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I'll try to keep it short: looking for advice and realistic chances. I'm a 2l at t14, SA lined up at NYC v10. Assuming I don't throw up on the managing partner I hope to have an offer to return. However, I am increasingly interested in opportunities in LA (or surrounding So.Cal) where my firm does not have an office. I am wondering how likely it would be to get hired at another good firm in So.Cal w/out having summered there and having zero ties. I have a feeling I'll have to do a year or two in NYC then lateral. Thanks in advance for any help.

LA is a pretty tough market, and this is coming from a median HYS student who targeted socal. Especially without ties I would say your chances are low, but it is worth a shot (why not?). I have heard that with ties, it is not highly difficult for nyc transactional biglawyers (with experience) to lateral to socal.

edit: surrounding socal is even harder. I targeted LA/OC/SD and got offers in each market. OC and SD will want ties or a REALLY good reason for wanting to go there (you're probably telling yourself who wouldnt want to live in these places, but people want decent reasons that you at least understand what you're getting yourself into. if you want sd or oc you will need to make it very clear why youd rather choose those places than LA (less traffic, less congested, lower COL, but many people also see these markets as less fun/happening/young whatever.)

There will likely be some 3L hiring and they'll be looking for applicants like you but without ties it's gonna be tough. Start thinking about ways to sell your ties.

ties matter less when you're trying to lateral bc people tend to take your willingness to uproot your life at face value.

but you should probably need some tie or good reason for wanting to be there. passing the CA bar in advance would probably help.