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Anyone got the scoop on what lit hiring looks like at the moment for Chicago, preferably in Biglaw (or solid boutiques)? Currently a mid-level at a lower Am100 firm with decent credentials and experience.

Thanks.

OP here. Just giving this a healthy little bump in case anyone has info.

It is weirdly still extremely dead in Chicago. Seems like the coasts have picked up, but Chicago hasn't.

The firms in Chicago that are the biggest/busiest have somewhat slowly, over time, shifted their engines in the corporate direction, hence the reason this sentiment exists.

This is not true everywhere. Jenner had a big year and actively looks for litigators - that is more their focus and, quite frankly, makes Jenner every bit as attractive for a litigator as Kirkland or Sidley. Mayer Brown has fallen back a bit. Winston, on the litigation side, still quite strong.

There are a lot of boutiques in Chicago that are really strong in the litigation side - perhaps more, per capita, then elsewhere (outside of DC). To name a few:

Barlit Beck (obviously nationally known and a killer)
Riley Safer
Sperling & Slater
Goldman Ishmail
Massey & Gail
Eimer Stahl

These are great firms and actually cater to litigators. The chase for PPP really drove some of the historical major players away from litigation in Chicago, especially as they tried to keep pace with New York firms. Sad to watch because it turned a lot of exceptional lawyers at these firms away.