Related Posts
What will be in-hand salary pm...?

Busy season continues

Additional Posts in Big Law
How much do partners pay for health insurance?
I gotta stop having sex dreams about partners.
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.




Recently departed Chicago litigator here. No insight into LA. I never worked with anyone from that office, which in hindsight is interesting because I worked with people from most of the other US offices.
In Chicago lit a big proportion of associates are laterals; the majority of third year plus that I knew were laterals. My impression is that on average the laterals were happier than the homegrown associates. The free market system makes it harder to find work though since you don’t have any relationships and I feel like partners are less interested in new midlevels than new juniors. But again we have so many laterals that I’m sure it’s fine.
However the firm hired a ton of people into lit recently, and I had maaany conversations with lit associates about struggling to get work. Also, the firm used to have several huge cases that disappeared (eg 3M earplugs), exacerbating the issue. I really liked KE lit but for that reason would recommend looking elsewhere.
Chicago lit also pushes out laterals ruthlessly. I know of people who got notice of being midyear-review-ed only 3-4 months after joining, although they hadn’t received criticism on their work product and were still trying to ramp up on hours. These were all women too, with very strong credentials. Just about every woman lit lateral I’ve spoken to who came in the last two years told me they weren’t having a good time or were getting pushed off of matters with no explanation or were not able to find good matters. Male laterals do great. They get lots of work immediately and stay busy even when they mess up.
@Kirkland & Ellis 1. That is completely incorrect. The ones I know still there have never been MYR. That only happens when you’re being pushed out. And good for you! Consider that what you’ve observed doesn’t contradict my own. Really insulting to hear that invalidation from a fellow woman out of loyalty to an institution that would replace you in a heartbeat.
Enthusiast
Kirkland is a great option if you love capitulating to fascism like a little baby 👍🏼👍🏼
F