Minnesota Firms Forum

[valen]

I'm currently a 1L going to school out in California. I am not from Minnesota but most of my family is. I use to spend the summers in Royalton working on our family farm. Once I complete law school my intent is to move to Minneapolis. What firms have 1L summer interns? I know it's early in the year, but I'm the type who starts looking into things early. Also, does anyone know what salaries are currently looking like? All the information in this thread is 7 years old and I'm sure the numbers have changed since then.

Most of the major mpls firms take 1Ls (Dorsey, fredrikson, GPM, Stinson, etc). If you are diverse at all (don't need to be URM) then you should definitely check out Twin Cities Diversity in Practice. It's a great 1L summer program that many firms participate in. Be prepared to apply in early December right after you finish finals.

[Anonymous User]

I'm currently a 1L going to school out in California. I am not from Minnesota but most of my family is. I use to spend the summers in Royalton working on our family farm. Once I complete law school my intent is to move to Minneapolis. What firms have 1L summer interns? I know it's early in the year, but I'm the type who starts looking into things early. Also, does anyone know what salaries are currently looking like? All the information in this thread is 7 years old and I'm sure the numbers have changed since then.

Most of the major mpls firms take 1Ls (Dorsey, fredrikson, GPM, Stinson, etc). If you are diverse at all (don't need to be URM) then you should definitely check out Twin Cities Diversity in Practice. It's a great 1L summer program that many firms participate in. Be prepared to apply in early December right after you finish finals.

This is right on. If you don't qualify for TCDIP, there are not many 1L spots outside of that -- but they do exist. I'd be ready to mass mail on Dec 1. If you have connections and can start talking to people CASUALLY before then, go for it.

[Anonymous User]

This is right on. If you don't qualify for TCDIP, there are not many 1L spots outside of that -- but they do exist. I'd be ready to mass mail on Dec 1. If you have connections and can start talking to people CASUALLY before then, go for it.

This is the right advice. Apply throught TCDIP if you can, and in any event make sure your cover letter highlights diversity. Apply immediately on or after 12/1. Work casual connections informally before then (for example, by asking them to comment generally on the market and to offer feedback on your plan to go there).

There are actually a relatively good number of 1L positions in this town -- about a quarter or more of summers at local firms are 1Ls. These are almost all diversity program hires, but there are some non-diverse 1Ls in the mix. These spots are usually for very promising candidates at out of state schools who the MN firms want to catch before the competition if 2L OCI (which often leads students like that to other markets). To that end, if you are top quartile at Stanford or Berkeley, your odds are much better than if you are median at Pepperdine.

[Anonymous User]

The Twin Cities struggle with diversity so the firms are very attuned to it. Good number of 1Ls in my class at one of the large firms mentioned in this thread.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from Fredrickson & Byron after CB?

[Anonymous User]

I am half Mexican, hispanic last name and all, but I appear white (stupid recessive traits). Would I still be able to apply through TCDIP? I've never applied for anything minority based because I don't have the apperance. Also, I looked at the TCDIP website and it just says to check back in the fall for information on how to apply for the 1L summer rotation clerkship. I assume the summer rotation clerkship what I would want to apply for to get a SA position? There isn't much information on their website. Sorry I'm a 1L and have little to no knowledge in this area. When I ask around at campus I'm just told not to worry about a job at this point. Which is bad advice as far as I'm concerned, grades are important, but what good do they do if I don't know where to look for jobs, or what to apply for. Having something to apply for gives me more motivation to do better in classes.

[Jchance]

^yes you qualify.

[Anonymous User]

I just applied for the TCDIP 1L Summer Clerkship today. The TCDIP website says they expect to hire ~19 1Ls. Does anyone know how many applicants there typically are? I'm just trying to gauge my chances. Also, does anyone know if any if the firms would have me fly out for an interview, assuming of course they were interested? Finally, can anyone who has participated in TCDIP provide some feedback on what it was like?

[Anonymous User]

Any new thoughts on MSP raising associate salary for Cravath bump? It seems like MSP can't survive offering $120k with shit bonuses and promotions, but I haven't heard anything relevant recently.

