Denver legal market Forum

[mecarey]

Thanks, that's really helpful. I am leaning towards CU just because I have the GI Bill so financially it makes more sense. What is OCI like at both schools? Are certain firms more affiliated with one school than the other or do most of the big and midlaw firms in Denver pull from the top 10% of both schools?

Hey GI Bill anon, you should send me a PM.

[Anonymous User]

Denver is a tiny market (<25 SAs listed on NALP) almost entirely served by the very top students at local schools (CU/DU) and competitive T13 students with significant ties to the region. Unless you can somehow network yourself into an offer this year, you're probably going to have to take a clerkship in the area or attempt to lateral in the future.

Why do people care so much about ties? Wouldn't it be better to have a smart person without ties than an average person with ties?

[SmokeytheBear]

Denver is a tiny market (<25 SAs listed on NALP) almost entirely served by the very top students at local schools (CU/DU) and competitive T13 students with significant ties to the region. Unless you can somehow network yourself into an offer this year, you're probably going to have to take a clerkship in the area or attempt to lateral in the future.

Why do people care so much about ties? Wouldn't it be better to have a smart person without ties than an average person with ties?

Culture. Values. Commitment to stay and not just trying to make turns in fresh pow for a few seasons/bail for powder hour.

[TEIAM]

Denver is a tiny market (<25 SAs listed on NALP) almost entirely served by the very top students at local schools (CU/DU) and competitive T13 students with significant ties to the region. Unless you can somehow network yourself into an offer this year, you're probably going to have to take a clerkship in the area or attempt to lateral in the future.

Why do people care so much about ties? Wouldn't it be better to have a smart person without ties than an average person with ties?

Because hiring is expensive and time consuming. If you don't have ties, you're more likely to be miserable and thus a flight risk.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Denver is a tiny market (<25 SAs listed on NALP) almost entirely served by the very top students at local schools (CU/DU) and competitive T13 students with significant ties to the region. Unless you can somehow network yourself into an offer this year, you're probably going to have to take a clerkship in the area or attempt to lateral in the future.

Why do people care so much about ties? Wouldn't it be better to have a smart person without ties than an average person with ties?

Also there are PLENTY of smart people with ties, so it’s not a choice they have to make.

[Bikeflip]

Denver is a tiny market (<25 SAs listed on NALP) almost entirely served by the very top students at local schools (CU/DU) and competitive T13 students with significant ties to the region. Unless you can somehow network yourself into an offer this year, you're probably going to have to take a clerkship in the area or attempt to lateral in the future.

Why do people care so much about ties? Wouldn't it be better to have a smart person without ties than an average person with ties?

Culture. Values. Commitment to stay and not just trying to make turns in fresh pow for a few seasons/bail for powder hour.

Some partners in Denver want to make turns in pow, and your job is to ensure the partner can do just that.

[Anonymous User]

There were several folks from UT with no ties from this year's class who are working biglaw in Denver. In fact, Colorado specifically includes UT (along with 9 of the T14 schools) in its bar exam stats.

[Anonymous User]

I went to HS and college in Denver, attended T14 and I couldn't get an offer.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know much about Moye White?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have luck with clerkships?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have luck with clerkships?

T20 grad w/honors, attended law school on east coast but came from CO and had strong ties. No bites except a phone screener on biglaw. Did paper the state for state clerkships (SC, COA, and the local jurisdictions that hired for district/county court judges). Had about a half dozen interviews at COA but no one bit.

CO is a hard market to break into, even with ties. It has two decent law schools that seem to fill most of its needs.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have luck with clerkships?

T20 grad w/honors, attended law school on east coast but came from CO and had strong ties. No bites except a phone screener on biglaw. Did paper the state for state clerkships (SC, COA, and the local jurisdictions that hired for district/county court judges). Had about a half dozen interviews at COA but no one bit.

CO is a hard market to break into, even with ties. It has two decent law schools that seem to fill most of its needs.

Current state district court clerk here. I'd agree that CO state clerkships are pretty much dominated by CU and DU grads. It's also a bit of a crapshoot to get one; good contacts and networks can make a bigger difference than credentials, which gives CU and DU a leg up. I also know several judges that prefer to hire previous interns as clerks, which again gives CU and DU an edge. That said, it's not impossible if you're out of state, but you need to be persistent and a bit lucky.

[Anonymous User]

There were several folks from UT with no ties from this year's class who are working biglaw in Denver. In fact, Colorado specifically includes UT (along with 9 of the T14 schools) in its bar exam stats.

Amusing but doesn't surprise me. Denver is a sort of secondary-Houston, by which I mean there's lots of oil and gas/other resources work there.

I'm a second year corporate energy guy in Texas. I hope to end up there in a few years. I'm hoping I'll have a better time as a mid-level. T14 but no ties that matter, I just love the city.