#2 UH looking for SA next summer Forum

[Anonymous User]

title pretty much says it all. Ranked 2/247 at University of Houston. Don't know if it matters, but I've got a couple CALIs as well.
I'm planning on interviewing with the big guys at fall OCI, but what I'd really like to do is spend my summer with a big firm up in Seattle. My wife is from there and has family there, but the connections are weak at best.
Additionally, I don't have any delusions about my school's reputation outside of TX, so give it to me with both barrels.
So...1) What do you think at:
a) V&E/BB/FJ/Susman
b) Houston/Austin satellite of NY/DC firm (Skadden, maybe Fish & Richardson?)
c) Big Seattle (Perkins Coie/K&L Gates, etc.),
2) What else should I be looking at?
3) Is there anything else I should be doing to best situate myself? and
4) When should I start sending out packets to the firms who won't be at OCI?

Oh, and right now I think I'm really interested in civil appellate litigation FWIW.

[vyelps]

Someone else feel free to chime in, but I think you're going to struggle (at least initially) if you emphasize civil appellate work. The top-tier firms that do a substantial amount of civil appellate litigation have former SCOTUS clerks and tons of feeder clerks to do that work. Even satellite offices have plenty of people with pedigrees from top-tier schools/clerkships who focus on civil appellate work.

This is NOT to say you are incapable of doing it or that you shouldn't try to get that work once you are hired. But I think you'd be better off exploring options of doing civil litigation generally and then trying to get appellate work from your firm once you demonstrate competence.

[ggocat]

title pretty much says it all. Ranked 2/247 at University of Houston. Don't know if it matters, but I've got a couple CALIs as well.
I'm planning on interviewing with the big guys at fall OCI, but what I'd really like to do is spend my summer with a big firm up in Seattle. My wife is from there and has family there, but the connections are weak at best.
Additionally, I don't have any delusions about my school's reputation outside of TX, so give it to me with both barrels.
So...
Oh, and right now I think I'm really interested in civil appellate litigation FWIW.

1) What do you think at:
a) V&E/BB/FJ/Susman
b) Houston/Austin satellite of NY/DC firm (Skadden, maybe Fish & Richardson?)
c) Big Seattle (Perkins Coie/K&L Gates, etc.),

I'm not too familiar with that scene, but I think you will get interviews with all/most of the Houston firms. (Look up the NY/DC firms on NALP to see how many SAs in Houston/Austin if you want a better idea for those.) You may get screening / informational interviews with "Big Seattle" if you follow some advice below.

2) What else should I be looking at?

Given your career goals, go for federal clerkships in Texas and Washington, especially.
Keep an eye on when Washington Supreme Court will accept clerkship applications. http://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_tria ... .clerkship. If you miss Seattle biglaw for 2L OCI, this is probably your only realistic "in" to that market, particularly in your desired field.
Also go for Texas Supreme Court. (will be here, generall apps are accepted similar to the federal timeline: http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/j ... oyment.asp)
And perhaps intermediate courts of appeals (Texas ones often hire before the federal clerkships, summer before 3L year, e.g., http://www.14thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/j ... oyment.asp)

3) Is there anything else I should be doing to best situate myself? and

For an SA in Seattle, start planning a vacation in late July / early August. In your cover letter to Seattle firms, tell them, "I will be visiting family in Seattle on [[insert dates]] and would be available to interview at that time or another of your choosing." (or something to that effect -- let them know you will be in town at a certain time; I think you are more likely to get interviews if all it's costing is their time).

Also, what vyelps said is true -- emphasize civil litigation, not appellate. Getting a federal circuit or state appellate clerkship could help you transition into civil appellate once you already have a firm gig.

Get on law review, and if you can swing it, moot court.

4) When should I start sending out packets to the firms who won't be at OCI?

Within the next 6 weeks.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Thanks for the solid advice.

I'm on the moot court team and just today accepted my grade-on invite to law review.
I'll get on the applications and pump out some cover letters this weekend.

It's weird what 2 semesters of good grades can do. A year ago, I was fully comfortable with the expectation that I would be at the median of my class, have to hustle my ass off, probably not be able to find a job. Now? everythingwentbetterthanexpected.jpg

[CanadianWolf]

OP: Did a scholarship offer pursuade you to attend Houston ? Also, were you initially targeting the Texas market ? If so, are you still ? If not, you'll need a convincing reason for the shift. In my opinion, you should consider a federal or state supreme court clerkship after law school if you want to switch regions & focus on appellate matters.

P.S. Congratulations !

[Anonymous User]

I didn't get any money to come here. My UGPA was terrible and, honestly, I wasn't expecting to get accepted.
As far as Targeting, I have just always been around Texas and I didn't have the numbers to go to UT, so UH seemed like the obvious choice. My wife has family up in Seattle. I'll try to play that connection up some, and I would definitely be interested in clerking if I'm able to after school. I'm spending this summer with a federal appellate court, so maybe that will help.

