Top Law Schools

Beyond all the discussion of salaries/rankings, I thought it might be helpful to just have a place for little things that you particularly appreciate about your firm (e.g. perhaps things that weren't outright advertised during recruit)? Hoping this will add some considerations into the mix.

Wow what a refreshing question amidst the annual prestige contests surrounding OCI. I appreciate that my office (pre-covid) respects employees' freedom with a pretty flexible WFH policy. Obviously first years are expected to be in the office, but as you got more senior the expectation was that as long as you got the work done, you could spend a couple days a week working from home. Who knows what the norm will be after this is all over

This is a K&E office.

This is a nice question and insight for us all. My office has some very chill Partners and Associates in general and no one cares where you work from. Just get your work done. We run fairly 8 to 6pm schedule wise with occasional late nights. My firm isn't a vault firm though. Think Amlaw200.

It let's me say I work at a V5, which recruits the top students from the top law schools and is one of the most prestigious firms on the planet. People are impressed when I casually namedrop it during networking events, law school panels, trips to the grocery store, Lyft rides. Sometimes others namedrop it for me. The culture, work, and money is also nice. A little impatient that it's going to take about 6 years to make partner.

avenuem wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:18 am

It let's me say I work at a V5, which recruits the top students from the top law schools and is one of the most prestigious firms on the planet. People are impressed when I casually namedrop it during networking events, law school panels, trips to the grocery store, Lyft rides. Sometimes others namedrop it for me. The culture, work, and money is also nice. A little impatient that it's going to take about 6 years to make partner.

Is this one a troll? You name drop it in Lyft rides? Impatient to make partner in 6 years -- you're a first year, right?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:22 am

avenuem wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:18 am

It let's me say I work at a V5, which recruits the top students from the top law schools and is one of the most prestigious firms on the planet. People are impressed when I casually namedrop it during networking events, law school panels, trips to the grocery store, Lyft rides. Sometimes others namedrop it for me. The culture, work, and money is also nice. A little impatient that it's going to take about 6 years to make partner.

Is this one a troll? You name drop it in Lyft rides? Impatient to make partner in 6 years -- you're a first year, right?

Probably an incoming Davis Poke summer...

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:22 am

avenuem wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:18 am

It let's me say I work at a V5, which recruits the top students from the top law schools and is one of the most prestigious firms on the planet. People are impressed when I casually namedrop it during networking events, law school panels, trips to the grocery store, Lyft rides. Sometimes others namedrop it for me. The culture, work, and money is also nice. A little impatient that it's going to take about 6 years to make partner.

Is this one a troll? You name drop it in Lyft rides? Impatient to make partner in 6 years -- you're a first year, right?

This is one of his most obvious trolls.

nixy wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 1:25 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:22 am

avenuem wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:18 am

It let's me say I work at a V5, which recruits the top students from the top law schools and is one of the most prestigious firms on the planet. People are impressed when I casually namedrop it during networking events, law school panels, trips to the grocery store, Lyft rides. Sometimes others namedrop it for me. The culture, work, and money is also nice. A little impatient that it's going to take about 6 years to make partner.

Is this one a troll? You name drop it in Lyft rides? Impatient to make partner in 6 years -- you're a first year, right?

This is one of his most obvious trolls.

Based on avenuem's post history, I really wasn't sure.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 6:19 pm

nixy wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 1:25 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:22 am

avenuem wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:18 am

It let's me say I work at a V5, which recruits the top students from the top law schools and is one of the most prestigious firms on the planet. People are impressed when I casually namedrop it during networking events, law school panels, trips to the grocery store, Lyft rides. Sometimes others namedrop it for me. The culture, work, and money is also nice. A little impatient that it's going to take about 6 years to make partner.

Is this one a troll? You name drop it in Lyft rides? Impatient to make partner in 6 years -- you're a first year, right?

This is one of his most obvious trolls.

Based on avenuem's post history, I really wasn't sure.

Totally fair. I think he's leaning into the shtick, but I could be wrong.

Flexibility to work from home (pre covid too) whenever I want. Lack of “oversight” - I.e., I’ve never felt like I had to be at the office until X time or arrive at Y time, so long as I’m getting my work done. And generally pretty good partners who understand that us associates have a life outside of work. This stuff has made the long hours bearable.

RaceJudicata wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:17 pm

Flexibility to work from home (pre covid too) whenever I want. Lack of “oversight” - I.e., I’ve never felt like I had to be at the office until X time or arrive at Y time, so long as I’m getting my work done. And generally pretty good partners who understand that us associates have a life outside of work. This stuff has made the long hours bearable.

That sounds legit. Which firm?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:45 pm

RaceJudicata wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:17 pm

Flexibility to work from home (pre covid too) whenever I want. Lack of “oversight” - I.e., I’ve never felt like I had to be at the office until X time or arrive at Y time, so long as I’m getting my work done. And generally pretty good partners who understand that us associates have a life outside of work. This stuff has made the long hours bearable.

That sounds legit. Which firm?

Sounds like Kirkland to me.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 1:00 am

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:45 pm

RaceJudicata wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:17 pm

Flexibility to work from home (pre covid too) whenever I want. Lack of “oversight” - I.e., I’ve never felt like I had to be at the office until X time or arrive at Y time, so long as I’m getting my work done. And generally pretty good partners who understand that us associates have a life outside of work. This stuff has made the long hours bearable.

That sounds legit. Which firm?

Sounds like Kirkland to me.

totally

Kirkland 4th year here. Partners don't shout at my face and constantly reassure me that I'll most likely make partner in 3 years as long as I consistently bill 1600 hours and don't f up in a major way.