[Anonymous User]

screener with Robins Kaplan this week, no grades submitted yet. anyone else have movement? the other places i applied to seem to be waiting for grades first

[Anonymous User]

screener with Robins Kaplan this week, no grades submitted yet. anyone else have movement? the other places i applied to seem to be waiting for grades first

Doing a callback at Robins Kaplan, no grades reported. Got a really good vibe from my screener.

[Anonymous User]

i'm OP before the above post; do you mind sharing the types of questions they asked, and any other tips? how soon did they ask you for a CB? thanks in advance!

[Anonymous User]

Any new thoughts on MSP raising associate salary for Cravath bump? It seems like MSP can't survive offering $120k with shit bonuses and promotions, but I haven't heard anything relevant recently.

I've been wondering this too -- it's insane that there hasn't been some motion to even like $140k.

[Anonymous User]

Screener with Fredrikson

[Anonymous User]

i'm OP before the above post; do you mind sharing the types of questions they asked, and any other tips? how soon did they ask you for a CB? thanks in advance!

Pretty standard questions. Why MSP, why Robins Kaplan, tell me something about you not on your resume, do you have questions for us, stuff like that.

Got the CB the next day, but was told in interview that I was likely going to get it. It was a great interview.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any information on what Meaher & Geer start associates at? I'm assuming it's market ($120k)?

[midwestrocks]

Does anyone have any information on what Meaher & Geer start associates at? I'm assuming it's market ($120k)?

No personal info on Meagher & Geer, but wouldn't necessarily assume that it pays market. I know that similar midsize firms in Minneapolis pay something closer to 100k

[bruinfan10]

wait, MN firms seriously haven't upped their salaries after the whole NY to 180 thing??

[Anonymous User]

wait, MN firms seriously haven't upped their salaries after the whole NY to 180 thing??

I spent this past summer in Mpls and at least as of then, they hadn't. Ridiculous

[Anonymous User]

wait, MN firms seriously haven't upped their salaries after the whole NY to 180 thing??

One of the big firms told me recently they expect the response to $180k would be slow, if at all.

[bruinfan10]

wait, MN firms seriously haven't upped their salaries after the whole NY to 180 thing??

One of the big firms told me recently they expect the response to $180k would be slow, if at all.

wow. it really is its own separate market. i guess the Minneapolis firms are only interested in people who would never consider living anywhere but Minnesota---as long as they pay more than Target, they're good, I guess. i'd be working there right now if the firms paid a decent rate OR if they didn't demand regular biglaw hours. instead i popped over to the LA market, cashed in a 70k clerkship bonus and I'm paying off my debt at the new 180k rate. easier to get a biglaw job in LA anyway. So crazy.

[Anonymous User]

wait, MN firms seriously haven't upped their salaries after the whole NY to 180 thing??

One of the big firms told me recently they expect the response to $180k would be slow, if at all.

wow. it really is its own separate market. i guess the Minneapolis firms are only interested in people who would never consider living anywhere but Minnesota---as long as they pay more than Target, they're good, I guess. i'd be working there right now if the firms paid a decent rate OR if they didn't demand regular biglaw hours. instead i popped over to the LA market, cashed in a 70k clerkship bonus and I'm paying off my debt at the new 180k rate. easier to get a biglaw job in LA anyway. So crazy.

Minimal competition from Big law players probably gives this confidence. If Faegre/Dorsey caves though, the entire market will fold. Insular until it isn't.

[Anonymous User]

wait, MN firms seriously haven't upped their salaries after the whole NY to 180 thing??

One of the big firms told me recently they expect the response to $180k would be slow, if at all.

wow. it really is its own separate market. i guess the Minneapolis firms are only interested in people who would never consider living anywhere but Minnesota---as long as they pay more than Target, they're good, I guess. i'd be working there right now if the firms paid a decent rate OR if they didn't demand regular biglaw hours. instead i popped over to the LA market, cashed in a 70k clerkship bonus and I'm paying off my debt at the new 180k rate. easier to get a biglaw job in LA anyway. So crazy.

