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Same boat. I don't think my chances are too great because I don't have much of a business background. I think other people probably know more.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 2:41 pmCLS w 3.89 GPA, solid work experience, can string together sentences, but not on Law Review.
These data might be more useful if you segregated it out by lit/transactionalAnonymous User wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 3:23 pmNot sure what lessons you can draw from this, but here's the breakdown of journal affiliation for the 29 CLS associates listed on WLRK's website: Law Review (10), CBLR (8), other journal (7), N/A (4). Other commonalities I noted while skimming profiles: pre-law school experience in finance, and a handful of Ruth Bader Ginsburg prizes.
Different 2L anon, not OP, but figured I’d jump in with a question since you seem knowledgeable.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 3:43 pmThere's 1 essential component and 4 interchangeable components.
The essential component is grades. 3.7+ is probably somewhere around the hard cut. It's not out-of-this-world but certainly not low.
Interchangeable components are elite UG, grades beyond 3.7+, finance-related work experience (doesn't have to be IB analyst but that certainly helps), or WLRK-related experience--namely, being a paralegal there. In my year all but one WLRK folks had one or all of these in different degrees. The one that didn't was James Ordineaux.
Law Review doesn't seem to matter all that much though (not even in lit.).
Then again, we might as well be predicting where Tesla's stock price is going next. Just apply and see what happens.
No WLRK specific knowledge, but tax and restructuring wouldn't be similar in this context. Restructuring is a separate corporate group from M&A, but tax is a support group for M&A (and, to a lesser extent, restructuring). So tax is in line with its core practice but restructuring isn't.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 1:12 amDifferent 2L anon, not OP, but figured I’d jump in with a question since you seem knowledgeable.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 3:43 pmThere's 1 essential component and 4 interchangeable components.
The essential component is grades. 3.7+ is probably somewhere around the hard cut. It's not out-of-this-world but certainly not low.
Interchangeable components are elite UG, grades beyond 3.7+, finance-related work experience (doesn't have to be IB analyst but that certainly helps), or WLRK-related experience--namely, being a paralegal there. In my year all but one WLRK folks had one or all of these in different degrees. The one that didn't was James Ordineaux.
Law Review doesn't seem to matter all that much though (not even in lit.).
Then again, we might as well be predicting where Tesla's stock price is going next. Just apply and see what happens.
How is a candidate perceived during a WLRK screener if he/she expresses a strong interest in a specialty practice area (tax, restructuring, etc.)? I mean, WLRK is practically synonymous with giant public M&A (and also deal lit & securities lit). On the other hand, WLRK clearly has some strong niche practices outside of that, e.g. in the areas I mentioned. Would I be foolishly “narrowing” my appeal as a candidate by not kissing the M&A/lit ring during these interviews?
Frankly, you're not getting a job at WLRK, so I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy 3L.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:23 pm^Also curious about lateraling into WLRK or getting an offer after clerking (without summering in 1L or 2L/doing SEO). How common is it and what credentials would one need? At a CCN, around 3.5, so definitely below WLRK's grade cutoff, but I'm wondering if bumping up my grades in 3L year will be "worth it" for a shot later on.
How are you so sure? What is that based on? What about a junior associate from a similar school, but about 3.85 GPA who is already at a V5?Sackboy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 10:12 pmFrankly, you're not getting a job at WLRK, so I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy 3L.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:23 pm^Also curious about lateraling into WLRK or getting an offer after clerking (without summering in 1L or 2L/doing SEO). How common is it and what credentials would one need? At a CCN, around 3.5, so definitely below WLRK's grade cutoff, but I'm wondering if bumping up my grades in 3L year will be "worth it" for a shot later on.
Does WLRK take laterals? I didn't think they did.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:55 pmHow are you so sure? What is that based on? What about a junior associate from a similar school, but about 3.85 GPA who is already at a V5?Sackboy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 10:12 pmFrankly, you're not getting a job at WLRK, so I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy 3L.Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:23 pm^Also curious about lateraling into WLRK or getting an offer after clerking (without summering in 1L or 2L/doing SEO). How common is it and what credentials would one need? At a CCN, around 3.5, so definitely below WLRK's grade cutoff, but I'm wondering if bumping up my grades in 3L year will be "worth it" for a shot later on.
