HELP - Which firm to accept offer from?

I would really like to know some opinions.

I have an offer from Allen Overy and from Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton's London office. I know that of the Magic circle I would prefer A&O, so I cancelled my interviews with Freshfields, Linklaters, etc. However Cleary poses an entirely different offer. Indeed the pay is about 35k starting, with about 45k in the second year, and then 75-80k on Q. Also there are only 4 trainees from 1100 applications so there will be real responsibility, and the firm is in the top 5 or 6 in the US in terms of profits per partner.

I am finding it impossible to decide, so any help would be greatly welcomed!

Thanks

u finished ur llb and applying for a training contract?

Im currently doing a masters in law

In what may I ask? j/w

Never actually heard of clearys but sounds exciting and decent prosepects for US work/ travel too. Although I have heard that US firms like to get their moneys worth, if you know what I mean !

In the process of interviews, etc myself at present but generally avoided magic circle (except Slaughters), on basis that in larger intakes the training could be impersonal and you can be thought of more as a commodity. Although I'm sure A&O are very good. Actually I had a mate who was supposed to be on the vac scheme but pulled out because he knew he was getting an offer from eversheds, so i don't know of anyone whose actually been. Were you on the vac scheme?

Very well done! My experience is limited, but personally I'd go for Cleary. You will be given more responsibility in the early stages: you will be meeting clients opposed to being chained to a photocopier. The pay is also better.

I hear US firms demand more hours from you, but rumour has it that the MC is hardly any different. While at the MC the hours improve after qualification, I hear that in US firms this is not the case.

While your partnership prospects at Cleary may be limited to none, I wouldn't factor this into your decision. Having Cleary on your CV will mean that you will just have to smile politely at any future job interview and you're in. My advice would be to do your TC at Cleary and go from there. You'll stand out against the clone-army of MC NQs, and, in my opinion, be far more valuable on the job market.

Of course, I can't help you with aspects of your decision like whether you'll enjoy the atmosphere at one place over the other, but Cleary would certainly be my choice from a career perspective.

I'm wondering, what is your CV like? I'm just interested as to what made you stand out amongst 1200 other applicants!

Thats what Im worried about - will I be marketable in the UK if I go for Cleary? Obviously with MC, AO training you have had some serious resources pumped into you. Of course as they say - no teacher like experience, but what will employers think? Additionally, will the name ring enough bells in the UK? Im sure that it will with the people who matter, but you never know!

As to partnership prospects - I was under the impression they werent that bad at Cleary... Indeed, there are a number of UK partners there, and the firm has only been invovled with UK law for 7 years now.... so they aim to grow the UK practice.

As to my application, GOD KNOWS! I came 2nd or third overall in my LLB at KCL, got awarded about 4 subject prizes, and am at Christ Church Oxford doing the BCL. I also used to run my own web business when I was 14 - 18. If anyone wants to see the CV they are more than welcome!

I've never heard of Cleary - is it in the same league as Lovells?

Well done on receiving those TC offers though, you're obviously a very talented individual.

You did well then. I expect it also must have been your performance in interview that clinched it! I'm applying for vacation schemes at the moment (as I said earlier - my experience so far is limited!), so if you have any good interview techniques I'd appreciate it a lot.

Anyway, all the best.