Seattle?

Anonymous_User · February 27, 2012, 1:48am

I’m wondering if anyone can speak to this question:

I’m at MVP, and I’m thinking of going for Seattle at OCI. I have no connections. Could good grades make that better? If so, about what class percentage would I need?

Cavalier · February 27, 2012, 2:10am

Without connections you’re unlikely to land a summer associate position in Seattle.

Bronck · February 27, 2012, 2:12am

This. I wouldn’t waste your bids on it.

20160810 · February 28, 2012, 1:44am

Eh, depending on how good your grades are, maybe bid mainly on NYC and throw in a few Seattle bids for fun, but yeah, don’t expect anything.

bdubs · February 28, 2012, 2:34am

I imagine it would be hard, even with good grades. I am just guessing, but it seems like good grades can convince someone that you want to do something specific. It’s probably easier to work for a top firm doing X with good grades because you can justify your desire to do X as the reason you want to work at that firm. I am imagining someone who is top ranked at a T14 who says they want to do entertainment law but has no Socal connections might still be able to land an SA gig because of a strong desire to do something which is specific to LA.

Seattle has very few industries that it can claim a strong connection to(none? maybe aerospace, but that’s really niche). The top firms are all generalist who serve local businesses.

Anonymous_User · February 28, 2012, 1:36pm

Does anyone have any info on how hard it is to lateral into Seattle as a junior associate?

JIsaacSmith · February 29, 2012, 12:32am

Tech (Microsoft, Amazon, Google); Food Service Industry (Starbucks); Aerospace (Boeing)

IMO, Seattle is a haven for industry and there are several well-established businesses whose central hub is in the Northwest. Expedia, Zillow, and REAL Networks are just a few others.

bdubs · February 29, 2012, 12:38am

None of those industries are primarily in the PNW or Seattle. It’s not like finance in NYC, entertainment in LA, energy in Houston, or technology/new ventures in SF/SV. Each of those cities/areas can claim to be the center of an industry and has specific law firms and practices that cater exclusively to those industries. Like I said, the only thing that Seattle might arguably have a niche in is aerospace, but now that Boeing’s technical HQ is in Chicago that is not even a strong argument.