I'm digging the idea of planning a trip now so I can mention that I'll be in town. Tickets are ~$300, or a refundable ticket for $1,050. So if I get a refundable ticket and I land an interview, I'm out $1,050. If I buy the nonrefundable and I don't get an interview, I'm out $300.

I don't know how all of the timing works. When should I plan to be in Seattle so that I will still be able to answer Houston firms if I get an offer, rather than having to tell them to hold on because I'm going to Seattle/just got back from Seattle and am waiting to hear? First week of August?

[CanadianWolf]

Three non-refundable tickets = $900, one refundable costs $1050.

Will you receive a scholarship for next year ? Or is Harvard or Chicago, etc. in your sights ? It would be interesting to read your thoughts on switching regions after your summer internship experience.

[ggocat]

I'm spending this summer with a federal appellate court, so maybe that will help.

JWE?

So if I get a refundable ticket and I land an interview, I'm out $1,050. If I buy the nonrefundable and I don't get an interview, I'm out $300.

Dude, I say get the nonrefundable and just have a vacation / get out of TX for a week in July/August if you end up getting no interviews (but you'll probably get at least one if you apply broadly).

I don't know how all of the timing works. When should I plan to be in Seattle so that I will still be able to answer Houston firms if I get an offer, rather than having to tell them to hold on because I'm going to Seattle/just got back from Seattle and am waiting to hear? First week of August?

Best to ask your CSO about when it's OK to away from Houston OCI. Also, double-check with law review because that might start before classes.

Good luck!

[ggocat]

Will you receive a scholarship for next year ? Or is Harvard or Chicago, etc. in your sights?

Good point. Couldn't hurt to throw apps to some top 10 schools if you have the time.

[kalvano]

Just a thought, but maybe it would be better for OP to transfer to UW? They would probably give him some money, and that would be a much-needed tie to Seattle.

[CanadianWolf]

While the University of Washington would establish ties to the region, OP would probably lose his class rank so it may not be as beneficial to transfer to a non-T-12 law school.

[kalvano]

While the University of Washington would establish ties to the region, OP would probably lose his class rank so it may not be as beneficial to transfer to a non-T-12 law school.

Didn't think of that. If so, then skip it, but otherwise, it might be worthwhile to look into.

[Anonymous User]

OK, so it looks like school starts on a Monday. The week before school starts is OCI. The Friday before OCI is my last day at my 2nd-half summer gig. So...it looks like the optimal strategy may be to go to my 2nd half boss and say "Hey. Can I work until that Tuesday instead of that Friday?" Book a flight leaving after work Tuesday, returning over the weekend.
This Friday night, do all my firm research (make my spreadsheet), on Saturday bear down and get a dozen letters written and envelopes stuffed. Mail them out on Monday. Then what? Call the following Monday? Write a follow-up letter to be mailed out the Wednesday after mailing the envelopes?
We really can't afford for me to just go to Seattle on vacation if no interviews materialize, but I may just do it anyway. I think I can stay with family, and I'm pretty good at vacationing for cheap, so I may be able to get 4 or so days in Seattle for under a grand.

[InnocuousDiatribe]

Congrats! I was also in your shoes re: scholarship money. Dean Tenn. emailed me about some scholly $$ for being top 5%. Did you get the email? PM me (if you want to).

[zanzbar]

Not to hijack but I was wondering if either of you would share how you were able to be so successful at U of H. I am coming in as a 1L this year and would like any advice you are willing to dish out.

[Anonymous User]

Does it make a difference if you were only part time? This seems like something that would be factored into OCI.

[Anonymous User]

what you need to do is send out transfer applications to the entire t14 RIGHT NOW. time is running out and might even be too late. transferring to a t10 school is a real possibility for you, and if you do get accepted as a transfer to a t10, biglaw is a near certainty, so long as you focus on NYC and texas firms.

also, no firm in seattle will take you even remotely seriously unless you can convince them you plan to move their permanently after graduation. your desire to "spend a summer there" is exactly what those firms want to avoid.

[InnocuousDiatribe]

what you need to do is send out transfer applications to the entire t14 RIGHT NOW. time is running out and might even be too late. transferring to a t10 school is a real possibility for you, and if you do get accepted as a transfer to a t10, biglaw is a near certainty, so long as you focus on NYC and texas firms.

also, no firm in seattle will take you even remotely seriously unless you can convince them you plan to move their permanently after graduation. your desire to "spend a summer there" is exactly what those firms want to avoid.

As a part-timer, I think transferring for OP is out, unless he throws an app at GULC yesterday (I think they're the only T14 that takes part-timer).

Re: OCI, I doubt being PT will be a big deal especially if you're moving into FT in the fall.