1. BIGGER MAY NOT BE BETTER Why You Owe it to Yourself to Take a Good Look at Mid-size Law Firms

2. Commonly Heard about BigLaw Practice Im going to get more money at BigLaw Im going to get more money at BigLaw BigLaws got a better reputation. My careers set if Ive got BigLaw on my CV BigLaws got a better reputation. My careers set if Ive got BigLaw on my CV BigLaws got the most exciting and interesting cases, and Im going to be a part of that! BigLaws got the most exciting and interesting cases, and Im going to be a part of that! BigLaw cares about my career and about me. If I serve enough time at BigLaw, Ill be partner in x number of years BigLaw cares about my career and about me. If I serve enough time at BigLaw, Ill be partner in x number of years My working environment would be better at Big Law. My working environment would be better at Big Law. Im going to get better training at BigLaw Im going to get better training at BigLaw

3. Realities of BigLaw Practice Purely profit-driven culture: values whats directly tied to profits, such as billable hours, rainmaking, and premium billing. Purely profit-driven culture: values whats directly tied to profits, such as billable hours, rainmaking, and premium billing. Associates, often seen as profit centres suffer inhuman hours with little job security. Associates, often seen as profit centres suffer inhuman hours with little job security. Office politics (working right for the right partner) often derail career progression Office politics (working right for the right partner) often derail career progression Minimal contact with Partners Minimal contact with Partners Minor role and responsibility in big cases: Most favoured bag carrier, research assistant, page finder. Minor role and responsibility in big cases: Most favoured bag carrier, research assistant, page finder. Minimal Training for First Chair opportunities in litigation as a young associate. Minimal Training for First Chair opportunities in litigation as a young associate. At the bottom of BigLaw Food Chain, 90% of your time is spent on compartmentalised institutional work like debt collection and insolvency. At the bottom of BigLaw Food Chain, 90% of your time is spent on compartmentalised institutional work like debt collection and insolvency. Pupillage experience not focused Pupillage experience not focused

4. The Mid-Size Law Firm Balance large firm resources with smaller firms meritocracy

5. I WANT TO BE A LITIGATOR Question: Does size matter? Answer: Not if you can have the best of both worlds.

6. WHAT CAN I GET FROM A MID-SIZE LITIGATION FIRM THAT I WONT FIND AT BIGLAW? 1. Better Salary and allowances (yes, its TRUE!): Salaries and perks at Big Law consistently matched or bettered by quality Mid-size firms. Salaries and perks at Big Law consistently matched or bettered by quality Mid-size firms. No Corporate Dept, no favouritism. No Corporate Dept, no favouritism. bottom line recognition of efforts and performance. bottom line recognition of efforts and performance. Strict no exploit policy for pupilages, recognises pupils need for independence and acknowledges that pupils have to make ends meet amidst escalating cost of living. Strict no exploit policy for pupilages, recognises pupils need for independence and acknowledges that pupils have to make ends meet amidst escalating cost of living.

7. WHAT CAN I GET FROM A MID-SIZE LITIGATION FIRM THAT I WONT FIND AT BIGLAW? (Continued) 2. Practical Training & One-on-One Mentoring: There is only so much you can learn from books and seminars. There is only so much you can learn from books and seminars. Breadth and depth of training is key. Breadth and depth of training is key. Best way to learn: to observe AND be observed by experienced litigators. Best way to learn: to observe AND be observed by experienced litigators. Open communication and feedback crucial Open communication and feedback crucial Early and continuous training and guidance: internships and attachments from penultimate year at Law School. Early and continuous training and guidance: internships and attachments from penultimate year at Law School.

8. WHAT CAN I GET FROM A MID-SIZE LITIGATION FIRM THAT I WONT FIND AT BIGLAW? (Contd) 3. Regular exposure to wider range of quality work AND a more significant role in it. Litigation across a broad spectrum, not just institutional work Litigation across a broad spectrum, not just institutional work Hands-On experience: new lawyers and pupils have more substantive legal tasks with less micro-management. Hands-On experience: new lawyers and pupils have more substantive legal tasks with less micro-management.

9. WHAT CAN I GET FROM A MID-SIZE LITIGATION FIRM THAT I WONT FIND AT BIGLAW? (Contd) 4. Healthy Work/ Life Balance Yes, its possible to have a 4.5 day week! Yes, its possible to have a 4.5 day week! FINALLY, to be treated like a responsible adult who has a life! FINALLY, to be treated like a responsible adult who has a life!

