Diff. between DC and NYC Legal Market Forum

[PLATONiC]

Both markets are very big, but I read from somewhere that the nature of the work at these two markets tend to differ. Whereas the DC market provides legal work with regulatory undertones, the NYC market is a little more corporate in nature. Please correct me if I'm wrong with this observation.

1. Are there much more work opportunities in litigation at DC than NY?
2. Is it true that it's harder to find high-stakes corporate transaction cases in DC (in comparison to NYC)?
3. How do the differences in the type of work that the legal community of these two markets affect the general atmosphere? This is vague, I know:D

And lastly,
What is the best school for placing into DC? More specifically, is GULC just as good as CCN/MVP?

[Pearalegal]

What is the best school for placing into DC? More specifically, is GULC just as good as CCN/MVP?

Oh my god, jesus christ no.

[PLATONiC]

What is the best school for placing into DC? More specifically, is GULC just as good as CCN/MVP?

Oh my god, jesus christ no.

Then what exactly is GULC good for???

[Pearalegal]

What is the best school for placing into DC? More specifically, is GULC just as good as CCN/MVP?

Oh my god, jesus christ no.

Then what exactly is GULC good for???

The same thing as Cornell in New York.

[Tautology]

What is the best school for placing into DC? More specifically, is GULC just as good as CCN/MVP?

Oh my god, jesus christ no.

Then what exactly is GULC good for???

Keepin' the riff-raff out of the T14

[PLATONiC]

So a person as a significantly better chance at DC employment at UVA than in GULC? I was assuming that GULC's large class sizes would help a lot in terms of employment (+ class size = + alumni base).

[Pearalegal]

So a person as a significantly better chance at DC employment at UVA than in GULC? I was assuming that GULC's large class sizes would help a lot in terms of employment (+ class size = + alumni base).

You're making a lot of huge generalizations here, without making an attempt to specifying tiers of employment.

From my own experience I would say your statement is dead-on for the more elite firms, but can't speak to the rest of DC.

[RPK34]

Biggest recruits from top DC firms:

Jones Day: UVA
Wilmer: UVA/NYU/BC
Hogan and Hartson: GW
Akin: UVA

And GULC blows all of them out of the water in terms of total grads.

[hithere]

Dude, GULC is super well-respected in DC. You should have no problems getting a job in DC coming out of there. The other two schools that seem to do well in DC are UVA and Duke (for t-14s).

[Pearalegal]

Dude, GULC is super well-respected in DC. You should have no problems getting a job in DC coming out of there. The other two schools that seem to do well in DC are UVA and Duke (for t-14s).

GULC is well-respected, but at the most elite, big firms...its still HYS and UVA as the tops. The other T-14s, and to an extent, T-20s have a vague leg up on GULC.

I'm sure someone is about to argue with me, and I'm happy to do so, but only from what I know after working in the top 5 firms in DC, nothing else.

[thatsnotmyname]

Dude, GULC is super well-respected in DC. You should have no problems getting a job in DC coming out of there. The other two schools that seem to do well in DC are UVA and Duke (for t-14s).

GULC is well-respected, but at the most elite, big firms...its still HYS and UVA as the tops. The other T-14s, and to an extent, T-20s have a vague leg up on GULC.

I'm sure someone is about to argue with me, and I'm happy to do so, but only from what I know after working in the top 5 firms in DC, nothing else.

How much of it could you attribute to people self-selecting out of DC, though? It seems odd that GULC would get out placed in its home market by lower ranked schools. I've read on these boards before that certain DC firms reserve associate spots for grauating GULC grades each year. I don't know which firms, though I'd be intrigued to find out if someone knows...

[PLATONiC]

So a person as a significantly better chance at DC employment at UVA than in GULC? I was assuming that GULC's large class sizes would help a lot in terms of employment (+ class size = + alumni base).

You're making a lot of huge generalizations here, without making an attempt to specifying tiers of employment.

From my own experience I would say your statement is dead-on for the more elite firms, but can't speak to the rest of DC.

That's nice to hear:D I'm not interested in the super elite firms, but am interested in biglaw. Hoping for the NLJ 250 firms that pay market or just slightly lower than market.

[underdawg]

Dude, GULC is super well-respected in DC. You should have no problems getting a job in DC coming out of there. The other two schools that seem to do well in DC are UVA and Duke (for t-14s).

GULC is well-respected, but at the most elite, big firms...its still HYS and UVA as the tops. The other T-14s, and to an extent, T-20s have a vague leg up on GULC.

I'm sure someone is about to argue with me, and I'm happy to do so, but only from what I know after working in the top 5 firms in DC, nothing else.

How much of it could you attribute to people self-selecting out of DC, though? It seems odd that GULC would get out placed in its home market by lower ranked schools. I've read on these boards before that certain DC firms reserve associate spots for grauating GULC grades each year. I don't know which firms, though I'd be intrigued to find out if someone knows...

how could she possibly know that? how can anyone possibly know that? at least without having a ton of career services data?

