Best firms for an AUSA job Forum

[Anonymous User]

What BigLaw firms are best to go to if my ultimate goal is to become an AUSA in SDNY/EDNY/DNJ?

[Wild Card]

Traditionally. SDNY has liked to hire from Davis Polk, Paul Weiss, and Debevoise. Recently, there has been love for Wachtell and Quinn Emanuel.

And there might be one hire from each of Weil, Ropes, Arnold & Porter, etc.

So the first five firms that I mentioned.

[Anonymous User]

What BigLaw firms are best to go to if my ultimate goal is to become an AUSA in SDNY/EDNY/DNJ?

The conventional wisdom is that you’ll have a good shot from the firms who are strong in white collar or litigation generally. For a while, Wachtell Lipton, Williams & Connolly, Paul, Weiss and DPW were regarded as the farm teams for SDNY, but it’s possible from most major NY firms — school, connections, clerkships and grades probably matter more than the name of the firm you’re working at.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks so much! And how about for EDNY and DNJ?

[Anonymous User]

For those districts I would look at the Band 1 litigation: white collar elite in NY ranking on chambers - it's a pretty good litmus test for 1) firms where you can get good WC experience and 2) firms with a strong group of formers from SDNY/EDNY (which is in many ways the most important factor).

More important than firm choice will be identifying the right partners to work for once you get there and getting on their workstreams (at least from what I've seen with peers who have moved over).

[Anonymous User]

I think for SDNY, the strongest roster is now at WilmerHale.

[Anonymous User]

Because of the composition of the new hires in General Crimes, or because they hired Preet?