Going Out of Region Forum

[Anonymous User]

Scrounging through the TLS boards, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that if you're looking for a job outside of your school's regional market (and don't go to a T14), you're absolutely fucked and have no hope. However, most of this board seems to be geared toward the BigLaw hunt, and I was wondering if it also applies to those looking for smaller office, government, or public interest jobs? Reason I ask is my circumstances have significantly changed in the past couple months, and staying within the region (Midwest) of my school (T30) just doesn't seem like a viable option anymore. My CSO says I won't have an issue since I'm not gunning for BigLaw, but you can't really trust them to tell you the complete reality, and posters on TLS are all about giving the harshest truths.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

[BlueLotus]

PI employers also care about ties, although most likely less so than BigLawl. I too am doing the long-distance jerb search, and it definitely takes some more legwork. I got asked in interviews why the heck did I go to school in X city if I wanted to practice in Y city. I did my 1L and 2L summer in my home city, as well as volunteered there in a legal capacity over spring and winter breaks to highlight my commitment to the region. In addition, I went out of my way to seek out lunch dates with alums in my home city. It's doable, but in general, if you go to a school outside the T14, attend one located in the market you are targeting.

[BigZuck]

Considering like 30-40% of your classmates won't get a lawyer job 9 months after graduation, I don't get why your CSO is being so flippant about this. I mean, I do cuz they are CSO but I wouldn't take their "NBD bro, not big law=EZ game" answer very seriously.

It's probably going to be a struggle because you have to get your boots on the ground and pound some pavement. Tough to do that from afar. What about withdrawing, retaking, and reapplying? What's your debt situation going to look like if you stay at your current school? What kind of job, specifically, are you gunning for? How far away is your current school and your desired market?

[Anonymous User]

Scrounging through the TLS boards, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that if you're looking for a job outside of your school's regional market (and don't go to a T14), you're absolutely fucked and have no hope. However, most of this board seems to be geared toward the BigLaw hunt, and I was wondering if it also applies to those looking for smaller office, government, or public interest jobs? Reason I ask is my circumstances have significantly changed in the past couple months, and staying within the region (Midwest) of my school (T30) just doesn't seem like a viable option anymore. My CSO says I won't have an issue since I'm not gunning for BigLaw, but you can't really trust them to tell you the complete reality, and posters on TLS are all about giving the harshest truths.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Can you be a little more specific as to what market you're targeting? Advice is going to vary based on that.

[BlueLotus]

Scrounging through the TLS boards, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that if you're looking for a job outside of your school's regional market (and don't go to a T14), you're absolutely fucked and have no hope. However, most of this board seems to be geared toward the BigLaw hunt, and I was wondering if it also applies to those looking for smaller office, government, or public interest jobs? Reason I ask is my circumstances have significantly changed in the past couple months, and staying within the region (Midwest) of my school (T30) just doesn't seem like a viable option anymore. My CSO says I won't have an issue since I'm not gunning for BigLaw, but you can't really trust them to tell you the complete reality, and posters on TLS are all about giving the harshest truths.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Can you be a little more specific as to what market you're targeting? Advice is going to vary based on that.

Yes, some markets are very ties-conscious (Philly) while others much less so (NYC, DC).

[Anonymous User]

Scrounging through the TLS boards, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that if you're looking for a job outside of your school's regional market (and don't go to a T14), you're absolutely fucked and have no hope. However, most of this board seems to be geared toward the BigLaw hunt, and I was wondering if it also applies to those looking for smaller office, government, or public interest jobs? Reason I ask is my circumstances have significantly changed in the past couple months, and staying within the region (Midwest) of my school (T30) just doesn't seem like a viable option anymore. My CSO says I won't have an issue since I'm not gunning for BigLaw, but you can't really trust them to tell you the complete reality, and posters on TLS are all about giving the harshest truths.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Can you be a little more specific as to what market you're targeting? Advice is going to vary based on that.

