Is it difficult moving regions from first job to second job? Forum

[bagold]

Everybody says "go to law school in an area you want to work" -- the takeaway being that a strong regional school (let's say the University of Washington) is only going to place well in its market (Seattle, Pacific Northwest). My question is how difficult is it to move from your first job in Seattle to your second job in Los Angeles. Are firms/non-profits/governments going to care that you went to school in Seattle instead of LA or are they more focused on what you've done since law school?

Thanks!

[sparty99]

Well, no one in another state is going to even interview you unless you had passed the California Bar. It's not easy to move around in law if you always have to worry about studying for another state's BAR.

[bk1]

Well, no one in another state is going to even interview you unless you had passed the California Bar.

This is not necessarily true. I know people who have lateraled, started at their job, taken time off to pass the new bar, and then returned to the job.

[typ3]

It is easier to lateral at large firms. It is nearly impossible if you were at a small / medium firm to move to another state and find a job that will pay as much unless you are bringing national clients. In which case, why would you be with a firm at all?

[TaipeiMort]

It is easier to lateral at large firms. It is nearly impossible if you were at a small / medium firm to move to another state and find a job that will pay as much unless you are bringing national clients. In which case, why would you be with a firm at all?

Define midsized. If you come from a specialty practice top tier firm, you can lateral as well.

[typ3]

Not to sound like an ass, but why would a law firm in another state or another part of the country take you in when the entire industry is in a glut? Why would a partner take you in when they can just hire a newbie fresh out of law school, an Indian from an LPO company, or a contract attorney with years of experience?

There is not a lot of lateraling in top-tier specialty firms unless you have a client base and clients you can bring with you. No firm wants you simply for your experience- they want you because you have clients and work to bring with. Lateraling just to be another employee isn't likely to happen ITE.

[bk1]

Not to sound like an ass, but why would a law firm in another state or another part of the country take you in when the entire industry is in a glut? Why would a partner take you in when they can just hire a newbie fresh out of law school, an Indian from an LPO company, or a contract attorney with years of experience?

There is not a lot of lateraling in top-tier specialty firms unless you have a client base and clients you can bring with you. No firm wants you simply for your experience- they want you because you have clients and work to bring with. Lateraling just to be another employee isn't likely to happen ITE.

What are you talking about? Lateraling happens all the time. Firms want midlevels who are trained. These firms have lost a lot of their fresh grads due to burn out and they don't have to train a midlevel like they have to train fresh grads.

[TaipeiMort]

Not to sound like an ass, but why would a law firm in another state or another part of the country take you in when the entire industry is in a glut? Why would a partner take you in when they can just hire a newbie fresh out of law school, an Indian from an LPO company, or a contract attorney with years of experience?

There is not a lot of lateraling in top-tier specialty firms unless you have a client base and clients you can bring with you. No firm wants you simply for your experience- they want you because you have clients and work to bring with. Lateraling just to be another employee isn't likely to happen ITE.

Lateraling is how firms are hiring ITE. For example, my summer firm had need for 9 corporate associates due to a boost in work. They hired 4 summers and 5 laterals.

[rad lulz]

the takeaway being that a strong regional school (let's say the University of Washington) is only going to place well in its market (Seattle, Pacific Northwest).

It appears that University of Washington doesn't actually place well, period.

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=washington