Pittsburgh - OCI & Prospects Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am "rising 2L" doing the OCI thing. Not getting a lot of positive responses from OCI applications, anyone know what the legal market here is like? I know its tough with two law schools in the same town, especially for non-locals but not sure otherwise. I have a family and I could use the Biglaw SA pay, but can't do anything about my grades (top 3rd) at the moment. Sorry this is so rambling, but I am just struggling for hope here and looking for advice/ideas for anyone with any experience in Pittsburgh.

[Lacepiece23]

I am "rising 2L" doing the OCI thing. Not getting a lot of positive responses from OCI applications, anyone know what the legal market here is like? I know its tough with two law schools in the same town, especially for non-locals but not sure otherwise. I have a family and I could use the Biglaw SA pay, but can't do anything about my grades (top 3rd) at the moment. Sorry this is so rambling, but I am just struggling for hope here and looking for advice/ideas for anyone with any experience in Pittsburgh.

You haven't really provided much relevant information. Where are you top third at? That will make a difference. Generally, top third and ties from a T-14 should get you an SA. Did you spend your 1L summer in Pittsburgh? Do you have any contacts at the law firms in town?

[grades??]

Focusing on Pittsburg seems like an easy way to strike out. I know top 10% people from mid t-13 from Pittsburg who struggled getting SA jobs in Pittsburg because its such a small SA market.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry, OP here. Top 1/3 at U Pitt Law and I am currently working at a small civil litigation firm. I had hoped that going to school here would help make contacts, but I am not impressed with our career office. Its not helped that most of the 1L class are from Pitt attorney families, with siblings and parents all working here at the larger firms or as in counsel.

No real connections, or those that I have made are no shows when I email them questions.

[Lacepiece23]

Sorry, OP here. Top 1/3 at U Pitt Law and I am currently working at a small civil litigation firm. I had hoped that going to school here would help make contacts, but I am not impressed with our career office. Its not helped that most of the 1L class are from Pitt attorney families, with siblings and parents all working here at the larger firms or as in counsel.

No real connections, or those that I have made are no shows when I email them questions.

Yeah, you're not likely to get anything Biglaw wise without law review. If you write on, you may have a small shot, but still not likely.

[grades??]

Sorry, OP here. Top 1/3 at U Pitt Law and I am currently working at a small civil litigation firm. I had hoped that going to school here would help make contacts, but I am not impressed with our career office. Its not helped that most of the 1L class are from Pitt attorney families, with siblings and parents all working here at the larger firms or as in counsel.

No real connections, or those that I have made are no shows when I email them questions.

Well op big law isn't in the cards for you. You knew the risks going there I'm sure so I hope you get comfortable doing small civil lit in the city.

[Anonymous User]

I did get on to one of our two reviews, which is reflected in my resume.

[1styearlateral]

No shot unless you network.

[Anonymous User]

Fellow Pittsburgh rising 2L here. The big firms here really emphasize that they want people that are going to stay in Pittsburgh. I think that's why people who go to schools other than Pitt and Duquesne struggle to get SAs in this market. A lot of Pitt/Duquesne students are Pittsburgh lifers, and the firms know those folks aren't going to leave after a couple of years for a better market. OCI is competitive just for the Pittsburgh schools, so I don't know if you have a shot of getting an opportunity through those channels. I don't think you need to lose all hope though. If you can, I'd try to work with a local Judge in the fall. A lot of them are alums of Pitt or Duquesne, have tons of contacts, and generally want to help students. If nothing else, it's good experience. Whenever you are networking/interviewing, emphasize how much you love Pittsburgh and plan to stay. Just because OCI isn't going well, it doesn't mean there aren't other opportunities out there, you just might have to grind a little more to get them.

[Anonymous User]

I think that's why people who go to schools other than Pitt and Duquesne struggle to get SAs in this market.

I disagree with this. A lot of people who have SA'd at the biglaw firms in Pitt in the past have come from outside the two Pittsburgh schools. While yes, a lot of the attorneys there are from Pitt/Duquesne, there has been a push to get graduates from better schools who either a) grew up in Pittsburgh and plan to move back or b) would move to Pittsburgh for good. It's really hard to get an biglaw SA from Pitt/Duquesne these days, even in Pitt.

[Anonymous User]

It doesn't help that Reed Smith, K&L, and BIR aren't the healthiest firms nationally.

[Anonymous User]

I think that's why people who go to schools other than Pitt and Duquesne struggle to get SAs in this market.

I disagree with this. A lot of people who have SA'd at the biglaw firms in Pitt in the past have come from outside the two Pittsburgh schools. While yes, a lot of the attorneys there are from Pitt/Duquesne, there has been a push to get graduates from better schools who either a) grew up in Pittsburgh and plan to move back or b) would move to Pittsburgh for good. It's really hard to get an biglaw SA from Pitt/Duquesne these days, even in Pitt.

I think the point was that it's a struggle for everybody, and you aren't helping yourself if you have to convince the firms you want to move to/stay in Pittsburgh, rather than it being presumed because you've never left Pittsburgh your whole life.

[Anonymous User]

As long as you have the grades and the street credibility, I would do my absolutely damnedest to steer clear of firms like K&L and Reed Smith. These firms have a reputation for no-offering perfectly good summers.

[Anonymous User]

As long as you have the grades and the street credibility, I would do my absolutely damnedest to steer clear of firms like K&L and Reed Smith. These firms have a reputation for no-offering perfectly good summers.

I mean where else are you going to go? Jones Day takes like 8 summers, and they pay the highest in the city. Next up is Reed Smith and K&L and Buchanan that pay close to market. I agree that RM and K&L are not ideal but if you are looking in Pgh there aren't a ton of other places to go.

OP, as to answer your question I don't think you have a realistic chance at getting an SA position at one of the large firms. I'm headed to one of them this fall, and everyone I summered with was either 1) very top of their class from Duquesne/Pitt, or 2) T14 students that had ties to Pgh. There seems to be a trend towards hiring the latter, though I can't say why that is.

Network, pursue options in government or working for a judge, and look at smaller firms. I don't know much about the smaller firms in Pgh but I know quite a few people going to them. Do some research and apply everywhere. Best of luck

[Anonymous User]

2) T14 students that had ties to Pgh. There seems to be a trend towards hiring the latter, though I can't say why that is.

Because there are tons of partners from T14 schools who have been pushing their firms to hire from their alma maters.

Don't forget Morgan Lewis, Cohen, Eckert Seamans, etc. as they pay pretty well.

[Anonymous User]

2) T14 students that had ties to Pgh. There seems to be a trend towards hiring the latter, though I can't say why that is.

Because there are tons of partners from T14 schools who have been pushing their firms to hire from their alma maters.

Don't forget Morgan Lewis, Cohen, Eckert Seamans, etc. as they pay pretty well.

Yeah fair enough, though it's still a change from prior years. Also, Cohen's summer class is 4, ML hasn't had a summer class, and Eckert just revived their summer class 2 years ago. These are not safe bets for people to rely on for SAs