Regional summer 1L gig if no plans to work there for 2L? Forum

[slsplease]

I have a strong network in my hometown area in a medium midwestern market. Given that good legal 1L summer jobs are rare to come by, if I had to "settle" for a NLJ250 firm in the midwest would this tie me to the region enough to make my 2L ambitions for a larger, coastal market tougher?

I figure the answer is either that any experience, especially in a reputable law firm, is better than none or that I should decide on a target market and do whatever I can to get a job there and start networking, even if it means going for PI or less prestigious work.

[kalvano]

No one really cares what you do 1L summer as long as it is legal-related.

[slsplease]

how common is it for students at a T14 to get a 1L summer job in a law firm?

[kalvano]

As in a paid 1L SA position, or just working at a firm? The SA position is pretty uncommon, but doing some work or interning is not all that uncommon.

[09042014]

how common is it for students at a T14 to get a 1L summer job in a law firm?

In a big law firm that pays several thousand a week? ~10%

If you aren't a minority and don't have a patent background with great undergrad/ tech background it's even lower.

[slsplease]

I suppose I'll see what I'm in for when the time comes, but I have good reason to think that my chances are as good as anyone's to land a SA, but this would be only because of some very strong legal connections that are more or less limited to a medium midwestern market that I would not want to shoot for during 2L OCI.

I was under the assumption that 1L SA's generally lead to 2L SA's, and I'd be weary to turn NYC, LA, DC, SF, etc. firms off by giving the impression that I prefer to work in the midwest...