GDC DC, PW DC, Williams, or MTO LA for Culture & Substantive Lit. Experience? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have offers for 2/4 of these and callbacks for the other two. I want to get as much substantive early career experience as a litigator as possible at a firm. I also want to work in a friendly environment that's ideally not a total sweatshop. Maybe too much to ask? WWYD?

[The Lsat Airbender]

I have offers for 2/4 of these and callbacks for the other two. I want to get as much substantive early career experience as a litigator as possible at a firm. I also want to work in a friendly environment that's ideally not a total sweatshop. Maybe too much to ask? WWYD?

Idk about "too much to ask", but you do realize that the above-bolded criteria are rather contradictory, right?

Personally, if I had to choose I'd rather live in LA than DC but among the DC choices W&C deserves its rep assuming you align with their practice-area foci.

[Anonymous User]

As an extremely rough heuristic, if you're more interested in trial work, go to W&C or MTO and pick based on what city you'd like to be in. (If you're open to San Francisco, I'd also consider Keker). If you want to primarily do appeals, and think you have a shot of landing in the appellate group, go to GDC or PW and pick based on fit. I think you are somewhat less likely to see trial work at GDC or PW, so if that's your focus, pick one of the boutiques.

But any of these options would be great; I know folks at each of these firms who are very happy, and they all have great reputations. It mostly comes down to location and practice area fit. W&C and MTO will work you harder than the other two, although not as much as a place like Kellogg or Wachtell.

[Anonymous User]

I'd be surprised if anywhere could outright beat MTO LA for culture, if it's the kind of place for you. Of the DC firms, I've heard somewhat negative things about Williams' culture, but it might be the least risky place to get early experience—the other two would be great options, but may be higher variance in the types of opportunities you get. And I think you can work at MTO without it being a sweatshop, but I've spoken to people who left because the particular team they were on did not allow for that. Probably the same story elsewhere, though.

Agree with the above anon re: appellate vs. trial.

[Anonymous User]

Making a similar decision (excluding MTO since I'm only targeting DC) - feel free to DM I'm having a tough time deciding which of GDC DC, PW DC, and W&C (pending offer, completed callback) would be the best fit but have gotten a lot of great insight into the pros and cons of each over the past several weeks.