no-brainer. Work life balance between Bay Area and big SLC firms is not comparable. Most people who are okay with that trade off probably started out in a big market in the first place. 2300 hours a year to keep your job, and even then slim chance of making partner at KE in SLC. Compare that with 1800-1850 billable hours and a more realistic partnership path where you have control over your life and make comparable money to a big law associate who has no shot at partner and will probably be pushed out after year 8.

Also, I’ve found that big law firms try to play games with “class year”. Recruiters try to pull you in with how much a “fifth-year” attorney makes on the Cravath scale, only to find out the firm considers you a “second-year” because you don’t have big law experience. Obviously you can work your way up, but see the above…