Philadelphia Market Forum

[BlueLotus]

To elaborate, friend is looking for a full ride and is interested in public service (Legal Aid/PD) or a small firm focusing on family, immigration, or SS disability law. She wants to practice in Philly.

[nick417]

How does Rutgers-Camden fare in the Philly legal market? Asking for a friend.

Philly legal market as in the big firms, or in general? It is definitely behind Temple and Villanova (simply because they have more connections). But Rutgers is better in Philly than say Drexel or a school like PSU Dickinson. Nevertheless, if you are not in the top 25% at Rutgers-C, finding work is going to be difficult.

[nick417]

To elaborate, friend is looking for a full ride and is interested in public service (Legal Aid/PD) or a small firm focusing on family, immigration, or SS disability law. She wants to practice in Philly.

I didn't see this post prior to answering your question. Just from talking to my friends, relying on finding employment at a "small firm" is tough. They rarely are hiring, so it is a crap shoot to find one.

But I think my original response still works. Unless you are in the top 25%, work is going to be tough to find. Rutgers boasts an employment score around 60%, but that includes grads with one-year clerkships (which make a majority of Rutgers employment). I am not sure where Rutgers grads find employment after their one-year clerkships.

Go to law school transparency and examine Rutgers job stats. That will answer your question about your friends chances of finding employment at a "small firm" or in public service. Again, my estimate is not good. I would suggest going to Temple if you want to work in Philly.

[Anonymous User]

Do the Philly firms move on a slower timeline than other cities in terms of screeners/callbacks from networking and mass mailing?

[Anonymous User]

I heard this about Philly (from a friend who is from the market). She started out at a smaller firm (30 or so that paid 6 figs but under the market). She found it challenging to lateral up. She finally did, but it was no cakewalk.

[Anonymous User]

How does Gtown generally fare in philly? I assume a large portion of Penn goes to NYC or DC, but if not they have their choice of philly firms, but behind Penn, I'd think Gtown students are definitely favored over regional good schools like Temple or Nova, right?

[BlueLotus]

Are Villanova and Temple peers? Or is one markedly better than the other?

[Clemenceau]

Are Villanova and Temple peers? Or is one markedly better than the other?

Yes peers, but I would take temple in a push. Ime they have a slightly better reputation and every firm seems to be littered with temple grads.

But I'm only a philadelphian. Not a lawyer.

[Aquila]

Are Villanova and Temple peers? Or is one markedly better than the other?

Yes peers, but I would take temple in a push. Ime they have a slightly better reputation and every firm seems to be littered with temple grads.

But I'm only a philadelphian. Not a lawyer.

Also from the area, Nova seems to be slightly more firm oriented where Temple is slightly more gov/pi/clerk... but there is not much disparity

[BlueLotus]

Should my friend stay away from Drexel? Or is it acceptable with a full ride and modest aspirations?

[UpandDown97]

Should my friend stay away from Drexel? Or is it acceptable with a full ride and modest aspirations?

Drexel is not very well regarded. He or she is better off at Temple. Rutgers Camden will do okay at getting a person into Philly, but it is really more for Southern NJ and some of Northern NJ.

[Clemenceau]

Should my friend stay away from Drexel? Or is it acceptable with a full ride and modest aspirations?

I have a tough time signing off on drexel, especially because temple and nova are so attainable.

Drexel law has been around like maybe 8 years or something. It's just not a name I'd want on my resume.

But I don't know a thing about hiring at "modest" places, so I can't say much more.

[nick417]

If the decision came down to Temple or Villanova, I would pick the cheaper one (which in most cases would be Temple).

[chuckbass]

If the decision came down to Temple or Villanova, I would pick the cheaper one (which in most cases would be Temple).

This. And never Drexel.

[Anonymous User]

How does Gtown generally fare in philly? I assume a large portion of Penn goes to NYC or DC, but if not they have their choice of philly firms, but behind Penn, I'd think Gtown students are definitely favored over regional good schools like Temple or Nova, right?

Assuming ties, I'd think you'd be at an advantage

[BlueLotus]

So is the Philly pecking order Penn>Temple=Villanova>Rutgers-Camden>Drexel>Widener>unaccredited shiz?

[Aquila]

So is the Philly pecking order Penn>Temple=Villanova>Rutgers-Camden>Drexel>Widener>unaccredited shiz?

I would guess Penn>top14>Temple/Nova> Drexel> then widener/TTTT

[BlueLotus]

So is the Philly pecking order Penn>Temple=Villanova>Rutgers-Camden>Drexel>Widener>unaccredited shiz?

I would guess Penn>top14>Temple/Nova> Drexel> then widener/TTTT

Where does Rutgers-Camden fit in? Better than Drexel and worse than Temple/Nova and Penn?

Do rankings matter for small firms doing SS disability, family law, and immigration? How about non-prestigious public interest like PD/Legal Aid?

[Aquila]

So is the Philly pecking order Penn>Temple=Villanova>Rutgers-Camden>Drexel>Widener>unaccredited shiz?

I would guess Penn>top14>Temple/Nova> Drexel> then widener/TTTT

Where does Rutgers-Camden fit in? Better than Drexel and worse than Temple/Nova and Penn?

Yes but i am speaking from what i have seen on TLS and stats, not from experience

[transferror]

So is the Philly pecking order Penn>Temple=Villanova>Rutgers-Camden>Drexel>Widener>unaccredited shiz?

I would guess Penn>top14>Temple/Nova> Drexel> then widener/TTTT

Where does Rutgers-Camden fit in? Better than Drexel and worse than Temple/Nova and Penn?

Yes but i am speaking from what i have seen on TLS and stats, not from experience

The answer to this question depends on type of employment.

Rutgers-Camden is close enough to par with Temple and Nova w/r/t big firm hiring. Each school is going to place 0-2 ppl in the big firms like Pepper, MLB, Dechert, Drinker, Duane Morris, Blank Rome, Cozen O'Conor, etc. But honestly, Penn or T14 with ties is way better and no one should attend any of the local schools if the goal is biglaw.

IME, mid-small firms, local gov, and public interest employers give the edge Temple and Nova, and Temple basically monopolizes the Philly DA and PD offices. But all of this is very specific to each firm/organization and hiring partner and I'm sure Rutgers self-selection into NJ plays some role, just not sure how much.

[BlueLotus]

What's everyone's beef with Drexel? Is it too new?

[Danger Zone]

What's everyone's beef with Drexel? Is it too new?

Yes, it's an unnecessary and unwelcome addition to an already crowded secondary market.

[Anonymous User]

What kind of work do most Philly firms do?

[inchipwetrust]

What kind of work do most Philly firms do?

(Assuming you mean big law)...Big law firms in philly, as in any other city, offer a wide range of practice areas, it all varies from firm to firm. There's really no one, specific, outright answer to your question cause they do a lot of different type work. Your best bet is to research the big law philly firms, then look on NALP to see their practice area #'s, research on chambers to see what band (tier) practice area they are in the city, research the firms attorneys #'s by practice area on their website and vault, too.

[Anonymous User]

Speaking very generally Philadelphia is a litigation heavy bar