Interested in Cleveland/Columbus, t15, good grades, tips?

[Anonymous User]

I'm from Ohio and want to return home to practice. Unfortunately summer associate classes here are small and brutally competitive.

Anyone able to shed some light on their Ohio practice, the legal market, firm life, etc. ?

Thank you.

[Anonymous User]

Also interested in this one.

[Anonymous User]

I'm wondering how to field the question, "what other market(s) are you interviewing in?" Cleveland and Columbus combined have maybe 40-50 SA positions, so I'm looking at NYC, because I really have no choice but to look at NYC. My concern is that Cleveland and Columbus firms will infer a lack of interest since I'm interviewing outside of Ohio....but it's crazy to interview only in Ohio.

[Anonymous User]

Definitely look into Jones Day. The firm started in Cleveland and they have offices in both Cleveland and Columbus. I am a summer there now (not in an Ohio office) and it is a amazing place to be. The more regional offices like Cleveland will be much more focused on local ties and personality fit, so if you are from there, you will have an advantage. And T15 school and good grades certainly wont hurt.

[Anonymous User]

I was at a T25 with Top 5% grades, also from Ohio, and I only got one CB in Cincinnati and one screener in Cleveland after blanketing Ohio. I got the CB only because I told the firm I was going to be in town anyway (I wasn't) so they didn't care since they didn't have to pay. My advice to you is to apply early and continue to follow up with e-mails and phone calls. I wish I had, though I eventually did land somewhere else.

[Anonymous User]

I'm wondering how to field the question, "what other market(s) are you interviewing in?" Cleveland and Columbus combined have maybe 40-50 SA positions, so I'm looking at NYC, because I really have no choice but to look at NYC. My concern is that Cleveland and Columbus firms will infer a lack of interest since I'm interviewing outside of Ohio....but it's crazy to interview only in Ohio.

I didn't really get that question asked (got a couple offers in OH and eventually took one). If I had, though, I feel like the best answer would have been "I'm focused mainly on Cleveland/Cincinnati/Columbus - Ohio's where I want to be." Or something to that effect.

[omg clay aiken !]

I think squire sanders hires quite a few SAs

[StrictlyBusiness]

I'm going to be a 1L at Chicago this year, and it seems like coming back to Ohio (Grew up/whole family in Akron) is one of my best shots at a 1L SA. Is that true? do any of the Cleveland/Columbus firms even take 1L SA's? and if so how hard would it be to get such a position without any real connections to people at firms here?

[cinephile]

I'm going to be a 1L at Chicago this year, and it seems like coming back to Ohio (Grew up/whole family in Akron) is one of my best shots at a 1L SA. Is that true? do any of the Cleveland/Columbus firms even take 1L SA's? and if so how hard would it be to get such a position without any real connections to people at firms here?

It's certainly a possibility. I interviewed for 1L SAs in Ohio, but even the firms who do take them only hire a few 1Ls so the odds aren't great. I don't think you need any connection to the firms, though that always helps.