Yes, some markets are very ties-conscious (Philly) while others much less so (NYC, DC).

My wife recently left her job and has gotten three very good offers in Raleigh, Seattle, and Portland, and we have yet decided which one she's going to take. We have to make a decision within the next couple weeks, so that will be sorted out soon.

I'm looking to go into environmental/energy law. As for my debt situation, I'm in on a full scholarship, and I've only taken out a couple thousand dollars in loans to help with living costs. I'll be leaving law school with little to no debt.

[Anonymous User]

Would also like to hear some input about this, as someone who also isn't sure where he'll be after graduation.

[Anonymous User]

Would also like to hear some input about this, as someone who also isn't sure where he'll be after graduation.

Given how vague this is, I'm not sure what type of advice people are going to be able to offer except for the usual "network," ask your CSO, meet alumni from your school, etc. advice. If you're specifically asking how difficult it is to go from Market A to Market B and share your stats/school/experience, someone may actually be able to give you good advice.

[jbagelboy]

this would depend almost entirely on whether you're targeting a home market (i.e., where you grew up or went to college), or a third market unrelated to your home or law school destination. The former seems viable, assuming you're employable at all (if its a TTT then you should be more concerned with any gainful employment). The latter seems generally ill advised and would be entirely case by case dependent.

[Anonymous User]

this would depend almost entirely on whether you're targeting a home market (i.e., where you grew up or went to college), or a third market unrelated to your home or law school destination. The former seems viable, assuming you're employable at all (if its a TTT then you should be more concerned with any gainful employment). The latter seems generally ill advised and would be entirely case by case dependent.

Couldn't it be seen as somewhat beneficial (given it's not a TTT) to go to a different market than the one you have ties to in order to maximize potential employment opportunities? Say you have ties to NYC and you go to school in Philly or Chicago hypothetically - you would be able to network and gain ties in an outside city while also being able to take advantage of your home ties when it comes time for employment?

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

Scrounging through the TLS boards, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that if you're looking for a job outside of your school's regional market (and don't go to a T14), you're absolutely fucked and have no hope. However, most of this board seems to be geared toward the BigLaw hunt, and I was wondering if it also applies to those looking for smaller office, government, or public interest jobs? Reason I ask is my circumstances have significantly changed in the past couple months, and staying within the region (Midwest) of my school (T30) just doesn't seem like a viable option anymore. My CSO says I won't have an issue since I'm not gunning for BigLaw, but you can't really trust them to tell you the complete reality, and posters on TLS are all about giving the harshest truths.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Can you be a little more specific as to what market you're targeting? Advice is going to vary based on that.

Yes, some markets are very ties-conscious (Philly) while others much less so (NYC, DC).

My wife recently left her job and has gotten three very good offers in Raleigh, Seattle, and Portland, and we have yet decided which one she's going to take. We have to make a decision within the next couple weeks, so that will be sorted out soon.

I'm looking to go into environmental/energy law. As for my debt situation, I'm in on a full scholarship, and I've only taken out a couple thousand dollars in loans to help with living costs. I'll be leaving law school with little to no debt.

Your best fact is the wife's job. The job is a tie. You need to blast that from the rooftops. Everyone cares about ties to the extent that everyone wants to make money and have an employee stay with them for a good period of time. No one wants to hire some desperate candidate who went to law school at Seton Hall but now "really really" wants to work in the south. You need to craft a believable story, and the wife's job is perfect. "We were ecstatic we when she got her offer at X, we love this city."

Start with your network, undergrad alums and law school alums, random other people your mom knows, etc., and meet with anyone who will talk to you. The odds of you getting your dream job in enviro law totally suck. You need to be flexible. Be interested in what the people do who give you info interviews. Apply broadly to new associate openings.

Put a misc section on your resume and list married, wife works at X in this town, along with the other usual stuff about travel and musical instruments. That sounds really weird but I would do it. Just mentioning in the cover letter might not get noticed. You never know what will catch peoples eyes.