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any 2L's have experience with sketchily trying to recruit at offices in some other city after already going through OCI etc and lining up an offer? is this just stupid even if you realize you might have to change plans? i guess just wait til 3L oci?

Not really sure what you're asking. Can you clarify a bit?

went through OCI and got a summer associate offer in City X.

part way through 2L year, realized I want to be in City Y.

Option A: Search for firms in City Y (now) for an SA
Option B: Wait until 3L OCI and hope for a switch

is Option A even possible? Or do I need to at least do the summer associate position that I lined up before a possible switch?

Does your firm have an office in the city that you want to work in?

yes, the firm has an office in the other city. but i am nervous to mention a potential switch in case they do not look favorably on switching offices...they might not only disallow the switch but also be suspect of my candidacy at the first office

At this point there aren't even many SA positions left with other firms. I would suck it up and try to get an offer in city X. After you have an offer, ask about moving to city Y. If they won't let you switch, hold on to the offer while you look for other jobs 3L.

Do not mention City B until you have an offer in hand from City A. It's too late to do anything now, but as long as City B's office does the same sort of work as City A (you can't switch from Skadden DE to Skadden DC easily, for example), you should have a fair shot at transferring. Just don't mention it until you have an offer as City A will ding you.