Top Law Schools

Anyone have any intel on this firm? Do they pay market? Are clerkships a must?

According to a fairly recent firm announcement, 4 of the new 5 attorneys served as federal law clerks and the 5th has stellar credentials.

Don't know about pay, but they are attracting experienced attorneys from major law firms like Covington.

Very small white-collar specialist firm. It is definitely a notch below the prestigious boutiques, but it is a solid alternative to big law.

It's Chambers Band 1 and the #1 firm for producing SDNY AUSAs right now or thereabouts despite its small size, it's very hot. I think the prior poster is understating it a bit, it's a 13-lawyer firm that put 7 associates in the USAO in the last year or two, plus the Deputy U.S. Attorney (which is part of why it hired so many this year). Federal clerkship virtually required, and many also come in with government connections through internships, pre-law school jobs, etc. I think it starts at market but likely is compressed.

Disagree about the above. I have multiple friends that have gotten an offer and while a federal clerkship is preferred, it is not required. I do not believe anyone from there has joined SDNY this year (the deputy USA just became so), though agree there are several over the last few years. I would put it on par with Morvillo, Lankler, Levine, but definitely solidly below the prestigious DC/NY boutiques: Molo, Susman, Kellogg, etc.

Comparing firms like this one or Morvillo to firms like Susman and Kellogg is a category mistake, it's an entirely different type of firm and practice that hires from a different pool of people. I assumed by "prestigious boutiques" you meant top individual white-collar defense boutiques like Morvillo, Zuckerman, etc., of which Krieger Kim is definitely one at this point. But yes it's going to be somewhat less credential-sensitive and certainly lower-paying than a Susman or Kellogg.