Starting in NYC big law want to end up in Texas no ties. Forum

[futuresuccessstory]

Hello, I will be starting in New York City big law at a really nice firm. I want to end up in Texas but I have no ties.

What practice groups should I be looking in to facilitate that switch in 3-4 years. Is there anything I can do to that will help me land Texas? I am open to everything except litigation.

[jkpolk]

if you're at a solid firm you can do whatever (and can, later on, consider moving within the firm to a TX office of the firm). it wont be a slam dunk to lateral outside the firm but could happen if there's still a solid market for attorneys then. it will always be weird you want to be in texas but dont really have a reason to be in texas.

[Anonymous User]

I graduated from a TT and started my career as a corporate associate at a New York v20. In my second year I had no issue landing callbacks at top Texas firms in Houston. There are a number of recruiting firms that focus heavily on recruiting New York associates to Texas.

[Anonymous User]

I wasn't even in NYC and I got at least one recruiting email a week touting some gig at a Texas firm. I recall many were M&A but others were just genericly looking for corporate associates.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

I'm a litigation associate at a big law firm in NYC and I get a lot of recruiters contacting me about TX (and I have no ties). I don't think this is going to be a problem.

[nealric]

Texas biglaw has changed a lot over the last decade. It’s a lot less insular than it used to be as the traditional Texas firms have become less market dominant in the face of outsider competition.

[Anonymous User]

if you're at a solid firm you can do whatever (and can, later on, consider moving within the firm to a TX office of the firm). it wont be a slam dunk to lateral outside the firm but could happen if there's still a solid market for attorneys then. it will always be weird you want to be in texas but dont really have a reason to be in texas.

How can I set myself up to move within the firm? What practice groups should I consider. For instance I heard I should stay clear from capital market, credit, banking and finance as those are New York practice groups.

[Anonymous User]

I graduated from a TT and started my career as a corporate associate at a New York v20. In my second year I had no issue landing callbacks at top Texas firms in Houston. There are a number of recruiting firms that focus heavily on recruiting New York associates to Texas.

What was your practice group? During callbacks did you feel like you had to prove why Texas?

[Anonymous User]

Texas biglaw has changed a lot over the last decade. It’s a lot less insular than it used to be as the traditional Texas firms have become less market dominant in the face of outsider competition.

That's great to hear. Do you know which firms are particularly friendly to non-Texans?

Then I could research them and see what practice groups are hot for them.

[jkpolk]

if you're at a solid firm you can do whatever (and can, later on, consider moving within the firm to a TX office of the firm). it wont be a slam dunk to lateral outside the firm but could happen if there's still a solid market for attorneys then. it will always be weird you want to be in texas but dont really have a reason to be in texas.

How can I set myself up to move within the firm? What practice groups should I consider. For instance I heard I should stay clear from capital market, credit, banking and finance as those are New York practice groups.

Legitimately does not matter/impossible to say. Traditionally energy M&A and project finance (and associated corporate specialists - tax, IP, etc.) but big law at the "top" isn't that parochial anymore. look at head counts at some texas big law shops - you'll see everything you have in new york (on the ground, the day to day may change, for example securities may be more debt and possibly more transactional or blue sky and less IPO oriented (although NY also moving away from IPO centric) - not a hard rule and as far as you're concerned it doesnt matter).

[Anonymous User]

Texas biglaw has changed a lot over the last decade. It’s a lot less insular than it used to be as the traditional Texas firms have become less market dominant in the face of outsider competition.

Lolol. V&E/BB just had record years in their +100 year histories. Laterals are from top firms and top schools.

[Traynor Brah]

Texas biglaw has changed a lot over the last decade. It’s a lot less insular than it used to be as the traditional Texas firms have become less market dominant in the face of outsider competition.

Lolol. V&E/BB just had record years in their +100 year histories. Laterals are from top firms and top schools.

You realize your statements are consistent with that post, yes?

[BasilHallward]

Texas biglaw has changed a lot over the last decade. It’s a lot less insular than it used to be as the traditional Texas firms have become less market dominant in the face of outsider competition.

Lolol. V&E/BB just had record years in their +100 year histories. Laterals are from top firms and top schools.

You realize your statements are consistent with that post, yes?

+1

[nealric]

Texas biglaw has changed a lot over the last decade. It’s a lot less insular than it used to be as the traditional Texas firms have become less market dominant in the face of outsider competition.

Lolol. V&E/BB just had record years in their +100 year histories. Laterals are from top firms and top schools.

I certainly did not mean to imply VE or BB were failing financially. Rather, they are no longer the be-all end-all of high end biglaw in Houston. There is much more competition now. With a lot more lateral action, a greater portion of the partnership are from different parts of the country than used to be the case. All that adds up to a lot less insularity.

[2014]

Texas biglaw has changed a lot over the last decade. It’s a lot less insular than it used to be as the traditional Texas firms have become less market dominant in the face of outsider competition.

That's great to hear. Do you know which firms are particularly friendly to non-Texans?

Then I could research them and see what practice groups are hot for them.

By their nature Texas firms are going to be more generalist than NY counterparts, you should be aiming to do the corporate group that gives you the most transferable range of experience and doesn't pigeonhole you into a NY-centric specialty. 95% of the time that's M&A but real estate, bankruptcy or even tax wouldn't be bad options. I'd try to avoid bank heavy practice groups (securities/capital markets/credit/lev fin/whatever your firm calls it) if you can.