Summer Associate in a city where you don't want to be Forum

[Anonymous User]

For some reason I've only been able to get interviews/offers in Washington D.C. even though I've never been to the city before. I'm not a particularly strong candidate, so who knows what's happening. It's a weird economy.

I don't intend to stay on the East Coast permanently; I prefer the West Coast. Anyone else in a similar situation? I was wondering how common it is and how is the transition on going from East to West after 2-3 years or so of work?

The sad thing is that I want to work for a small or mid-size firm but they're either not recruiting or rejected me pre-interview. It seems that the West Coast is just horrific right now.

[Big Shrimpin]

suck it up. take an offer. rejoice you didnt get ocipwnd.

/thread

[Anonymous User]

For some reason I've only been able to get interviews/offers in Washington D.C. even though I've never been to the city before. I'm not a particularly strong candidate, so who knows what's happening. It's a weird economy.

I don't intend to stay on the East Coast permanently; I prefer the West Coast. Anyone else in a similar situation? I was wondering how common it is and how is the transition on going from East to West after 2-3 years or so of work?

The sad thing is that I want to work for a small or mid-size firm but they're either not recruiting or rejected me pre-interview. It seems that the West Coast is just horrific right now.

Take offer. Move after 2-3 years. It shouldn't be that tough, especially after 3.

[LurkerNoMore]

Both are TCR. If your DC firm has a CA office, it might be possible to transfer within the firm as well -- but don't approach that issue until you've proved your worth during the summer (but do bring up your possible interest some time during the summer if you don't think it will be received poorly, since some firms might want to have you interview or work a few weeks out at the other office).

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I'm actually interested in patent prosecution, so things like clerkships aren't very useful for employment purposes.

[2009 Prospective]

OP here. I'm actually interested in patent prosecution, so things like clerkships aren't very useful for employment purposes.

What about Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences? I'm not sure how prestigious or useful it would be but it came to me off the top of my head.

[vamedic03]

OP here. I'm actually interested in patent prosecution, so things like clerkships aren't very useful for employment purposes.

What about Fed Circuit --> CA firm?

[wiseowl]

anyone doing anything patent-related would get a huge boost by doing Fed Cir., but as you mentioned, ton of demand for very few spots.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I'm more concerned about the bar exam issues. Looking at profiles of lawyers, I don't see many people moving around and taking multiple bar exams. There are a few, but they seem older. I wonder how it affects people nowadays.

On the other hand, perhaps there is more mobility in patent prosecution since the primary "bar" is the PTO Registration #.

[ggocat]

OP here. I'm more concerned about the bar exam issues.

Unless your firm makes you take NY, you could probably take the CA bar and have no problems in DC. Even if you're required to waive into DC, I hear that's easy. Check out the requirements.

[Anonymous User]

2L with only SA offer in New York (Vault 10). I don't want to stay in NY. How bad would it look to future employers if I did the SA thing in NY, got offered, then turned them down to do 3L OCI looking only in my city of choice? Is there any way to prove I was offered in NY or will future employers think I just didn't cut it?

[reasonable_man]

suck it up. take an offer. rejoice you didnt get ocipwnd.

/thread

Agreed.

[Anonymous User]

2L with only SA offer in New York (Vault 10). I don't want to stay in NY. How bad would it look to future employers if I did the SA thing in NY, got offered, then turned them down to do 3L OCI looking only in my city of choice? Is there any way to prove I was offered in NY or will future employers think I just didn't cut it?

1) If you receive a permanent offer, it should be open until November 1st of that year. You shouldn't have to turn down the offer in order to do 3L OCI. In fact, that would be a silly move altogether. Keep the offer open, and if strike out at 3L OCI (which is not only possible, but probable), you won't look like an idiot for having passed up your best chance at employment.

2) To indicate that you received an offer, it's appropriate and best to do so by putting "offer extended" in the resume entry for your summer associate position.

Now some may suspect that you were cold-offered, but there's really nothing they can do about it. That is, that suspicion could apply to interviewer who received an offer, so it doesn't really matter.

[Big Shrimpin]

.

[Aqualibrium]

BigShrimpin, you're kinda being a douche. OP doesn't want to be in New York. Getting a good gig in New York doesn't change that fact. He/she isn't a bad person solely because they'd rather not be in New York. Yes of course OP should suck it up, take the job, then explore options later, but that doesn't mean you should be putting OP down.

The fact that your friends don't have jobs at all doesn't have anything to do with the fact that OP doesn't feel he or she will be happy in New York. You should simmer down.

[wiseowl]

BigShrimpin, you're kinda being a douche. OP doesn't want to be in New York. Getting a good gig in New York doesn't change that fact. He/she isn't a bad person solely because they'd rather not be in New York. Yes of course OP should suck it up, take the job, then explore options later, but that doesn't mean you should be putting OP down.

The fact that your friends don't have jobs at all doesn't have anything to do with the fact that OP doesn't feel he or she will be happy in New York. You should simmer down.

I for one think it's pretty douchy to be bitching about the location of your SA job when most of 2011 and a good chunk of 2012 doesn't have one at all, but maybe thats just me.

[Aqualibrium]

BigShrimpin, you're kinda being a douche. OP doesn't want to be in New York. Getting a good gig in New York doesn't change that fact. He/she isn't a bad person solely because they'd rather not be in New York. Yes of course OP should suck it up, take the job, then explore options later, but that doesn't mean you should be putting OP down.

The fact that your friends don't have jobs at all doesn't have anything to do with the fact that OP doesn't feel he or she will be happy in New York. You should simmer down.

I for one think it's pretty douchy to be bitching about the location of your SA job when most of 2011 and a good chunk of 2012 doesn't have one at all, but maybe thats just me.

If he or she doesn't want to be there, they don't want to be there. Who gives a shit what everyone else has in that situation. Yes OP has a job and should be grateful, but his or her happiness doesn't hinge upon simply doing better than others. Should op live the next five years of his life in NY unhappily, but be consoled by the fact that a "good chunk the class of 2012" doesn't have anything? Personal happiness is far more important than you people's vain ideas of what "success" is and how to handle it. Again, OP should suck it up and try again next year, but there is no reason he should be rejoicing about being in NY when he doesn't want to be there.


If your grades come back median, do you jump up and down excited at the fact that half of the class is below you, or are you disappointed with them? Just cuz other people's lives are shittier than yours doesn't mean you should simply accept their idea of success and be happy.

[Big Shrimpin]

.

[Aqualibrium]

BigShrimpin, you're kinda being a douche. OP doesn't want to be in New York. Getting a good gig in New York doesn't change that fact. He/she isn't a bad person solely because they'd rather not be in New York. Yes of course OP should suck it up, take the job, then explore options later, but that doesn't mean you should be putting OP down.

The fact that your friends don't have jobs at all doesn't have anything to do with the fact that OP doesn't feel he or she will be happy in New York. You should simmer down.

Well everyone's entitled to their opinion, and I understand (or hope) that OP/whomever probably has legitimate reasons for asking the question. I don't fault them for that, nor did I ever say/imply that they are a bad person. My rant (read, rant) had two purposes: 1. to put OP's question in perspective for future readers (which is why I love this site...so long as the search function is working), and 2. to provide a perspective that I had not yet seen in the thread. I had no intention to put OP/whomever else down. I also tried to insert hyperbole in there to highlight my sarcasm. Guess I failed at that, eh?

OP/whomever, I wish you the best in all of your endeavors, and congrats on landing a jerb!

You know no one ever searches anyway...

[Big Shrimpin]

So true.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks everyone for your advice/opinions. I appreciate it.