Most prestigious DC based law firms?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former Covington associate here. No idea what it's like to be at A&P, but I'll say that in my five years at Covington, I had a pretty decent quality of life. It might have been the partners I worked with, but really with very few exceptions, the partners were pretty nice, if not a bit more reserved than partners at other firms. I took the generous parental leave twice and did not have to do any work during either period. I rarely left the office after 6 p.m., even if I did some work after the kids went to bed. Weekend work happened but it was not the routine. I never wanted to stay to make partner, so I met my targets but did not go far above them. I used my time there to develop skills and contacts, and I'm now on my second (very good) in-house job. I know for a fact that having Covington on my resume was a huge plus for getting both jobs.

Some law school friends started at the big prestigious NY firms at the same time I started at Covington, and their experiences were VERY different. They really did work past midnight, had partners who yelled, etc. That was something that I just did not experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covington. Let’s be serious

Really depends on the practice area... Covington, Wilmer, A&P, Sidley, W&C all have elite practice groups.

I hear what you’re saying, but we’re not talking about prestigious practice groups. We are talking about what is the most prestigious law firm generally. It’s like saying that Harvard isn’t the most prestigious university in the country because other schools have some departments that are better. Yeah, that may be true, but that doesn’t make the other school as or more prestigious as Harvard generally.

I think, for example, that most law students, if offered a choice, would pick A&P over Covington.

Just out of curiosity, roughly what time period were you at Covington?

Without getting too specific, not that long ago. (I've only had two in-house jobs because we had to move for husband's job).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former Covington associate here. No idea what it's like to be at A&P, but I'll say that in my five years at Covington, I had a pretty decent quality of life. It might have been the partners I worked with, but really with very few exceptions, the partners were pretty nice, if not a bit more reserved than partners at other firms. I took the generous parental leave twice and did not have to do any work during either period. I rarely left the office after 6 p.m., even if I did some work after the kids went to bed. Weekend work happened but it was not the routine. I never wanted to stay to make partner, so I met my targets but did not go far above them. I used my time there to develop skills and contacts, and I'm now on my second (very good) in-house job. I know for a fact that having Covington on my resume was a huge plus for getting both jobs.

Some law school friends started at the big prestigious NY firms at the same time I started at Covington, and their experiences were VERY different. They really did work past midnight, had partners who yelled, etc. That was something that I just did not experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covington. Let’s be serious

Really depends on the practice area... Covington, Wilmer, A&P, Sidley, W&C all have elite practice groups.

I hear what you’re saying, but we’re not talking about prestigious practice groups. We are talking about what is the most prestigious law firm generally. It’s like saying that Harvard isn’t the most prestigious university in the country because other schools have some departments that are better. Yeah, that may be true, but that doesn’t make the other school as or more prestigious as Harvard generally.

I think, for example, that most law students, if offered a choice, would pick A&P over Covington.

Just out of curiosity, roughly what time period were you at Covington?

Without getting too specific, not that long ago. (I've only had two in-house jobs because we had to move for husband's job).

Ok thanks. I’m an alum as well. I was there before you. We didn’t overlap. My experience was similar to yours, so it’s good to hear that things haven’t changed.

[Anonymous]

Baker Hostetler. very prestigious shop.

[Anonymous]

Hootenanny & Purloin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I mean would NOT pick A&P over Covington.

I would tell anyone to take A&P over Cov. Much better QOL for the same exit options.

The old A and P yes, but not in over the past decade - new guard took over.

You mean the Kaye Scholer people?

[Anonymous]

No one is gonna say MoloLamken or Clement and Murphy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is gonna say MoloLamken or Clement and Murphy?

DCUM isn't sophisticated enough to know what those are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is gonna say MoloLamken or Clement and Murphy?

DCUM isn't sophisticated enough to know what those are.

There are lots of niche boutiques. MoloLamken has been around a while and certainly made a splash when they started, and are still very respectable. I'd put them in the same category as Wilkinson Stekloff.

Clement and Murphy looks like a repeat of Bancroft, without Viet Dinh. Maybe they'll sell it again to Kirkland...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is gonna say MoloLamken or Clement and Murphy?

DCUM isn't sophisticated enough to know what those are.

There are lots of niche boutiques. MoloLamken has been around a while and certainly made a splash when they started, and are still very respectable. I'd put them in the same category as Wilkinson Stekloff.

Clement and Murphy looks like a repeat of Bancroft, without Viet Dinh. Maybe they'll sell it again to Kirkland...

I find it weird to put a SCOTUS powerhouse “in the same category” as a trial lawyer boutique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I mean would NOT pick A&P over Covington.

I would tell anyone to take A&P over Cov. Much better QOL for the same exit options.

The old A and P yes, but not in over the past decade - new guard took over.

You mean the Kaye Scholer people?

No, I don’t know much about that merger. Around 2010 or so a new guard became more in charge and did away with many of the conditions that made A and P a good place to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is gonna say MoloLamken or Clement and Murphy?

DCUM isn't sophisticated enough to know what those are.

There are lots of niche boutiques. MoloLamken has been around a while and certainly made a splash when they started, and are still very respectable. I'd put them in the same category as Wilkinson Stekloff.

Clement and Murphy looks like a repeat of Bancroft, without Viet Dinh. Maybe they'll sell it again to Kirkland...

I find it weird to put a SCOTUS powerhouse “in the same category” as a trial lawyer boutique.

Why? MoloLamken and Wilkinson Stekloff are both "trial lawyer" boutiques.

[Anonymous]

Covington lawyers by and large are classy and smart, treat associates well, offer good training, that sort of thing. Generally, compensation may not be as high there as at other firms, which may be part of that overall good culture and lack of ruthlessness. Overall, my experience is that Covington senior attorneys are excellent mentors, highly connected, and will help you find your next job if law firm life isn’t your end-all, be-all. Smart, smart attorneys work there, and a lot of genuinely nice, hard-working people. It’s not a career for someone who isn’t a bit intense, though, regardless of where you land. It’s not the only prestigious firm, but it certainly opens doors better than most. Again, I think that may be in large part because you’re set up for success and accrue enormously helpful professional contacts and skills while working there. It’s a law firm filled with lawyers that other attorneys hold in high regard.

[Anonymous]

^Covington Partner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Covington lawyers by and large are classy and smart, treat associates well, offer good training, that sort of thing. Generally, compensation may not be as high there as at other firms, which may be part of that overall good culture and lack of ruthlessness. Overall, my experience is that Covington senior attorneys are excellent mentors, highly connected, and will help you find your next job if law firm life isn’t your end-all, be-all. Smart, smart attorneys work there, and a lot of genuinely nice, hard-working people. It’s not a career for someone who isn’t a bit intense, though, regardless of where you land. It’s not the only prestigious firm, but it certainly opens doors better than most. Again, I think that may be in large part because you’re set up for success and accrue enormously helpful professional contacts and skills while working there. It’s a law firm filled with lawyers that other attorneys hold in high regard.

What does Covington look for when it hires? When I was interviewing, I never could figure it out and never received an offer. It seemed a bit like a black box.