Would you forgo a 50k (taxed) signing bonus for a firm that you like better? Forum

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

Stuck between two firms. The one that offered a scholarship (F1) expires very soon and the other (F2) expires much later. They aren't peer firms, from what I can gather, but the gap isn't TOO big either, I think. From what I can gather, F1 doesn't really have strong suits in the market that I am looking at but the culture reputation is extremely good. I had weird experiences interviewing with them, however. F2 is where I would choose in a heartbeat if I wasn't offered the scholarship. It has a stellar reputation in my market and I had great experiences interviewing. I prefer the community there, prefer the assignment system, and I think exit options would be better.
I asked F2 to match F1 and they were basically like, "I don't think I can give you an answer by the time F1's offer will expire." Also interviewed with another firm this week that I liked a lot more than I expected--enough to rival F2 for me. Of course, I can't guarantee an offer but it was another place I could see myself in the future (and I also applied to their scholarship as well)

Considering that the money will be heavily taxed too--but it's still a lot for me. I know it's a very personal decision because it is related to my finances, but I am wondering what you would choose.

You gotta share the firm names here. It's impossible to provide opinions without knowing whether this is like, for NY, DPW vs Milbank or Kirkland vs Latham.

[Anonymous User]

Kind of agree that which firms/market this is matters. Especially because you probably don't have a solidly grounded perspective on some of these things. Here are some questions that you might answer if you really don't feel like naming the firms:

• Culture reputation: among outsiders, or insiders? K&E gets a lot of guff, for example, but there are plenty of people who have worked there that have good things to say about being at the firm. Similarly, what does it mean that you liked the "community" at F2?
• Interview experiences: How big are these offices? Are you even likely to be interacting with any of the people who interviewed you? How (/what kind of) "weird" were the experiences?
• Exit options: How are you evaluating this? Exit options to what sort of work?

The money won't be that heavily taxed—you'd still be taking home an extra $40k. But it kind of sounds like you're looking for reassurance that it's okay to turn down the money. It is totally fine to take the money—hopefully so that you get out of debt sooner—but it is absolutely okay to turn down the money, especially as a biglaw summer salary is still a good chunk of change.

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

Sidley, STB (NYC)
Will prob delete in a few days lol

You don't need to lol, Claire isn't surfing TLS in her free time to pull diversity offers. I get it, being a 1L is neurotic, but try to chill.

In NY, assuming the $ is from Sidley, I'd personally pick STB over Sidley and turn down the 50k. Over time, the delta of starting at one of the top corp firms in the nation will more than make up for the short term differential. Less of a difference for litigation, but I'd probably still do the same.

Sidley's NY office is a dud, outside of very specific and unsexy practices like debt finance. It's obviously one of the storied and prominent Chicago firms, but that doesn't translate to other markets.

If the $ is from STB, why is this even a question? Go for the higher regarded firm (in NYC) and live laugh love.

[NoLongerALurker]

STB

[Anonymous User]

Given the firms, what practice (even generally) and are you angling for?

[Anonymous User]

OP, I had to make a similar decision not too long ago (had $50K scholly/bonus offer from a V5 firm and had an offer from another V5 firm that gave no scholarship but that I liked much more in every way).

I ended up giving up the $50K, as did at least 1/3rd of those of us who received the $50K bonus offer (which I was shocked to find out). Super happy with my choice, and I don't come from money or anything. I definitely had plans with that money, but it couldn't compare to picking the better employer. For me, the $50K wasn't worth starting my legal career at a firm that wasn't designed to help me best succeed.

I'm on the other side now, and I have zero regrets.

[mardash]

I think I’d go with the firm I prefer. Although it’s not an insubstantial amount of money, $50k won’t seem very important two to three years from now if you’re having a noticably inferior experience.

[Anonymous User]

Given the firms, what practice (even generally) and are you angling Chicago?

Not litigation. Interest in funds, tech transactions (I know they are two very different things lol)
NYC and hoping to move to LA in the future

[Anonymous User]

I gave up 100k to leave STB so take from that what you will. Tech transactions is probably not as bad (and probably useful for a California pivot) but would avoid their funds group like the plague even if it interests you from afar.

[Anonymous User]

I gave up 100k to leave STB so take from that what you will. Tech transactions is probably not as bad (and probably useful for a California pivot) but would avoid their funds group like the plague even if it interests you from afar.

Ooh. thought it was their "lifestyle" practice group :/

[Moneytrees]

Stuck between two firms. The one that offered a scholarship (F1) expires very soon and the other (F2) expires much later. They aren't peer firms, from what I can gather, but the gap isn't TOO big either, I think. From what I can gather, F1 doesn't really have strong suits in the market that I am looking at but the culture reputation is extremely good. I had weird experiences interviewing with them, however. F2 is where I would choose in a heartbeat if I wasn't offered the scholarship. It has a stellar reputation in my market and I had great experiences interviewing. I prefer the community there, prefer the assignment system, and I think exit options would be better.
I asked F2 to match F1 and they were basically like, "I don't think I can give you an answer by the time F1's offer will expire." Also interviewed with another firm this week that I liked a lot more than I expected--enough to rival F2 for me. Of course, I can't guarantee an offer but it was another place I could see myself in the future (and I also applied to their scholarship as well)

Considering that the money will be heavily taxed too--but it's still a lot for me. I know it's a very personal decision because it is related to my finances, but I am wondering what you would choose.

Insane to me that you would turn that 50k just to go to Simpson. Sidley is virtually a peer and if it's bad just lateral to Simpson after a few years.

[Anonymous User]

I gave up 100k to leave STB so take from that what you will. Tech transactions is probably not as bad (and probably useful for a California pivot) but would avoid their funds group like the plague even if it interests you from afar.

Ooh. thought it was their "lifestyle" practice group :/

It's a lifestyle if working is your lifestyle lol I wouldn't overall rate it a pleasant place to work and didn't know anyone who enjoyed their time there.

[Anonymous User]

Also just to note among my STB bashing is that I don't know anything about whether Sidley sucks as well. But once you're in that tier of firms I haven't seen a marginal difference in exit options if your preferred exit is something that has better WLB. If you want to go to STB's higher tier clients, then WLB isn't what you're going to find upon your exit anyways. And firm to firm lateraling amongst those firms is common anyways.

[Anonymous User]

Stuck between two firms. The one that offered a scholarship (F1) expires very soon and the other (F2) expires much later. They aren't peer firms, from what I can gather, but the gap isn't TOO big either, I think. From what I can gather, F1 doesn't really have strong suits in the market that I am looking at but the culture reputation is extremely good. I had weird experiences interviewing with them, however. F2 is where I would choose in a heartbeat if I wasn't offered the scholarship. It has a stellar reputation in my market and I had great experiences interviewing. I prefer the community there, prefer the assignment system, and I think exit options would be better.
I asked F2 to match F1 and they were basically like, "I don't think I can give you an answer by the time F1's offer will expire." Also interviewed with another firm this week that I liked a lot more than I expected--enough to rival F2 for me. Of course, I can't guarantee an offer but it was another place I could see myself in the future (and I also applied to their scholarship as well)

Considering that the money will be heavily taxed too--but it's still a lot for me. I know it's a very personal decision because it is related to my finances, but I am wondering what you would choose.

Insane to me that you would turn that 50k just to go to Simpson. Sidley is virtually a peer and if it's bad just lateral to Simpson after a few years.