Anonymous User wrote:I'm currently considering moving to either Scottsdale/Phoenix Arizona, Austin Texas or San Diego CA
Why not shoot for less popular and less insular markets, like Honolulu or Denver or Portland?
Seriously, those are all going to be really tough to break into an an entry level. San Diego and Austin are probably feasible if you do an interim stint in Los Angeles or Dallas/Houston. But I'm talking like 5+ years.
Honolulu or Denver or Portland are either more insular than the ones OP listed or have less of a legal market to speak of.
Austin has some IP/tech focused work and an emerging VC/startup market. Phoenix is a big market overall, but not a huge legal market (perhaps due to its proximity to LA, but I think there are only about 15-20 NALP firms there), but I'm not sure of the quantity of IP work there. I know they have BoA, Chase, Intel, and a few other large employers, but can't speak to how much IP focus there is.
OP, have you considered Dallas? It actually has many nice areas with cheaper COL than Austin, has plenty of "warm" weather, has a USPTO, and a large tech/IP presence (lots of tech/IT companies based here and the "Rocket Docket" in Tyler). Some reputable IP firms in town include Baker Botts, Fish & Richardson, et al (
http://www.chambersandpartners.com/1323 ... torial/5/1). I think Baker McKenzie has a little life sciences or Bio IP group too.
Also Houston, beside O&G, has a large healthcare industry, so there may be some areas of interest there as well.
