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Hello TLS community,

Are there any DC/NY firms or lit boutiques that have the reputation for providing associates litigation experience early in one's career? I know most partners don't even go through a fully contested trial, but I'm just wondering what firms train associates to argue substantive motions, take a deposition, or even examine a minor witness at trial/arbitration, without waiting 7-10 years.

I'm a former law clerk and gov't trial attorney hoping to transition into biglaw, and I was fortunate enough to first chair contested trials. I'm too junior and lack a book of business to lateral to a firm as a partner or Of Counsel.

I've heard good things about QE, BSF and Hueston Hennigan giving their new associates real litigation experience early. Are there any other firms/boutiques I should be looking at or to avoid? Thank you.

This questions gets asked a lot, so some people may just direct you to those other posts.

(For example this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=299720 or this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=271954)

However, you are in a bit of a different position, since most of these threads are aimed at law students trying to go someplace where they will get early trial experience, and a boutique increases the guarantee of that experience. However from what I've seen, most large firms internally still have a handful of partners and their go to associates who end up handling a lot of trial work (I know this is how it sort of works at my SOs V10 firm, she kind of fell into such a group and gets a lot of trial experience as a junior, although not as much as she would at a boutique.) Since you would be entering closer to a midlevel it opens up less trial focused large firms if you're able to finely target your applications, ideally through your network of people working at these firms. Not saying thats the best path, just wanted to highlight it as something to consider as I never really knew about these types of groups from TLS alone.

I wanted a similar situation as you're seeking but didn't have gov't trial experience, so I ended up lateraling to a plaintiffs firm where juniors get way more early substantive experience, but I'll likely never go to real trial. So that may be something else to look into.