Partners and associates who actually care about me lol. Feel like I lucked out with my practice group, but the people in it are excellent.

Take time to teach & mentor, are generally exceedingly nice & make an effort to get to know you, and encourage associates to speak up when they are feeling overwhelmed. Still some long hours + weekend work, but the above makes it bearable.

Somewhere in the V100 in non-NYC major market.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:07 am

Kirkland 4th year here. Partners don't shout at my face and constantly reassure me that I'll most likely make partner in 3 years as long as I consistently bill 1600 hours and don't f up in a major way.

Corporate or lit?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:22 am

avenuem wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:18 am

It let's me say I work at a V5, which recruits the top students from the top law schools and is one of the most prestigious firms on the planet. People are impressed when I casually namedrop it during networking events, law school panels, trips to the grocery store, Lyft rides. Sometimes others namedrop it for me. The culture, work, and money is also nice. A little impatient that it's going to take about 6 years to make partner.

Is this one a troll? You name drop it in Lyft rides? Impatient to make partner in 6 years -- you're a first year, right?

Unlike some companies one might go in-house at, law firms are absolutely not household names. I'm from a family full of lawyers and I knew the name of exactly *one* biglaw firm before I started applying to firms as a 1L, and it was the firm that my mom worked at when I was a baby. No one is impressed when you casually name drop it during Lyft rides or trips to the grocery store because no average person has ever heard of your firm.

blair.waldorf wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:58 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:22 am

avenuem wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:18 am

It let's me say I work at a V5, which recruits the top students from the top law schools and is one of the most prestigious firms on the planet. People are impressed when I casually namedrop it during networking events, law school panels, trips to the grocery store, Lyft rides. Sometimes others namedrop it for me. The culture, work, and money is also nice. A little impatient that it's going to take about 6 years to make partner.

Is this one a troll? You name drop it in Lyft rides? Impatient to make partner in 6 years -- you're a first year, right?

Unlike some companies one might go in-house at, law firms are absolutely not household names. I'm from a family full of lawyers and I knew the name of exactly *one* biglaw firm before I started applying to firms as a 1L, and it was the firm that my mom worked at when I was a baby. No one is impressed when you casually name drop it during Lyft rides or trips to the grocery store because no average person has ever heard of your firm.

People know Kirkland though. I even got a tinder date b/c of the name brand.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:08 am

People know Kirkland though. I even got a tinder date b/c of the name brand.

“Wow, anon, so tell me more about your high-powered job working for Costco’s private label brand”

The graciousness of the partners who see me as part of a team rather than an employee. I have made countless mistakes and submit things late, but 95% of the partners I have worked with have been so gracious about it. It's like yeah, I know something is late and I am killing myself over it, so I appreciate that you are not further shaming me about that too. I have really begun to appreciate that, especially since I have been at firms where the partners are so stuck up on my errors when I honestly was probably just too junior to know otherwise, along with my ability to just not deal with the stress of always trying to be perfect.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:54 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:07 am

Kirkland 4th year here. Partners don't shout at my face and constantly reassure me that I'll most likely make partner in 3 years as long as I consistently bill 1600 hours and don't f up in a major way.

Corporate or lit?

Was Kirkland anon being sarcastic or..? Haha

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:31 am

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:08 am

People know Kirkland though. I even got a tinder date b/c of the name brand.

“Wow, anon, so tell me more about your high-powered job working for Costco’s private label brand”

Kirkland associate, and I've actually gotten this on a date before

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:32 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:54 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:07 am

Kirkland 4th year here. Partners don't shout at my face and constantly reassure me that I'll most likely make partner in 3 years as long as I consistently bill 1600 hours and don't f up in a major way.

Corporate or lit?

Was Kirkland anon being sarcastic or..? Haha

If you billed 1600hrs/yr. and did competent work, I doubt you'd get fired. Kirkland's currently a boom town (grows like $300-$400 million in revenue every year for the past five years). They really can't afford to throw people overboard if they're remotely putting in effort.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:08 am

blair.waldorf wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:58 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:22 am

avenuem wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:18 am

It let's me say I work at a V5, which recruits the top students from the top law schools and is one of the most prestigious firms on the planet. People are impressed when I casually namedrop it during networking events, law school panels, trips to the grocery store, Lyft rides. Sometimes others namedrop it for me. The culture, work, and money is also nice. A little impatient that it's going to take about 6 years to make partner.

Is this one a troll? You name drop it in Lyft rides? Impatient to make partner in 6 years -- you're a first year, right?

Unlike some companies one might go in-house at, law firms are absolutely not household names. I'm from a family full of lawyers and I knew the name of exactly *one* biglaw firm before I started applying to firms as a 1L, and it was the firm that my mom worked at when I was a baby. No one is impressed when you casually name drop it during Lyft rides or trips to the grocery store because no average person has ever heard of your firm.

People know Kirkland though. I even got a tinder date b/c of the name brand.

Thx for confirming this really happens. Blair's probably at a V60 or something, so she wouldn't know anything about people recognizing her firm. The fact that she only knew the name of one biglaw firm is probably also why she's at a V70 or something.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:07 am

Kirkland 4th year here. Partners don't shout at my face and constantly reassure me that I'll most likely make partner in 3 years as long as I consistently bill 1600 hours and don't f up in a major way.

Which office?

my firm let me go permanently remote -- so i'm making my nyc salary in a a lower COL market and don't have to deal with micro-aggressions in the office.