re: BR and Louisiana legal market question

The biggest thing for you will be convincing them that you aren't going to leave BR for a bigger and better firm in 3 years.

Good luck!

quote:

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Thanks for all the information. You guys have been more helpful than career services thus far. I'm well aware T14 alone won't blow the socks off really anyone, but I've got other things that I think will help my cause. I did the whole Army 11B thing for four years and I've got a couple of combat pumps. I'm hoping that between my military service and Columbia degree I'll be able to compensate for wherever I end up in my class.

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Here is the bottom line. Your first few years at those big firms are not going to require your Columbia degree, they are going to require a lot of research and document review, something you can learn anywhere.

You legal mind will not start seriously coming into play until you are a 3rd or 4th year associate (AT BEST) If there is a question in the firm's mind about whether you are going to stick out the long hours in Louisiana for that time period, then they will probably be reluctant to hire you.

I worked at one of those firms my 2L summer. I worked an average of probably 75-80 hours a week, AS A SUMMER. I basically said frick that, and went to a small firm, and am loving my life and living comfortably.

I know the culture up there is screaming at you to go "big law" but for you and your young wife's sake reconsider. Think about going to a smaller firm where you can start stretching your legal muscles a little bit earlier (and having a life) and then really start making bank once you get a hold of your own clients.