Yet Another "Help Me Choose" Thread (NYC Biglaw) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Currently have offers from Goodwin (NY) and Kramer Levin. Liked everyone I met at both firms at my callbacks/second looks. Any anecdotal advice about either or both firms would be greatly appreciated, TIA.

Things that matter to me:
- Friendly work environment. I know I will be working long hours so it's important for me to work in an environment that's friendly and supportive to the greatest extent possible.
- NOT "fratty." If it's possible to work somewhere where people are friendly in the office but recognize that people have families and friends outside the office and don't want to go out together every night, count me in.
- Exit options. I'm leaning towards transactional law (K-JD) and would like to exit to a GC position in house with a client or the federal government (Fed, SEC, etc.). Would also consider staying at the firm as counsel or senior associate if allowed. No partnership ambitions.

Things that don't matter as much:
- size of firm (outside what's necessary for exit options)
- Reputation outside NYC. SO considering moving to Silicon Valley in the future, but this would not happen for the first 5 years of my career or so. I know both firms have SV offices if I haven't exited already.
- Prestige. Was originally going for highest vault ranking possible but ended up rejected from all v1-30 I applied to. Leaving open the possibility of 3L OCI, but not banking on this. Now I only care about prestige to the extent that it matters for exit options.

Things I'm not sure about (Lmk if they matter):
- HQ v. Satellite: Goodwin is a satellite of Boston, but all attorneys told me they have enough of their own work that this doesn't matter. Kramer based in NYC but has 3 offices total.
- Transactional practice: Goodwin NY is 2/3s business law (their term for transactional). Kramer is traditionally known for lit and bankruptcy but is aggressively expanding it's transactional practice groups.
- Upcoming recession: Obviously would like to not get fired my first year on the job. Kramer has practice groups that are known to withstand recessions but I'm not primarily interested in them anyway.

[Anonymous User]

I'm in Goodwin Bos. so I'll share what I can/think.

- Work environment: not sure about NY office, but my sense is that it is not crazy, haven't really heard any horror stories, nor do I have any from the Bos. office. I'm not someone who is best friends with people I work with, but I do genuinely think I am surrounded by good people.
- Frattyness: as you are probably aware, the NY market overall is more work hard play hard than I think Boston is (I know the Goodwin Bos office is very good about people working from home and I don't know that many single people overall). Always depends on who you're working with. I don't think NY market overall (Goodwin Ny included) is that laid back about working from home or being offline when you're needed, but I don't think its anything extraordinary.

You may get more exposure to more kinds of clients working at Goodwin than Kramer, and I don't know what Kramer's program is like but will they ask you to choose a specific group when you first join v. being able to do rotations? That's something important to consider.

Anon. bc, well, obviously I work there.

[dabigchina]

If you are interested in lateralling to Silicon Valley, that's a big plus for Goodwin. They are probably the best regarded non-indigenous firm in the valley. I've also heard positive things about their culture (at least in SF/SV).

I literally have never heard of Kramer Levin's practice out here.

[Anonymous User]

Not sure about Kramer. But Goodwin is a good firm based on what I've heard. The culture is great, no a-holes or yellers, even in NY office. People generally bill slightly over 2,000. And yes Goodwin has good reputation in the valley.