Lateraling from NY to SF Forum

[Anonymous User]

Question: Significant other, whom will one day be a doctor, is likely to prioritize at least one residency program in San Francisco. This is somewhat unexpected, but I'm not entirely against moving.

In any event, the match won't happen until the spring. At which point, I will have spent a few months a market-leading firm in NY, but will eventually leave the following year to pursue a district court clerkship in the NY metro area for one year. I'm on the fence about clerking for another year, but am currently applying for COA clerkships. Depends if I get anything (amiright???). I graduated from a CCNY law school with honors, but spent my first year at another law school. It should go without saying, but I'm going to be a litigator. I'm not really looking for government work; I have substantial student loans (by virtue of being a transfer).

So, how hard is the jump from NY to SF? From what I understand, SF is the most competitive legal market in CA. Does anyone know what sorts of associates SF firms are looking for? How to be competitive and stand out from the crowd? If I don't have a patent or IP background, do I have shot? Should I just break up with my SO in advance??

Thanks in advance for deciding this question for me. Can't thank you enough.

[El Pollito]

not so hard for corp, hard for non-IP lit. fed clerkship should help. if you can get admitted in CA before applying, that helps.

[Humbert]

Oh, good point -- I am currently studying for the NY bar. Sorry, I forgot to specify. I've heard anecdotally that SF firms, if the want want you, won't hold the fact you're not admitted to CA against you. Which makes sense, I guess. Am I wrong? Is it a negative? There are, after all, a ton of capable grads from CA schools/from CA firms.

I know, it's hard to to really give any specifics. Just trying to get a sense for the market ( have zero lawyers in my family and grew up on the east coast), and hoping for responses from people in the know.

Anyway, thanks the response.

[rpupkin]

I graduated from a CCNY law school with honors

Does Y stand for Yale or Yeshiva? Either way, 165 trolling.

I can't really help you with your NY-to-SF question, but I will suggest that you decrease the dosage of whatever stimulant you're currently taking. You seem borderline manic/crazy.

[dixiecupdrinking]

IMO I'd prioritize getting a COA job somewhere out west and going from there to SF. BTW your post was fine.

[Humbert]

I graduated from a CCNY law school with honors

Does Y stand for Yale or Yeshiva? Either way, 165 trolling.

I can't really help you with your NY-to-SF question, but I will suggest that you decrease the dosage of whatever stimulant you're currently taking. You seem borderline manic/crazy.

Apologies for the errant Y; it must have been very confusing for you. Thanks for being such a peach!

[El Pollito]

Oh, good point -- I am currently studying for the NY bar. Sorry, I forgot to specify. I've heard anecdotally that SF firms, if the want want you, won't hold the fact you're not admitted to CA against you. Which makes sense, I guess. Am I wrong? Is it a negative? There are, after all, a ton of capable grads from CA schools/from CA firms.

I know, it's hard to to really give any specifics. Just trying to get a sense for the market ( have zero lawyers in my family and grew up on the east coast), and hoping for responses from people in the know.

Anyway, thanks the response.

They don't care if you're admitted in corp, but they definitely do in lit. Maybe it's different for fed clerks and super desirable candidates. It's not hard to just take the CA bar in February after taking NY in July and it will make you a much stronger candidate. Lots of my friends who wanted to get to CA did that.

And as far the market goes, it's just small. The openings are few and far between for general lit because general lit is a dying practice.

[EvelynS]

Oh, good point -- I am currently studying for the NY bar. Sorry, I forgot to specify. I've heard anecdotally that SF firms, if the want want you, won't hold the fact you're not admitted to CA against you. Which makes sense, I guess. Am I wrong? Is it a negative? There are, after all, a ton of capable grads from CA schools/from CA firms.

I know, it's hard to to really give any specifics. Just trying to get a sense for the market ( have zero lawyers in my family and grew up on the east coast), and hoping for responses from people in the know.

Anyway, thanks the response.

They don't care if you're admitted in corp, but they definitely do in lit. Maybe it's different for fed clerks and super desirable candidates. It's not hard to just take the CA bar in February after taking NY in July and it will make you a much stronger candidate. Lots of my friends who wanted to get to CA did that.

And as far the market goes, it's just small. The openings are few and far between for general lit because general lit is a dying practice.

Completely agree with the above. SF is a very small market. And generally speaking, SF is more lit-oriented and SV is mostly corporate (hence, the bigger class size). Unless, you are very desirable candidate (which I am not saying you are or are not), being admitted to CA will be pretty much mandatory. Like the previous post mentioned, it is more flexible for corporate work. I don't really know what your job situation is right now, but your chances will definitely increase if you either clerked for a year (preferably, fed. court on the west coats of COA) or worked in a comparable big law firm's lit department for like 3 years (SF firms believe that NY lit experience in a big law firm is very good), which I know is not really an option considering time constraints. In any case, you should reach out to your school CDO or career advisers and see if they can connect you to smb. already working in SF, so you can get a feel of what SF firms are looking for.