You're in a completely different situation from OP. You're at a V5 and have a 3.85. OP's GPA is considerably worse after 3 semesters and would need straight A+s to even bring it close to a 3.85. OP probably also isn't at a V5 (though OP could be with a 3.5 from CCN).Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:55 pmHow are you so sure? What is that based on? What about a junior associate from a similar school, but about 3.85 GPA who is already at a V5?
Very helpful.Sackboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 6:11 pmYou're in a completely different situation from OP. You're at a V5 and have a 3.85. OP's GPA is considerably worse after 3 semesters and would need straight A+s to even bring it close to a 3.85. OP probably also isn't at a V5 (though OP could be with a 3.5 from CCN).Anonymous User wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:55 pmHow are you so sure? What is that based on? What about a junior associate from a similar school, but about 3.85 GPA who is already at a V5?
As for your situation, WLRK hires about 0-4 laterals a year, primarily in niche groups (exec comp, tax, T&E) and rarely in general corporate. All of their hires from the last few years are from Cravath/Skadden/S&C/DPW/Latham/Kirkland/Debevoise/Milbank and a couple of other top firms. So, you're fine on firm and GPA, but you better hope you're not general corporate. Even if you're a specialist, WLRK is maybe hiring 1 in your field every other year at best, so your shots are still pretty much nil.
I know WLRK has a reputation for giving more substantive interviews than other firms. Does this extend to their callbacks?Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 8:36 amAny tips for the WLRK callback? Is it basically just a few screeners stacked on top of each other, or does the tone/strategy shift for the second round?
Don't think so. I believe they have the hiring committee once a week. They told me I would get a response within a week or two.
Thanks for the reply. The conventional wisdom for Corp biglaw holds that exit opps (in house, etc.) are maximized around year 3-4. Is your sense that great exits from WLRK are possible earlier than that (years 2-3)? Seems like a question worth asking, because I have to imagine that the risk of associate burnout is higher at WLRK than some peer shopsAnonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:23 amI was previously an associate at WLRK, so posting anon:
Wachtell is a M&A firm, then a corporate firm, then a lit firm. What I mean by that is the power in the firm is concentrated in those practice areas in that order. Your best chance to build relationships to have a long lasting career at WLRK is to join those practices. If you just want the name on your resume, niche practices are strong and capable, but very hard to make partner from.
Lateraling is generally for WLRK caliber associates that were missed at OCI. When I was there, I think all of the laterals graduated from Yale law and they were superstars at firms like Sullivan, Kirkland, Cravath, etc. Even so, only about two laterals joined each year.
Wachtell does not give same day offers.
I am not at the firm anymore but I can tell you that it is worth it to be there. It is a fantastic place to practice law. You will work hard, you will grow as a lawyer, and you'll be permitted to make contacts and build relationships that will propel the rest of your career whether with the firm or not. Oh, and they take very good care of their people.
(Different anon, same reason.)Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 10:29 amThanks for the reply. The conventional wisdom for Corp biglaw holds that exit opps (in house, etc.) are maximized around year 3-4. Is your sense that great exits from WLRK are possible earlier than that (years 2-3)?
Not sure this is true. As mentioned above, 1) they take really good care of their people and 2) hiring is tilted, relative to other firms, toward indicia of being able to handle the workload for long periods of time (banking/consulting experience, excellent LS grades, honors from top undergrads, etc.).Seems like a question worth asking, because I have to imagine that the risk of associate burnout is higher at WLRK than some peer shops
Can you say a bit more about Wachtell's litigation practice? You say it is behind M&A and corporate in power. How hard is it to make partner in that group?Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:23 amI was previously an associate at WLRK, so posting anon:
Wachtell is a M&A firm, then a corporate firm, then a lit firm. What I mean by that is the power in the firm is concentrated in those practice areas in that order. Your best chance to build relationships to have a long lasting career at WLRK is to join those practices. If you just want the name on your resume, niche practices are strong and capable, but very hard to make partner from.
Lateraling is generally for WLRK caliber associates that were missed at OCI. When I was there, I think all of the laterals graduated from Yale law and they were superstars at firms like Sullivan, Kirkland, Cravath, etc. Even so, only about two laterals joined each year.
Wachtell does not give same day offers.
I am not at the firm anymore but I can tell you that it is worth it to be there. It is a fantastic place to practice law. You will work hard, you will grow as a lawyer, and you'll be permitted to make contacts and build relationships that will propel the rest of your career whether with the firm or not. Oh, and they take very good care of their people.