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• Level: Class of 2022 (advanced to 3rd year)
• Practice: Litigation
• Location: Los Angeles → New York
• Outcome: Top-tier US disputes firm
• Salary: Cravath + full year-end bonus
The engagement began with a short LinkedIn message. Initial conversations showed clear ambition: she wanted a top-tier disputes platform, strong mentorship, and a team she could grow under. Being the only junior litigator in her office, she was keen to explore different platforms to embed her skills, and firm pedigree was non-negotiable.
Early submissions were challenging. Top-tier firms consistently interpreted her as a first-year associate despite responsibilities and tenure closer to mid-level. With time, persistence, and positioning, a leading US disputes practice reviewed her profile. Their initial hesitation mirrored the market — they needed a mid-level. We pushed back. Her advancement to a higher class year was already being formalised, and her workload demonstrated it. Interviews were scheduled, and she impressed from the outset.
As discussions progressed, a new variable came into play: her fiancé was offered a job in New York, and the couple where keen to relocate. Rather than waiting for offer stage, the matter was raised proactively. The firm responded pragmatically — six months in Los Angeles, sitting the New York Bar in July 2026, followed by a move to the New York office.
The offer arrived shortly after, and she accepted.
Recruiter Comments
“She was already operating above her class year, and we needed a firm willing to assess her as she is — not what the market assumed. When relocation entered the picture, addressing it early kept everyone confident. The result is a talented litigator joining a team that will develop her properly.” — Michael McGinnis
