2L Summer Associate Position Options—What Would You Do? Forum

[flyingeagle]

I'm fortunate to have multiple offers for my 2L SA position. My offers are as follows:

-Debevoise (NYC)
-Sidley Austin (Chicago)
-Fenwick & West (Mountain View)
-Wilson Sonsini (Palo Alto)
-Simpson Thacher (Palo Alto)

I'm from the Midwest but lived in CA during college and before starting law school. These SA positions are for the corporate groups at each of these firms. I'm mainly interested in M&A, investment funds, and tech/startup/ECVC work, but I am trying to keep my mind open.

In researching these firms, Debevoise is probably the strongest overall for M&A and funds work, but it doesn't do any startup/tech/ECVC work. Sidley's Chicago office has a strong corporate practice, focusing on M&A, private equity, capital markets, securities, and fund formation. However, like Debevoise, they're lacking in startup/tech/ECVC work. STB is great at M&A and funds work, but they also don't do any ECVC/startup stuff. One concern I have for STB is that I'd be working in a satellite office, whereas, with each of the other firms, I'd be working in their HQ.

I know that most rising 2L's interests (including mine) can be quite nebulous, so I'm also questioning how much I should value the firms' strengths in these areas vs. considering the overall prestige of the firms in the legal world.

Another thing to note is that both Sidley Austin and Fenwick have offered me 2L scholarships. These scholarships are both $50,000—$25,000 will be disbursed while I'm a 2L associate, and the remaining $25,000 will be disbursed once I start as a full-time associate. Wilson Sonsini told me that they do not have a scholarship program, and I am awaiting word from Debevoise on whether they have one to which I can apply. STB also has a $50,000 2L scholarship that I applied to, but I haven't heard back about whether I received it.

I could see myself living in each of these geographical regions, as I'm from the Midwest, have strong ties to CA, and have been to New York 7-8 times and loved my visits each time I've gone. For those of you who know much about the offices for each of these firms, I'd love to hear what you'd do if you were in my shoes!

[Anonymous User]

Sidley, easily.

[nealric]

I'd decide primarily based on location, the personalities involved, and the scholarship offers (probably in that order).

Objectively, Sidley probably makes the most sense as a HQ office in a lower COL city than NYC or Silicon Valley.