[thatsnotmyname]

Dude, GULC is super well-respected in DC. You should have no problems getting a job in DC coming out of there. The other two schools that seem to do well in DC are UVA and Duke (for t-14s).

GULC is well-respected, but at the most elite, big firms...its still HYS and UVA as the tops. The other T-14s, and to an extent, T-20s have a vague leg up on GULC.

I'm sure someone is about to argue with me, and I'm happy to do so, but only from what I know after working in the top 5 firms in DC, nothing else.

How much of it could you attribute to people self-selecting out of DC, though? It seems odd that GULC would get out placed in its home market by lower ranked schools. I've read on these boards before that certain DC firms reserve associate spots for grauating GULC grades each year. I don't know which firms, though I'd be intrigued to find out if someone knows...

how could she possibly know that? how can anyone possibly know that? at least without having a ton of career services data?

I wasn't specifically asking her for a list. Just if anyone knows any firms that do. I recall reading that on here, so that means that someone on these forums must know at least one firm that reserves positions for GULC grads. Any information from anyone is helpful. I wasn't asking for a comprehensive list from anyone.

[shmoo597]

Dude, GULC is super well-respected in DC. You should have no problems getting a job in DC coming out of there. The other two schools that seem to do well in DC are UVA and Duke (for t-14s).

GULC is well-respected, but at the most elite, big firms...its still HYS and UVA as the tops. The other T-14s, and to an extent, T-20s have a vague leg up on GULC.

I'm sure someone is about to argue with me, and I'm happy to do so, but only from what I know after working in the top 5 firms in DC, nothing else.

Honestly, what T15-T20 places better in DC then GULC? This seems absurd/impossible to me.

[TTT-LS]

.

[PLATONiC]

ITT, TLS posters ignore OP's central question and instead, per usual, launch into thinly substantiated school rankings wars.

As for the actual point of this thread, a few thoughts:

1. Numerically, yes, there are more attorneys doing lit in NYC than DC--though that may be largely a function of the fact that NYC's legal market is just larger than DC's. On a per capita basis, I imagine that there are probably more litigators in DC than NYC, due to the fact that most regulatory work has at least some lit aspect to it (e.g., APA challenges in court, administrative litigations, rulemakings, etc.) and the fact that so many NYC attorneys work on corporate matters.

2. Yes, although there is more corporate work in DC than most people think.

3. The hours in DC are lower, but the difference isn't huge. The DC legal market revolves more around what goes on in Congress & the agencies, whereas NYC revolves around the finance world. The cultures of the legal communities reflect these facts. If you have more specifc cultural questions, people here could probably provide more info (as we've got several posters who have worked as SAs or paralegals in NYC biglaw, and several DC SAs/paralegals plus at least one junior associate).

Wow, thank you for answering my questions:D I'm curious, though, as to how the cultures differ. Any insights would be much appreciated:D

[Anonymous User]

DC firms are noticeably more grade focused than NYC firms. This is true even if you are at Harvard.

Many of the small public interest boutiques and organizations are also incredibly elitist, and care a lot about grades/school/federal clerkships, etc.

A lot of top school types want to work in DC, so employers can be as picky as they want. You'll most likely have an easier time finding a job in just about any other major market than you will in DC, coming from any t14.

[A'nold]

I feel like I am high reading this thread right now. It's as trippy as a Pink Floyd laser light show on shrooms (not that I'd know).

[Renzo]

I feel like I am high reading this thread right now. It's as trippy as a Pink Floyd laser light show on shrooms (not that I'd know).

Pink Floyd is awful, and a waste of good shrooms. Not that I'd know.

[soundgardener]

I feel like I am high reading this thread right now. It's as trippy as a Pink Floyd laser light show on shrooms (not that I'd know).

Pink Floyd is awful, and a waste of good shrooms. Not that I'd know.

WTF?!?!? David Gilmour is a god!

[Renzo]

I feel like I am high reading this thread right now. It's as trippy as a Pink Floyd laser light show on shrooms (not that I'd know).

Pink Floyd is awful, and a waste of good shrooms. Not that I'd know.

WTF?!?!? David Gilmour is a god!

Over- rated. Waaaaaaaaayy overrated.

[jnorsky]

pink floyd is overrated? first ive heard of this. Pretty sure they have their niche and are the best of that niche. And yes, if you are listening to pink floyd, you are wasting your trip haha

[Renzo]

pink floyd is overrated? first ive heard of this. Pretty sure they have their niche and are the best of that niche. And yes, if you are listening to pink floyd, you are wasting your trip haha

Maybe.. But that's one tiny, useless niche.

[PLATONiC]

I'm very curious, though, how likely it is for a senior associate, or even a mid-level associate, to get court-room experience in a litigation team.

Considering all of the regulatory work being done in DC, would it be fair to say that one has a better chance at stepping into a courtroom before reaching partner in DC than in NYC?