St. Louis Legal Market Forum

[kl10qm]

I am looking seriously at the St. Louis market. Not coming from a St. Louis school (other Midwestern school), but have significant ties (lived there, family there, go back at least five times a year to visit/hang out in the city). What is TLS's perception of the St. Louis market and its firms (Bryan Cave, Lewis Rice, Greensfelder etc.). What should I emphasize during OCI interviews?

[anonymous2012]

What high school did you go to? That's the StL legal market in a nutshell.

[RodneyRuxin]

emphasize ties.

[kl10qm]

Yea, I know that (my Dad still goes on about his high school, and when I go and visit everyone wants to know where I went to high school). I was raised there in elementary school, then moved about an hour away in Southern/Central Illinois right before middle school, so I didn't go to a St. Louis high school. Does that automatically preclude me from being competitive there?

[RodneyRuxin]

Yea, I know that (my Dad still goes on about his high school, and when I go and visit everyone wants to know where I went to high school). I was raised there in elementary school, then moved about an hour away in Southern/Central Illinois right before middle school, so I didn't go to a St. Louis high school. Does that automatically preclude me from being competitive there?

Of course it won't preclude you, but that's an easy topic to talk about at an interview that you're missing out on. emphasize in other ways--if you really like the city and want to end up there, just be honest and explain why.

[romothesavior]

I am also from downstate Illinois, and I went to WUSTL so that I could work in STL. Had pretty good 1L grades for the market, networked my ass off, and I think I'm a pretty good interviewer. Got a few big firm CBs, but the only offers I got were with a plaintiff's firm and a midlaw firm. Meanwhile I got offers in other midwestern cities where I'd barely set foot prior to my CB.

I'm just an anecdote, sure. But I think it's pretty representative. I don't know anyone working STL biglaw from WUSTL who doesn't have strong ties to the city or a wife here. It's an insular city with a massive inferiority complex ("No, TELL US.... WHY do you want to f-ing be here?") Unless your grades are simply stellar or you have a really compelling reason to be here, I think it'll be an uphill battle.

[Randomnumbers]

As someone with very competitive grades at WUSTL but had never been to St. Louis before coming here, I did far better at getting interviews at OCI for non St Louis firms then I did the St Louis firms, even smaller markets where I had absolutely no ties. I'd love to stay in St Louis, but I'd be shocked if I managed to.

[RodneyRuxin]

I think TCR here is yes, it's hard to prove ties; and you should have backups in other secondary markets.

[Anonymous User]

just bumping a random thread to ask. how long does it generally take STL firms to get back to people about offers after a CB.

yes, i know this is completely unproductive but ty anyway

[sprezz]

varies by firm from same day to three weeks later.

[Anonymous User]

just bumping a random thread to ask. how long does it generally take STL firms to get back to people about offers after a CB.

yes, i know this is completely unproductive but ty anyway

It really depends on the firm. BC is the fastest and can respond within a day, but may take longer depending on the candidate. Most of the other large firms will take at least a week. Some of them wait until they've completed all callbacks and won't make offers until mid-late September.

[Anonymous User]

varies by firm from same day to three weeks later.

ty, brother. your advice is credited. i am both reading tea leaves and mass mailing.

edit: ty anon 2. i appreciate the sense of community we have going in this thread here. helpful advice. helpful answers. you all are wonderful people.

[sprezz]

midwest is best.

but fuck st louis

[mw115]

Question: Isn't STL the major city for most people in S. Ill.? It seems weird that a person in STL wouldn't recognize being from S. Ill. as ties.

As a comparison, if someone from say, Beaumont wanted to work in Houston - it would be assumed the person has ties to the city since Houston is the closest big city to Beaumont.

[Anonymous User]

Couple things to add to the discussion....

It can take a long time to hear back after your CB. They'll give offers and rejections then hold some people in between while they wait to see if the offers are accepted. Some firms (Polsinelli) may never get back to you...

Also, note that Armstrong Teasdale interviews way later than the rest of the firms