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Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 7:19 pm
by PrelawSteve
Hello,

I know that the above places (Honolulu and Seattle) are very different besides some minor similarities such as being Western cities and casual clothing, but after I do some years of business work and attend law schools, I am interested in these cities because I have some experience living there for brief periods of time and have family members in both places. My questions are the following:

1. What is the legal job market like in those two places? What fields hire frequently?

2. What is the business culture like in terms of professional work enviornments in these two places?

3. How does:

A. attending the local public law school

B. attending a T14 law school affect one's prospects.

Thanks

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:14 am
by Hippononymous
My guess would be that Honolulu draws strongly from UH. However, UH is tough to get into if you're a nonresident.

I have an aunt and uncle that live 20 minutes outside of Honolulu... Believe me, I very seriously considered moving in with them, establishing residency, and going to UH.



I don't know anything about Seattle.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 1:10 pm
by Hawkeye Pierce
.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:54 pm
by 20160810
I applied to firms in both cities and got zip, despite being a relatively competitive candidate. Obviously, the most likely explanation is that there were a lot of candidates for a relatively small number of paying summer associate jobs, and many of those candidates were better than I. Still, it can't be understated that employers in both of those cities (especially Honolulu) are skeptical of out-of-towners who aren't applying with the fabled "ties to the area."

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:50 pm
by Oban
You either have to go to UW(or seattle U lol) or have real ties to break into the Seattle Market.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:01 am
by Cavalier
The Seattle legal market is tiny--I think the Seattle firms listed on NALP have a total of 40 summer associate positions. Market pay seems to be about $130K, but some firms are higher, and many are closer to $100K. The hours requirements are generally slightly lower than in primary markets though, so it may be a fair trade off.

As far as what school to go to, you should definitely pick a T14 over UW. From what I've observed, people with average grades at UVA fared well at some of the top Seattle firms (with ties to the region, of course). By contrast, most students at UW is competing for those firms so I imagine landing a job there is much tougher. Also keep in mind that a T14 law school gives you great backup options (big law in any primary market), whereas if you go to UW, leaving the Pacific Northwest will be difficult.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:07 am
by 094320
..

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:09 am
by bjsesq
acrossthelake wrote:For Seattle, if you don't have local ties, you must go to UW to break in. If you do have local ties, then going to T14 and doing there will have you nicely positioned. However, going to a T14 and having no strong local ties is likely to lose out to UW with no strong local ties. The risk, however, with UW is that it limits you to the Pacific NW, which is fine, it's a nice region, but it's also a relatively smaller market so if you strike out there, there's not a lot of flexibility.
What was that you were saying about local ties?

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:15 am
by 094320
..

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:15 am
by bjsesq
acrossthelake wrote:
bjsesq wrote:
acrossthelake wrote:For Seattle, if you don't have local ties, you must go to UW to break in. If you do have local ties, then going to T14 and doing there will have you nicely positioned. However, going to a T14 and having no strong local ties is likely to lose out to UW with no strong local ties. The risk, however, with UW is that it limits you to the Pacific NW, which is fine, it's a nice region, but it's also a relatively smaller market so if you strike out there, there's not a lot of flexibility.
What was that you were saying about local ties?
Nothing like repetition for an important point.
Local ties.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:16 am
by Cavalier
Are ties transferable? I'll sell mine for $5000.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:18 am
by 094320
..

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:20 am
by loomstate
You don't want to live in Hawaii.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:22 am
by bjsesq
loomstate wrote:You don't want to live in Hawaii.
LOCAL TIES, fucking haole.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:24 am
by loomstate
bjsesq wrote:
LOCAL TIES, fucking haole.
is haole some kind of island jargon insult?

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:27 am
by bjsesq
loomstate wrote:
bjsesq wrote:
LOCAL TIES, fucking haole.
is haole some kind of island jargon insult?
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=haole

LOCAL
FUCKING
TIES

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:28 am
by NZA
acrossthelake wrote:
bjsesq wrote:
Local ties.
LOCAL TIES
FTFY

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:29 am
by NZA
bjsesq wrote:
loomstate wrote:
bjsesq wrote:
LOCAL TIES, fucking haole.
is haole some kind of island jargon insult?
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=haole

LOCAL
FUCKING
TIES
I lol'd.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:29 am
by loomstate
so it is lol that's awesome

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:30 am
by FlanAl

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:32 am
by 094320
..

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:33 am
by loomstate
typical shoebes

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:33 am
by bjsesq
loomstate wrote:typical shoebes
WRONG LOCALITY, McFLY.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:35 am
by NZA
acrossthelake wrote:
NZA wrote:
acrossthelake wrote:
bjsesq wrote:
Local ties.
LOCAL TIES
FTFY
I agree with your fix.
Awesome possum.

Re: Question about Seattle and Honolulu job markets

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:35 am
by FlanAl
Image

hawaiian style

SHAKA