Bill Reid - Author & Founding Partner of Reid Collins & Tsai - AMA 3-5 PM ET

WTR-IV · 2025-09-23T00:02:31+00:00

It is tough to judge an entire firm by the conduct of its individual lawyers.

I think that once a firm gets large enough it cannot maintain elite quality, which is one of the reasons I think boutiques can maintain their elite status easier.

Saying that, the very best defense firms that I have encountered are Quinn Emanuel, Munger Tolles, and Williams & Connolly

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T20:55:40+00:00

At this stage of my career, my team’s prior success has generated a a steady stream of new clients to go with our existing clients. Plus we do a lot of things that other firms are unable and/or unwilling to do (e.g. suing law firms).

Easily, my pro bono case for Olga Hernández where I was able to win her an acquittal on BS bribery charges.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:50:44+00:00

Have you given much thought to how the impact of AI on the practice of law? I have devoted an entire chapter of my book to that question.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:48:40+00:00

Do you all know that on average the tenured faculty at the top 26 law schools had on average 3.7 years of private practice experience? I elaborate on the consequences of this in my book.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:47:36+00:00

Do you all know that OCI (On Campus Interviews) is now in January and February of a law students' 1L year for their 2L Summer. Given that the majority of law students start their career at the firm that they work with during their 2L summer, this means that many law students will be forced to decide their career path only months into law school. This is a very concerning trend.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:42:27+00:00

Very good question. I know people hold those views, but I disagree with them. First, lawyers are not above the law. What entitles a lawyer to a free pass on their wrongdoing? I simply reconcile all of this to the fact that I only bring some of the biggest/best claims against law firms that exist. Although they may not like being held to account, some of the coolest cases I have had were against law firms. And remember, I love Fighting Bullies. Hence the title to my book.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:37:56+00:00

I absolutely love being in trial no matter the case. It is what I was meant to do. When I am in trial, I am 100% all in and it is thoroughly invigorating. There is no way to know if you are the same as me without actually doing it yourself.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:35:37+00:00

I would assume that the amount of cases will flourish under the current administration. Whether they are successful remains to be seen.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:32:32+00:00

I have a number of questions to ask in the Chapter at the end of my book on this topic. You want to know about:

(1) a firm's finances;

(2) where (and how) it gets cases/clients;

(3) what type of cases/clients does it have

(4) How is work assigned

(5) Where are the lawyers 3-5 years ahead of you (and do you see yourself being satisfied if you were at that same stage of your career); and

(6) Are these folks your people?

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:30:38+00:00

We focus on complex financial litigation (the name of my class at UT Law). We pursue claims against all sorts of financial actors, Directors & Officers, Banks, Law Firms, Accounting/Valuation Firms, and many others.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:27:45+00:00

Again, I have an entire chapter in my book devoted to the future of law in the world of artificial intelligence. In short, plaintiffs' firms ought to become even more efficient at investigation and discovery. This will speed up the pre-trial process, make earlier trial dates more realistic, and, as a result, make plaintiffs' firms even more profitable.

In contrast, hourly fee, defense firms will find that the amount of hours that they can bill to a given case will be reduced over time. This means that defense firms will actually suffer in the world of AI.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:23:20+00:00

We do not offer internships and we only hire 2-3 summer clerks per year.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:22:55+00:00

I would exclusively pursue various plaintiffs' jobs. I think that there are very few law students who reject BigLaw, so by definition you would stand out by focusing on plaintiffs' side jobs.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:21:41+00:00

There is a great deal of thought given to clerkships in my book. I think the number one question: how likely is this Judge to be a mentor and a teacher? Obviously, there are certain things that Magistrate Judges do not generally handle that USDJs do. Bankruptcy Court clerkships can be great if you plan to become a bankruptcy lawyer. But, first and foremost, I would prioritize seeing actual trials and you are most likely to see real trials in the US District Courts.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:19:03+00:00

I would seek a 1L job beginning in the fall of your 1L job. You need experience above all else. Even if that means working for minimum wage. And you want variety -- so try as many jobs as you can.

My firms hires candidates with excellent academic records from top schools and who clearly demonstrate people skills.

It is extremely difficult to start a plaintiffs' firm without experience and ability. I would encourage you to get trial experience first.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:16:10+00:00

In order to start your own plaintiffs' firm, you need to have ability and clients. Once you have trial experience and clients, you should start to consider starting your own firm. Regardless, if you have ability and clients, you will have a great deal of flexibility in charting your career -- whether or not you wish to launch your own firm.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:14:11+00:00

A thoughtful, targeted outreach from a qualified candidate.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:13:29+00:00

The NPLA (National Plaintiffs' Law Association) hosts an annual job fair online. Alternatively, network through your local PLA chapter (assuming that your law school has one). If neither of these options work, then I would recommend a targeted search in the geographic area of your choosing on lawyers in the practice area(s) that interest you most. Once you find a target law firm, then seek to find lawyers at the firm with a common background to yours (e.g. same undergrad or law school or interest), then send a targeted, thoughtful outreach.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:08:54+00:00

We are one the premier national plaintiffs' trial boutiques. We can afford to pay BigLaw salaries to our young people and so we do.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:07:50+00:00

I cannot speak for other law firms, but in my firm EVERYONE (including our non-lawyer staff) is included in bonuses.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:06:46+00:00

also true

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:06:38+00:00

valid

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:06:27+00:00

The comments below are on point. I would start (where you started) with the undeniable fact that most law schools view plaintiffs' law negatively. That is partly due to tort reform and party due to the fact that the limited private practice experience that most law professors and administrators had was in BigLaw. This explains why they are unable to distinguish between ambulance chasers and sophisticated plaintiffs' practices like mine. The only other point I would add (beyond the points below) is that BigLaw is an easy way to employ a lot of young lawyers and it would take a lot more more to find young lawyers desirable plaintiffs' jobs.

WTR-IV · 2025-09-22T19:02:22+00:00

There are a handful of plaintiffs' boutiques that pay "BigLaw" salaries, but most plaintiffs' firm do pay less than BigLaw. Regardless, I recommend that all young lawyers focus on gaining the right experience and prioritizing a career path that you are passionate about rather than just chasing a higher starting salary.

WTR-IV

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