Top Law Schools

Which NY law firms make you share office beyond first year? If I lateral I would like to avoid those firms.

I love my officemate but I really want to be left alone when I’m working 12+ hrs. Plus s/he is on the phone a lot.

NRF is 2 years.

I think almost all of the big ones make you share for at least 2 years. Possibly a few let you opt for a solo internal after year 1. Watch out for the ones that make you share for years and years. Weil makes you share until year 5 but it's not uncommon to have to share through year 3.

In my experience, if you want your own office, you should probably go to a lower-ranked firm. I work at an Amlaw firm and our NY office has exterior-facing, individual offices for all associates. My friend works at a similar firm that has the same.

I had to share before, so I know how miserable it can be.

Anonymous User wrote:I think almost all of the big ones make you share for at least 2 years. Possibly a few let you opt for a solo internal after year 1. Watch out for the ones that make you share for years and years. Weil makes you share until year 5 but it's not uncommon to have to share through year 3.

This is an egregious lie. Weil makes people share 1-2 Years (depending on department) like most other big New York firms

-Weil associate

Anyone know if Jones Day NY office makes junior associates share?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I think almost all of the big ones make you share for at least 2 years. Possibly a few let you opt for a solo internal after year 1. Watch out for the ones that make you share for years and years. Weil makes you share until year 5 but it's not uncommon to have to share through year 3.

This is an egregious lie. Weil makes people share 1-2 Years (depending on department) like most other big New York firms

-Weil associate

But you don’t get an exterior until you’re a fifth year right?

LaLiLuLeLo wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I think almost all of the big ones make you share for at least 2 years. Possibly a few let you opt for a solo internal after year 1. Watch out for the ones that make you share for years and years. Weil makes you share until year 5 but it's not uncommon to have to share through year 3.

This is an egregious lie. Weil makes people share 1-2 Years (depending on department) like most other big New York firms

-Weil associate

But you don’t get an exterior until you’re a fifth year right?

Typically that is correct yes

Anonymous User wrote:

LaLiLuLeLo wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I think almost all of the big ones make you share for at least 2 years. Possibly a few let you opt for a solo internal after year 1. Watch out for the ones that make you share for years and years. Weil makes you share until year 5 but it's not uncommon to have to share through year 3.

This is an egregious lie. Weil makes people share 1-2 Years (depending on department) like most other big New York firms

-Weil associate

But you don’t get an exterior until you’re a fifth year right?

Typically that is correct yes

So most Weil associates will never have an exterior office.

Sharing for 2 years is the norm in NY, unfortunately. The real differentiating factor is whether the firm has interior offices for attorneys are not. Personally, I'd rather share than work in a windowless room.

Anonymous User wrote:Anyone know if Jones Day NY office makes junior associates share?

Yes, you have to share an internal office for at least your first year

nealric wrote:Sharing for 2 years is the norm in NY, unfortunately. The real differentiating factor is whether the firm has interior offices for attorneys are not. Personally, I'd rather share than work in a windowless room.

Weil associate again. Never really understood the obsession with Windows. It’s not like the view changes. I like my solo internal office - it’s nice and quiet and there’s never any annoying glare on my screen or sun in my eyes

Anonymous User wrote:

nealric wrote:Sharing for 2 years is the norm in NY, unfortunately. The real differentiating factor is whether the firm has interior offices for attorneys are not. Personally, I'd rather share than work in a windowless room.

Weil associate again. Never really understood the obsession with Windows. It’s not like the view changes. I like my solo internal office - it’s nice and quiet and there’s never any annoying glare on my screen or sun in my eyes

The view from the windows looking north or west towards the park are very nice.

Anonymous User wrote:

nealric wrote:Sharing for 2 years is the norm in NY, unfortunately. The real differentiating factor is whether the firm has interior offices for attorneys are not. Personally, I'd rather share than work in a windowless room.

Weil associate again. Never really understood the obsession with Windows. It’s not like the view changes. I like my solo internal office - it’s nice and quiet and there’s never any annoying glare on my screen or sun in my eyes

To each their own. There's something about being in a windowless room that drives me nuts. I also need to be able to look out the window every so often or I get terrible eyestrain after looking at a computer monitor for hours.

Desmarais LLP only has external offices for attorneys, and everyone gets their own office.

nealric wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

nealric wrote:Sharing for 2 years is the norm in NY, unfortunately. The real differentiating factor is whether the firm has interior offices for attorneys are not. Personally, I'd rather share than work in a windowless room.

Weil associate again. Never really understood the obsession with Windows. It’s not like the view changes. I like my solo internal office - it’s nice and quiet and there’s never any annoying glare on my screen or sun in my eyes

To each their own. There's something about being in a windowless room that drives me nuts. I also need to be able to look out the window every so often or I get terrible eyestrain after looking at a computer monitor for hours.

Yup it’s one of those things you don’t realize you wanted until you have it. Having natural light and a view is huge for your brain.

LaLiLuLeLo wrote:

nealric wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

nealric wrote:Sharing for 2 years is the norm in NY, unfortunately. The real differentiating factor is whether the firm has interior offices for attorneys are not. Personally, I'd rather share than work in a windowless room.

Weil associate again. Never really understood the obsession with Windows. It’s not like the view changes. I like my solo internal office - it’s nice and quiet and there’s never any annoying glare on my screen or sun in my eyes

To each their own. There's something about being in a windowless room that drives me nuts. I also need to be able to look out the window every so often or I get terrible eyestrain after looking at a computer monitor for hours.

Yup it’s one of those things you don’t realize you wanted until you have it. Having natural light and a view is huge for your brain.

Natural light > view.

Nyc stinks. Chicago associate - exterior, personal office from year 1 (hell, even as a summer I had a solo exterior office)

DPW varies:

- litigation usually 2-3 years
- corporate - some groups have office mates even as a 5th year

Anonymous User wrote:DPW varies:

- litigation usually 2-3 years
- corporate - some groups have office mates even as a 5th year

More like end of 4th/beginning of 5th year in litigation.

Generally, OMM only has shared offices for first-years and summers. When they're no summer associates, first-years have their own exterior office.