Chances at BigLaw in LA/San Diego? 3.0X - 1L SA Forum

[Anonymous User]

Did terrible my first year - parent with cancer, etc. etc. --- 3.0X GPA / Clinic next year / no journal

Worked in a firm as 1L SA

T25-30 School / 2 years of work experience before law school (government, attorney general office, etc)

President / VP of some student orgs (minority as well) - ties to CA (family lives there, grew up there)

My school doesn't have ties to CA really. Want to do transactional work

How's it looking? Where should I apply?

[Anonymous User]

You're probably not going to get anything in SD...MM like crazy to LA firms but the chances are low. Did you summer at a large firm?

[SmokeytheBear]

Unless you have ties to SD you have no shot.

And your grades are going to unfortunately keep you from anything in LA/SF/SV probably. Mass mail and pray.

[BulletTooth]

MM like crazy. I would try to plug your 1L SA experience as it is something that most other candidates will not have.

[Anonymous User]

OP HERE: Would my chances in NY be much better?

Firm is ~75 attorneys in this location

[favabeansoup]

OP HERE: Would my chances in NY be much better?

Firm is ~75 attorneys in this location

Significantly. NY is generally easiest market to get biglaw due to large summer classes and no need for ties.


However, depending on your particular school and where that 3.0x gpa puts you (I'm guessing median or a little below), biglaw anywhere will probably be difficult to break into.

Mass mail everywhere, bid heavily NYC at your school's OCI, and network with alumni. All you can do but chances will be slim, just fyi.

If your 1L SA firm is a decent place to work try to convince them to keep you around next summer too.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry about your parent. Don't mean to hijack your thread, but I am in a similar boat in terms of bad grades + really understandable explanation. I'm getting conflicting info on whether I should attempt to explain my grades or just avoid discussing them. Have you thought about this?