primary drivers for selecting my 2L summer firm. It worked out fine.

[Anonymous User]

Can you provide more information: What have you already considered?

[Anonymous User]

So for context, all my offers were in the same location (I only applied to one market), pay market salary, and have virtually the same benefits. The things I considered, in this general order, were:

1) Could I stand spending a ridiculous amount of time with these people? I didn't hate anyone for the most part, but some firms had more fratty people, boring people, quirky people, etc.

2) Do people actually seem happy? Hard to gauge since everyone puts their best foot forward, which is why I sought answers from people outside of the firm, specifically those who previously worked there. They would have less of incentive to BS me, so I could get better answers. I'd also ask other people about other firms to gauge what the professional reputation within the community is (e.g. everyone seems overworked)

3) Other quality of life stuff, such as average billables, face time requirements and expectations, when people normally go home.

Those factors ruled out half of my offers, and when it came down to the last two firms, I chose based off of the type of pro bono they do, average pro bono hours per firm, the type of litigation they do (I'm more interested in white collar/labor rather than commercial lit), the backgrounds of the partners (e.g. ties to government, public service, etc.). I didn't really consider ranking; I eventually chose the firm that is ranked better nationally, but it is unranked regionally since it's a new branch.

[Anonymous User]

I think you've put good thought into your decision.

I would second the part about if any firm is likely to no-offer you; also if any seem financially unstable. If there are noticeable differences in firms with regard to exit opportunities or quality of work, then definitely heavily weigh that. Beyond those two factors, I agree rank is not that important within the same band. Go where you'll be the happiest and will seem to have the best "quality of life." If the type of work will be roughly the same at each firm, then I suppose those considerations don't matter as much.

The new branch you chose - is it a satellite office? It’s better to be in HQ or a big office for promotions and better work.

[Anonymous User]

I think you've put good thought into your decision.

I would second the part about if any firm is likely to no-offer you; also if any seem financially unstable. If there are noticeable differences in firms with regard to exit opportunities or quality of work, then definitely heavily weigh that. Beyond those two factors, I agree rank is not that important within the same band. Go where you'll be the happiest and will seem to have the best "quality of life." If the type of work will be roughly the same at each firm, then I suppose those considerations don't matter as much.

The new branch you chose - is it a satellite office? It’s better to be in HQ or a big office for promotions and better work.

I'm pretty sure I only got their offer off of the waitlist...is that something I should consider? I have a few offers that I didn't decline yet where I was made an offer either on the spot or within a few hours, I'm just hesitant to go somewhere that did not really want me.

[QContinuum]

I'm pretty sure I only got their offer off of the waitlist...is that something I should consider?

How do you know this? Did it take >2 weeks between CB and offer? If you received your offer within ~1 week of your CB, very unlikely you were waitlisted. Hiring committees may meet only once-twice per week to decide on offers, and some interviewers may be tardy at getting evals in.

[nealric]

I think you've put good thought into your decision.

I would second the part about if any firm is likely to no-offer you; also if any seem financially unstable. If there are noticeable differences in firms with regard to exit opportunities or quality of work, then definitely heavily weigh that. Beyond those two factors, I agree rank is not that important within the same band. Go where you'll be the happiest and will seem to have the best "quality of life." If the type of work will be roughly the same at each firm, then I suppose those considerations don't matter as much.

The new branch you chose - is it a satellite office? It’s better to be in HQ or a big office for promotions and better work.

I'm pretty sure I only got their offer off of the waitlist...is that something I should consider? I have a few offers that I didn't decline yet where I was made an offer either on the spot or within a few hours, I'm just hesitant to go somewhere that did not really want me.

No. Even if that were the case, doubtful they would even remember a year from now when it comes time to extend permanent offers, even less likely two years from now when you would actually start working, and extraordinarily unlikely by the time it your first real performance review would happen over 3 years from now.

[Anonymous User]

I'm pretty sure I only got their offer off of the waitlist...is that something I should consider?

How do you know this? Did it take >2 weeks between CB and offer? If you received your offer within ~1 week of your CB, very unlikely you were waitlisted. Hiring committees may meet only once-twice per week to decide on offers, and some interviewers may be tardy at getting evals in.

