Top Law Schools

As a long-time TLS lurker, I am constantly reading about the importance of developing ties to the place where you want to work, whether it's being from there, having family there, or choosing a school in that area.

In my situation, I have no ties anywhere I would want to be. The state where I grew up, went to undergrad, and where my family lives is not a state with a thriving legal market or any major opportunities in what I want to do.

I'm going to be at SLS so I'm hoping the national name and top three status will help me out. Still, should I be worried about this? How much do ties really matter?

Any insight on this would be appreciated!

Ties are important in the south, I'm sure someone else will chime in about the non-south.

Louis1127 wrote:Ties are important in the south, I'm sure someone else will chime in about the non-south.

You gotta wear a tie everywhere except Quinn.

This question comes up a lot in various forms:

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... hilit=ties
http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... s#p7387107
http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... ilit=+ties
http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... ilit=+ties
http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... ilit=+ties
http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... ilit=+ties

(Basically, search the forum for topics with "ties" in the subject line.)

Ah sorry, I didn't realize this question has been so thoroughly discussed elsewhere. I should have searched first!

Thank you!

I'm guessing that TLS will tell you that with the Stanford brand on your resume + reasonable social skills, you should be fine in whatever market you want to go into, assuming it's not very ties-sensitive like Texas or the South. Be able to articulate good reasons why you want to work in that area though.

Ties are crucial for interviews

I recommend a red power tie

You can always form ties - and school is a good place to do it. Yes, it will set you back not to have connections - but this is true in any field.

Propose to women in each city in which you want to work. After interviews, when you decide which market you want, dump all but that one.

One thing to consider is that bigger firms with gigantic institutional clients are not going to care as much about ties as smaller or mid-sized firms that want you to start bringing in clients early. As a Stanford student you should do just fine with mega firms in California or New York regardless of ties. A mid-law firm paying 100-120k in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Denver, Portland, Birmingham, etc. is probably out of reach without ties.

I guess my main question, and one that isn't really addressed in the threads linked above or in any that I can find, is how do ties play out for PI jobs? All the prior discussions about ties seem very firm-specific.

P.S. I am a female so the tie-wearing jokes, while clever, don't apply to me.

I think it's tougher to generalize about PI. In terms of PD/DA, one of the things that helps is interning for that office during law school, but I don't get the impression you have to have lived there/be from there to get that experience (though it may vary). I think it can help to intern during the school year so going to a local school can be a plus (but isn't necessarily required either). If you mean PI more like human rights/non-profit/etc., I don't think ties are that important, as opposed to connections/relevant experience. If the big issue is dedication to the cause, and you can show dedication to the cause, I think employers would be convinced you're willing to move/live wherever it is for the job.

That's really helpful, thank you!!