10. WHAT CAN I GET FROM A MID-SIZE LITIGATION FIRM THAT I WONT FIND AT BIGLAW? (Contd) 5. Better Work Environment Resources: substantive library, spacious modern well- planned office, support staff, infrastructure, communications tools, support staff. Resources: substantive library, spacious modern well- planned office, support staff, infrastructure, communications tools, support staff. More open and direct channels of communication. More open and direct channels of communication. Like-minded colleagues: same values, same priorities. Like-minded colleagues: same values, same priorities. Less rigid, more relaxed atmosphere. Less rigid, more relaxed atmosphere. Location,location, location: minutes from Court Complex, no more crazy commutes and inner city traffic. Location,location, location: minutes from Court Complex, no more crazy commutes and inner city traffic.

11. WHAT CAN I GET FROM A MID-SIZE LITIGATION FIRM THAT I WONT FIND AT BIGLAW? (Contd) 6. Clearer and more definite Career Progression Less in-house competition Less in-house competition Abbreviated partnership track Abbreviated partnership track Offer rate: >90%. Offer rate: >90%. Fewer Lay-offs Fewer Lay-offs No Politics. No Guesswork. No Bull. No Politics. No Guesswork. No Bull.

12. WHAT CAN I GET FROM A MID-SIZE LITIGATION FIRM THAT I WONT FIND AT BIGLAW? (Contd) 7. Significant Client Contact: new associates operate with greater autonomy new associates operate with greater autonomy meaningful client contact in large firms reserved for more senior lawyers. meaningful client contact in large firms reserved for more senior lawyers.

13. AMERICAN LAWYER: Associates Survey 2009: Results by Size - Am Law 100 and Global 100 Firms Smaller firms often outscore larger ones in annual survey of midlevel job satisfaction. Smaller firms often outscore larger ones in annual survey of midlevel job satisfaction. It may be because a more intimate atmosphere breeds happiness. It may be because a more intimate atmosphere breeds happiness. Maybe it's because associates have more responsibility. Maybe it's because associates have more responsibility. Perhaps it's because they have a quicker and better chance of making partner. Perhaps it's because they have a quicker and better chance of making partner.

14. Economic Downturn: The Rise of the Midsize Law Firm The 100 biggest firms, ranked by revenue, saw per- lawyer revenue declines of 1.2% in 2008, according to The American Lawyer magazine and website. The 100 biggest firms, ranked by revenue, saw per- lawyer revenue declines of 1.2% in 2008, according to The American Lawyer magazine and website. But the so-called Second Hundred firms didnt see a decline, and regional firms and those outside the biggest financial centers even saw a slight increase in revenue But the so-called Second Hundred firms didnt see a decline, and regional firms and those outside the biggest financial centers even saw a slight increase in revenue Many of the firms that seem to be doing well have a lower ratio of associates to partners than is typical in the biggest firms. Many of the firms that seem to be doing well have a lower ratio of associates to partners than is typical in the biggest firms. A strong litigation practice, tends to hold up in down economies. A strong litigation practice, tends to hold up in down economies.

15. Pendulum Swings in Favour of Mid-size Law Firms In 2008 small and midsize firms increased their presence on corporate short lists from 24.5% up to 38.2%. This is a staggering change! said Michael Rynowecer of The BTI Consulting Group in Boston, reporting on new research in BTI Premium Practices Forecast 2009: Survey of Corporate Legal Spending.BTI Premium Practices Forecast 2009: Survey of Corporate Legal Spending For General Counsel to bring one firm in is really quite easy; there is no shortage of law firms marketing to them or venues to meet law firms. But the big change is in the GCs mindset: the corporate counsel we surveyed said, I will open my pocket book to hiring small and mid-sized firms. Larry Bodine

16. Economic Downturn: Hell for Big Law Firms A drop in net income as clients cut costs and look to smaller firms with lower rates, more regular face time and better accountability. A drop in net income as clients cut costs and look to smaller firms with lower rates, more regular face time and better accountability. Inability to raise rates. Inability to raise rates. Layoffs. Layoffs. Salary freezes. Salary freezes. Cost cutting. Cost cutting. Heavier fee discounting. Heavier fee discounting. Partners refusing to take a hit in their slice of the pie Partners refusing to take a hit in their slice of the pie Expenses rising faster than revenues. Expenses rising faster than revenues.