Help me decide: Jones Day NY or Mayer Brown Chi Forum

[eeriedoctrine]

doing litigation, think I would be happy in either city but know they have very different legal cultures

[Anonymous User]

Your money will go further in Chicago and JD NY is far from impressive.

[Anonymous User]

doing litigation, think I would be happy in either city but know they have very different legal cultures

JD NY does not pay market. Even if they did, your money would go further in Chicago. And MB is probably better ranked in Chicago than JD is in NY.

To me, if you are okay in either city, this would be a very easy choice. What are your pause factors?

[Anonymous User]

Have you lived in either city for an extended period of time? I hesitate to believe a lot of posters on TLS that waive away city considerations believing that its a wash between them...I mean your day-to-day will differ tremendously between NYC and CHI. Your guiding concern should be where you want to live since I don't think the differences between the two firms are enough to override their locations.

I'm pretty sure JD pays market at least for the first year - it seems to be a black box after that (but most likely follows market at least for 1-2 more years).

[publius365]

I'm pretty sure JD pays market at least for the first year - it seems to be a black box after that (but most likely follows market at least for 1-2 more years).

It doesn't, though. https://abovethelaw.com/2021/07/inside- ... 0000-myth/

[Anonymous User]

doing litigation, think I would be happy in either city but know they have very different legal cultures

I would go with Mayer Brown, either CHI or NY. Why choose to deal with the BS black box compensation if you don't have to?

[Robot]

Mayer Brown is one of the top firms in Chicago and pays market, Jones Day is not a major player in NYC and doesn't, plus COL in NY is very high. I don't see why this is a question unless you like NYC a lot more than Chicago.

[Anonymous User]

Their litigation groups are pretty different. Jones Day does a lot of national MDL litigation which they are well suited to do bc they have so many U.S. offices. The NY office of Jones Day does a lot of financial litigation for large banks. Jones Day also has a strong appellate practice. Having said all of that, first decision is NY or Chicago—but if the answer is NY then these are reasons to go to JD.

[almostperfectt]

To give some important context, people on this board generally are not a fan of Jones Day. Especially its black box compensation and promotion system. Kind of a black sheep type thing

[Anonymous User]

Either choice could be reasonable. Mayer Brown has a great reputation in Chicago. Jones Day has a well-respected litigation group in New York. Where would you rather live? What type of work are you hoping to do?