Help for SA who has to switch markets Forum

[Anonymous User]

I currently have a 2L SA Position with a V100 firm. I also recently found out that after graduation I need to move markets for personal/family reasons. I have questions since I am spending a summer with a firm that I know I won't be accepting an offer from and I personally don't know anyone who has done this.

1. The firm has offices in the market where I'm moving. Is there a smooth way to say at the end of the summer that I like this firm, but I now have to be in [enter major city] for a valid personal reason? Or should I just apply directly to the firm after the SA position ends?

2. If that's not an option I'd still like to stay in BigLaw if possible. Is mass mailing firms in the new market while my SA position is still occurring a bad idea?

3. Any other advice? I have to make this move, so I'm trying to make the most of this summer even though I know that accepting the offer isn't on the table.

[runinthefront]

I currently have a 2L SA Position with a V100 firm. I also recently found out that after graduation I need to move markets for personal/family reasons. I have questions since I am spending a summer with a firm that I know I won't be accepting an offer from and I personally don't know anyone who has done this.

1. The firm has offices in the market where I'm moving. Is there a smooth way to say at the end of the summer that I like this firm, but I now have to be in [enter major city] for a valid personal reason? Or should I just apply directly to the firm after the SA position ends?

2. If that's not an option I'd still like to stay in BigLaw if possible. Is mass mailing firms in the new market while my SA position is still occurring a bad idea?

3. Any other advice? I have to make this move, so I'm trying to make the most of this summer even though I know that accepting the offer isn't on the table.

1. Don't bring this up until you have an offer in hand from you current firm. After they offer you, talk to them about the possibility of switching markets. It's not an uncommon conversation.

2. You should mass mail firms in your target market starting in July. There's zero downside.

3. Good luck

[IExistedOnceBefore]

You can still accept an offer from them. So shake that attitude out. You want to put in your best foot and make sure you get an offer. Whether it's from your current office or the office in the other city.

If it's from your current office. Fine. You do 3L OCI and mass mail. They're gonna ask if you got an offer and if you say "no" it can hurt if you say "yes but I need to move cities for x, y, z" reasons, awesome.

It's not impossible to turn your 2L summer in one region into an offer at the other. It's just uncommon. You need to network like crazy within your firm. You want to be subtle but you don't want to ask at the very end of summer. It's a bit nuanced. It's best if you lay ground work and then once you have offer in hand discuss possibly moving locations. If you apply directly without talking to anyone about it they're all going to be confused.

[SmokeytheBear]

You can still accept an offer from them. So shake that attitude out. You want to put in your best foot and make sure you get an offer. Whether it's from your current office or the office in the other city.

If it's from your current office. Fine. You do 3L OCI and mass mail. They're gonna ask if you got an offer and if you say "no" it can hurt if you say "yes but I need to move cities for x, y, z" reasons, awesome.

It's not impossible to turn your 2L summer in one region into an offer at the other. It's just uncommon. You need to network like crazy within your firm. You want to be subtle but you don't want to ask at the very end of summer. It's a bit nuanced. It's best if you lay ground work and then once you have offer in hand discuss possibly moving locations. If you apply directly without talking to anyone about it they're all going to be confused.

Do your best to develop a relationship with a partner who can go to batt for you. That way once you get an offer you can call (and I do mean call) that partner and tell them you really want to be at the firm, but for these reasons you need to be in a different city. That way the partner can help facilitate the process.

I would not apply to other firms until you have your offer (so you can put "offer extended" on your resume) and so there aren't any phone calls made to your firm asking about you.