They're taking a very small class, and I heard offers had gone out two days before I heard after interviewing two weeks earlier. I could definitely be wrong, I just wasn't sure if I should worry about it.

[Anonymous User]

I think you've put good thought into your decision.

I would second the part about if any firm is likely to no-offer you; also if any seem financially unstable. If there are noticeable differences in firms with regard to exit opportunities or quality of work, then definitely heavily weigh that. Beyond those two factors, I agree rank is not that important within the same band. Go where you'll be the happiest and will seem to have the best "quality of life." If the type of work will be roughly the same at each firm, then I suppose those considerations don't matter as much.

The new branch you chose - is it a satellite office? It’s better to be in HQ or a big office for promotions and better work.

I'm pretty sure I only got their offer off of the waitlist...is that something I should consider? I have a few offers that I didn't decline yet where I was made an offer either on the spot or within a few hours, I'm just hesitant to go somewhere that did not really want me.

No. Even if that were the case, doubtful they would even remember a year from now when it comes time to extend permanent offers, even less likely two years from now when you would actually start working, and extraordinarily unlikely by the time it your first real performance review would happen over 3 years from now.

Thank you! This makes me feel much better about accepting.

[Anonymous User]

I'm pretty sure I only got their offer off of the waitlist...is that something I should consider?

How do you know this? Did it take >2 weeks between CB and offer? If you received your offer within ~1 week of your CB, very unlikely you were waitlisted. Hiring committees may meet only once-twice per week to decide on offers, and some interviewers may be tardy at getting evals in.

They're taking a very small class, and I heard offers had gone out two days before I heard after interviewing two weeks earlier. I could definitely be wrong, I just wasn't sure if I should worry about it.

"Waitlists" during OCI is driven as much by when you happened to schedule your CB. If it was slightly later, and they're taking a small class, those who got offers from earlier CBs had to decline before space opened up. In short, the openings for coming off the "waitlist" is probably more driven by CB scheduling and already-outstanding offers as it is by their desire to offer you. Even more true for small-class-size offices.

[Anonymous User]

A few general things that I would have considered more strongly if I could do it again

1. Vacations - firms are pretty different on vacations. Most firms give 20 days (some give unlimited... run away from those). Some firms encourage you to take all 20 days and have systems in place for you to request coverage. At other firms, people feel bad about taking more than 10. If I could do it again, I'd probably put some weight on finding a firm (or group) that lets you take all 20 days, because they're out there. Ask how many days people took last year, how coverage works, (i.e. whether you talk to a staffing coordinator or have to find your own coverage) etc.

2. Rotations - I'd 100% pick a firm that has a formal rotation in place. It's hard to know what you're going to enjoy after a year of 1L classes, and it's even harder to know what you'll enjoy after a year of practicing. It's a crapshoot to switch practice groups outside of a formal rotation.

3. I'd probably pick a firm that has secondment options. It might be hard to ask this during interviews or second looks, so step carefully.

[Anonymous User]

A few general things that I would have considered more strongly if I could do it again

1. Vacations - firms are pretty different on vacations. Most firms give 20 days (some give unlimited... run away from those). Some firms encourage you to take all 20 days and have systems in place for you to request coverage. At other firms, people feel bad about taking more than 10. If I could do it again, I'd probably put some weight on finding a firm (or group) that lets you take all 20 days, because they're out there. Ask how many days people took last year, how coverage works, (i.e. whether you talk to a staffing coordinator or have to find your own coverage) etc.

What's so bad about the unlimited vacation? I accepted an offer at a firm that offers this. I'm not expecting to make use of the unlimited vacation, but is it a proxy indicator for vacations being frowned upon?

[Anonymous User]

The absolute number one thing you need to first determine is the firm's offer rate. You do NOT want to get stuck at a shit firm that randomly decides to over-hire 2-3 associates every year and risk getting kicked to the curb. Any job is better than no job.

After that, I'd follow the advice of the above posters.

[Anonymous User]

1. Culture: how much you like the people you are going to work with.
2. Ranking: to start your career, I don't think it is a bad idea to have experience with a prestigious firm.
3. Location