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Featured Survey Results: Have Resume, Will Travel.

In last week's ATL / Lateral Link surveys, we asked you whether you would want to work in a different city, whether, knowing what you know now, you would still want to work where you do, and where, if you could go to any other firm, you would choose to go.

We received 1,189 responses to last Monday's survey on whether you would want to work in a different city. A whopping 88% of respondents said they would consider moving to a new city to practice. Sixty-eight percent cited a better lifestyle as a reason to move, while 45% would move for more money. Thirty-eight percent of respondents would move for a better practice, and 35% would be willing to move to be closer to friends or family. Only thirteen or fourteen percent, however, would move to be closer to a spouse or significant other, suggesting that most respondents are either single or willing to be.

Responses: Would you consider moving to a new city to practice?

would you move.jpg

Where would you go? The Bay Area was the most popular destination, chosen by twelve percent of respondents. Another nine percent chose London. Eight percent would move to either the Pacific Northwest or Washington, DC. Six percent chose LA, Texas or Chicago. Five percent chose Boston, New York or Atlanta. Less than four percent would move to Paris, Hong Kong or Dubai to practice, and only a handful would consider Tokyo, Beijing, Moscow, or Frankfurt. Quite a few people wrote in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Denver, Miami, and San Diego as their preferred destinations, putting them in about the same range as Tokyo.

Can you get there without updating your resume? Maybe not. Only a third of respondents thought their current firm would allow them to change offices. A quarter said no, and the rest weren't sure.

Our ATL / Lateral Link surveys about whether, knowing what you know now, you would still want to work where you do, and where, if you could go to any other firm, you would choose to go are both still open, but you can sneak a peek at the results so far after the jump.

So far, Latham & Watkins is pwning the competition, with 100% of respondents working there saying they'd still make the same choice, and attorneys elsewhere making them the second most popular response to "which firm would you most want to work for?"

When asked why they would want to work at Latham, respondents are giving reasons like "Prestige", "Friends there are happy", "Awesome firm, awesome people", "They rock", "Prestige, substantive work, great litigation practice", and "Top notch clients and matters; kick ass bonuses; selective hiring in a good way (need good grades plus a good; personality); Vault top 10 without the stuffiness of originating on the east coast; good growth but no risk of Brobecking (great management + tons of funds).....should I go on?"

Or, as one respondent summed it up: "ass kickers."

Only Wachtell was a more coveted place to work, but the rationales were a bit more narrow: "100% bonus", "money", "it's all about the cash", "I want the compensation!", "money honey" and, oh yeah, did I mention? "CASH." In fairness, a couple people also cited prestige. Honestly, though, does nobody want to go to Wachtell simply because David Lat worked there? I hear they have a decent practice, too.

Kirkland & Ellis, Debevoise, Davis Polk, and Skadden are also doing quite well in the surveys. But since both surveys are still open, there's room for someone else to top the bunch.

In the meantime, please keep those tips coming for our clerkship, maternity leave, and paternity leave charts. I updated the clerkship chart last night to reflect new info on Covington, Ropes & Gray, and Jones Day.

Comments
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Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 1:32 PM

BINGO!

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Posted by anon | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 1:42 PM

oh seasoned lawyers, advise a youngun'...

with the real estate market in the shits, a decent condo with low assessments can be bought in Chicago for 3 to 4 big ones, a mere 20 minutes from downtown on the train.

Real property is out of reach for an unendowed peon in less shitty cities. Is this tax break worth it? Will I be able to get the fuck out to a better locale after 4 years here, tax benefits and some equity?

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Posted by Anon | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 2:05 PM

But how many people would move if they had to take another state's bar exam? I suspect not too many.

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Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 2:07 PM

"Only thirteen or fourteen percent, however, would move to be closer to a spouse or significant other, suggesting that most respondents are either single or willing to be."

Or the attorneys who have spouses or significant others already live with them and would not need to move to be closer.

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Posted by gaga | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 2:08 PM

I'm thinking of moving to NYC and CA and the issue of having to take the NY Bar Exam is huge. It really makes a difference. I still will probably do it but I wish I could just waive in.

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Posted by Barred in multiple jurisdictions | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 2:16 PM

2:08 - Good reason to take more than one bar exam your first few rounds right out of law school. Easier to study now than in 10 years.

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Posted by PA, NJ, NY | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 2:26 PM

2:08: Once you've already taken another state's bar, NY doesn't seem that bad. Really.

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Posted by gaga | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 3:01 PM

2:26- yeah that is what I'm hoping. I've been practicing now for almost three years as a litigator so some civ pro, evidence, con law, torts, PR, and contract issues should be easier. It still sucks having to take it again. Also, I noticed that first time takers from ABA schools have a 87% pass rate in NY, versus 74% in CA, so it seems like an easier exam. Two days instead of three is also good. And not having the performance portion of the exam count so much is sweet too.

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Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 3:05 PM

Can ATL post a cheat sheet on state-to-state bar reciprocity?

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Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 3:12 PM

I agree w/ 2:26! It's like re-learning how to ride a bike.

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Posted by to 1:42 | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 3:18 PM

priority #1 for you is, figure out where you want to live. Most people do NOT end up moving out of the area where they set up shop, more than once or twice. Four years from now you will probably be married or having kids or both. It would be very rare for someone with a lot of legal experience to move across the country and do anything but start at the bottom. Even at a big firm with multiple offices, you would be losing local contacts among clients, other counsel, and judges if you're a litigator.

If NY or California are too expensive then consider Chicago or some other city as a compromise; it's just a personal thing about where you want to live.

Since moving is such a big risk and so expensive, you are better taking the gamble on the big city right out of school when you are young; if it doesn't work out you will be in the position of moving to a less-expensive city, and have taken your shot. That makes more sense than starting out somewhere you know you DON'T want to be, and pining away wondering what it would be like to try; because in reality, once you settle you are unlikely to ever make the big move there.

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Posted by anon | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 4:00 PM

Very nice graphic.

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Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 4:09 PM

What if you have a JD/MBA from UPENN State Law and Warden? Are there lateral opportunities in a big city like St. Louis?

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Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 4:11 PM

i agree with 3:05

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Posted by Wash U Grad | Permalink Monday, March 17, 2008 4:52 PM

Saint Louis does not equal big city.

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Posted by London U.S. Associate | Permalink Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:25 AM

Ah, the beauty of being in DC right out of law school. You already have another state you're qualified in, should you want to move....unless you took the easy (i.e. MD or VA) road.

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