hardest market to land a legal job? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Is DC the toughest place to land a job?

[Renzo]

Of the 5-6 major markets? Generally yes. There are fewer jobs than in NYC, and the kind of work that gets done there isn't anywhere else, so the competition is more national (as opposed to regional) than other markets

[Cavalier]

I think it's DC, not including some secondary markets (e.g. Seattle, where there are only like 40 total SA positions being offered by NALP firms).

[jaudette]

I think it's DC, not including some secondary markets (e.g. Seattle, where there are only like 40 total SA positions being offered by NALP firms).

I've heard this from classmates trying to break into Pacific Northwest markets. Apparently its just impossible.

[reasonable_man]

I hear the United States' legal market is pretty tough at the moment...

In all seriousness.. It seems pretty bad in most markets. New York is pretty awful at the moment.

[Blindmelon]

I think it's DC, not including some secondary markets (e.g. Seattle, where there are only like 40 total SA positions being offered by NALP firms).

I'm guessing there are about 200 SA positions total in Boston. Ropes 70, Wilmer 30, Goodwin 20, then likely 80 for all of the other firms that pay 100k+. Doesn't sound bad, but when BC/BU graduate 270 each + Harvard people staying in Boston + the surprisingly large amount of UVA people + smattering of T14s + top 5% at Suffolk/NE, it gets cramped quickly.

[jchoggan]

New York is pretty awful at the moment.

I actually haven't heard terrible things about the NY market this year, particularly compared to DC. Sorry if that was your experience, though.

From what I've seen outside of the major markets, Austin and Atlanta were pretty tough to crack. I'm sure the comment re: Seattle is credited, but I think markets THAT small would be next to impossible even outside ITE, especially without strong ties.

[reasonable_man]

New York is pretty awful at the moment.

I actually haven't heard terrible things about the NY market this year, particularly compared to DC. Sorry if that was your experience, though.

From what I've seen outside of the major markets, Austin and Atlanta were pretty tough to crack. I'm sure the comment re: Seattle is credited, but I think markets THAT small would be next to impossible even outside ITE, especially without strong ties.

Not my own.. Luckily I am fully employed as a lawyer.. My experieince has been quite good. Sadly, I know many others that are not so fortunate.

[markymark]

DC and Chicago by far.

[pasteurizedmilk]

Depends on your particular circumstance. If you're trying to break into a smaller market w/o substantial ties, it's going to be a lot harder than NY (and probably harder even if you do have strong ties).

In the aggregate though, I'd say DC. A TON of people want to work there and there really aren't that many positions. I know people w/ V20 offers in NY who struck out entirely in DC......it's not uncommon at all, TBH.

[conn09]

Florida
There are like 50 positions for the entire state.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Depends on your particular circumstance. If you're trying to break into a smaller market w/o substantial ties, it's going to be a lot harder than NY (and probably harder even if you do have strong ties).

In the aggregate though, I'd say DC. A TON of people want to work there and there really aren't that many positions. I know people w/ V20 offers in NY who struck out entirely in DC......it's not uncommon at all, TBH.

Yeah I think this is credited. Outside of DC, secondary markets are VERY hard to crack without ties. There are so few positions to go around it is incredibly rough, sometimes even with great ties it still doesn't happen. I know people who targeted their hometown secondary market and were totally shut out.

[Bumi]

Yeah I think this is accredited.

By the ABA? Or the Better Business Bureau?

[JazzOne]

It is extremely difficult to get a legal job in Austin. This market is so small and so coveted. For example, I don't think V&E in Austin has made its final SA decisions yet. They interviewed ages ago.

[Anonymous User]

Florida
There are like 50 positions for the entire state.

Virtually everyone at UVA who had South Florida connections, and interviewed in Miami, received an offer. It's an easy market.

[RVP11]

Toughest secondary markets:

Seattle
Portland
Denver
Austin
Charlotte

[conn09]

Florida
There are like 50 positions for the entire state.

Virtually everyone at UVA who had South Florida connections, and interviewed in Miami, received an offer. It's an easy market.

I wasn't aware that the entire Florida Market only consisted of Miami.

[Anonymous User]

Florida
There are like 50 positions for the entire state.

Virtually everyone at UVA who had South Florida connections, and interviewed in Miami, received an offer. It's an easy market.

I wasn't aware that the entire Florida Market only consisted of Miami.

Am I wrong or is it by far the state's largest legal market?

[Anonymous User]

Toughest secondary markets:

Seattle
Portland
New Orleans
Denver
Austin
Charlotte

FTFY

[RVP11]

Toughest secondary markets:

Seattle
Portland
New Orleans
Denver
Austin
Charlotte

FTFY

IDK anyone who has tried for New Orleans, but that doesn't surprise me.

[conn09]

Florida
There are like 50 positions for the entire state.

Virtually everyone at UVA who had South Florida connections, and interviewed in Miami, received an offer. It's an easy market.

I wasn't aware that the entire Florida Market only consisted of Miami.

Am I wrong or is it by far the state's largest legal market?

It's barely bigger than Tampa's and Tampa's summer classes are next to non existent. of the 13 NALP firms in Tampa all but 3 are only taking 1 person. Then, most of the Tampa firms have offices in Miami, which prevents double dipping.

[eandy]

Somewhat off-topic/stupid, but I've been thinking about this lately:
People reference "ties" all the time, but specifically what does that mean? For example, I am from SC and attending law school in Georgia. Are those two things considered to be enough of a tie to Atlanta?

[Aberzombie1892]

It can be.

Attending a law school in a certain location is sometimes enough, and sometimes not. That depends on an employer.

Ties generally refer to things before law school.

Such as:

1. Where you grew up (where you went to high school)
2. Where you went to undergrad
3. Where your longtime gf/bf/fiance/wife/husband stays
4. Where your immediate (and sometimes other) family members are
5. Where you worked between undergrad and law school
6. Where you spent your 1L summer (for 2L's)
7. Where you spent your 2L summer (for 3L's)
8. (anything else I may have missed)

[Anonymous User]

[quote="pasteurizedmilk"]Depends on your particular circumstance. If you're trying to break into a smaller market w/o substantial ties, it's going to be a lot harder than NY (and probably harder even if you do have strong ties).

In the aggregate though, I'd say DC. A TON of people want to work there and there really aren't that many positions. I know people w/ V20 offers in NY who struck out entirely in DC......it's not uncommon at all, TBH.[/quote]


Building off that, I know people with DC jobs who struck out in Chicago.

[RVP11]

Somewhat off-topic/stupid, but I've been thinking about this lately:
People reference "ties" all the time, but specifically what does that mean? For example, I am from SC and attending law school in Georgia. Are those two things considered to be enough of a tie to Atlanta?

Probably enough for Atlanta.