They probably also need to see recruiting take a dip outside the state. They'll always have UMN/UST/WM to feed into their firms, but if they see a sizable dip in T14 from MN/Upper Midwest picking other markets over them, I think they'll start to feel some pressure. This business is so heavily based on name recognition, and having the upper crust of law student candidates vacating the market because compensation isn't competitive nationally will spur action.

This is probably a product of not seeing the effects of SA recruiting fully yet. That may take a year or two to happen, but eventually market forces will play out and MSP firms will be forced to follow the national movement to increased associate compensation. They just can't rely on "cost of living here is so much cheaper" forever.

[Npret]

wait, MN firms seriously haven't upped their salaries after the whole NY to 180 thing??

One of the big firms told me recently they expect the response to $180k would be slow, if at all.

wow. it really is its own separate market. i guess the Minneapolis firms are only interested in people who would never consider living anywhere but Minnesota---as long as they pay more than Target, they're good, I guess. i'd be working there right now if the firms paid a decent rate OR if they didn't demand regular biglaw hours. instead i popped over to the LA market, cashed in a 70k clerkship bonus and I'm paying off my debt at the new 180k rate. easier to get a biglaw job in LA anyway. So crazy.

They probably also need to see recruiting take a dip outside the state. They'll always have UMN/UST/WM to feed into their firms, but if they see a sizable dip in T14 from MN/Upper Midwest picking other markets over them, I think they'll start to feel some pressure. This business is so heavily based on name recognition, and having the upper crust of law student candidates vacating the market because compensation isn't competitive nationally will spur action.

This is probably a product of not seeing the effects of SA recruiting fully yet. That may take a year or two to happen, but eventually market forces will play out and MSP firms will be forced to follow the national movement to increased associate compensation. They just can't rely on "cost of living here is so much cheaper" forever.

Haven't they always preferred locals and grads with ties who come back home? Would those grads rather move to NYC for two years and then come back for less money? Maybe. But they won't have trouble filling their small classes.

[Anonymous User]

wait, MN firms seriously haven't upped their salaries after the whole NY to 180 thing??

One of the big firms told me recently they expect the response to $180k would be slow, if at all.

wow. it really is its own separate market. i guess the Minneapolis firms are only interested in people who would never consider living anywhere but Minnesota---as long as they pay more than Target, they're good, I guess. i'd be working there right now if the firms paid a decent rate OR if they didn't demand regular biglaw hours. instead i popped over to the LA market, cashed in a 70k clerkship bonus and I'm paying off my debt at the new 180k rate. easier to get a biglaw job in LA anyway. So crazy.

They probably also need to see recruiting take a dip outside the state. They'll always have UMN/UST/WM to feed into their firms, but if they see a sizable dip in T14 from MN/Upper Midwest picking other markets over them, I think they'll start to feel some pressure. This business is so heavily based on name recognition, and having the upper crust of law student candidates vacating the market because compensation isn't competitive nationally will spur action.

This is probably a product of not seeing the effects of SA recruiting fully yet. That may take a year or two to happen, but eventually market forces will play out and MSP firms will be forced to follow the national movement to increased associate compensation. They just can't rely on "cost of living here is so much cheaper" forever.

Haven't they always preferred locals and grads with ties who come back home? Would those grads rather move to NYC for two years and then come back for less money? Maybe. But they won't have trouble filling their small classes.

This is why it'll take time to figure out if they'll raise associate salaries. I was definitely assuming they see a dip in locals not going back to the market and picking Chicago, etc. because compensation is much more bang for the buck, which may or may not happen. As long as they don't see a sizable departure from the market for desirable candidates that results in them dipping further into the local law schools, they likely won't respond. But if median at UMN starts to become the norm for the bigger firms (not trying to dump on median at UMN, but traditionally they have not been competitive for the big firms), they might realize they've lost footing with the locals who went to national reach schools and react. That will take time to see if it'll happen.