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[imbored]

I'm seeking some advice about where to bid for OCI this upcoming fall. Quick bio: AE undergrad Georgia Tech, rising 2L at T14 with grades in top 20%. 2 years engineering WE. 1L job at federal regulatory agency. Focusing on IP litigation or telcom regulation.

Should I bid in NYC or DC? I'm ambivalent as to the city, but have ties to DC. I'd like to bid in DC because there are a lot more firms doing regulatory work which I'm interested in, but the CW seems to be that the DC market is very hard to get. Is that true for patent folks, specifically patent lit?

My undergraduate grades are pretty terrible, so as a result I don't think I'll get much attention from all the IP boutiques in DC.

[mhsharma]

For what it's worth, DC.  Develop you're regulatory niche.  Likely that you'll have a way better network there too. 

[guysmiley]

I would say DC. There are better patent opportunities there as well as a more relaxed working environment than in New York.  You can also find cheaper housing in MD and VA. I think the DC market is actually much easier than the NYC market as far as my experience goes.

[stuffball]

The regulatory stuff seems a lock for DC.  There's nothing wrong with the NYC market, but DC is the biggest IP market in the country.  If you have ties here, why would you go to NYC?

As for breaking into lit in DC, I've seen a lot of people do that.  I did it and I'm kind of a d-bag.  I don't think it's harder than breaking into IP lit in NYC.  Curious to hear if anybody thinks I'm wrong about that. 

[imbored]

The regulatory stuff seems a lock for DC.  There's nothing wrong with the NYC market, but DC is the biggest IP market in the country.  If you have ties here, why would you go to NYC?

As for breaking into lit in DC, I've seen a lot of people do that.  I did it and I'm kind of a d-bag.  I don't think it's harder than breaking into IP lit in NYC.  Curious to hear if anybody thinks I'm wrong about that. 

Well the CW among law students is that DC is impossible to get and NYC is the safest market to bid on. What I'm unsure of is how much that applies to IP and how much to different parts of IP. I don't really think I can rely on any interest from boutiques doing prosecution given unmarketable UG degree and terrible grades, so I'd be betting it all on litigation.

[stuffball]

Why would DC be harder to break into now than NYC?  I only know the DC market.  All I know is that I'm now getting calls from DC-based recruiters again.

[imbored]

Why would DC be harder to break into now than NYC?  I only know the DC market.  All I know is that I'm now getting calls from DC-based recruiters again.

There are just fewer summer associate positions in DC as a whole, with lots interest from students at top schools wanting to work there. As a result DC firms are more selective. There are also a lot of boutique places that don't hire any first-years or have very high requirements for such hires.

[ChiefJRoberts]

Why would DC be harder to break into now than NYC?  I only know the DC market.  All I know is that I'm now getting calls from DC-based recruiters again.

There are just fewer summer associate positions in DC as a whole, with lots interest from students at top schools wanting to work there. As a result DC firms are more selective. There are also a lot of boutique places that don't hire any first-years or have very high requirements for such hires.

I would agree with this. There are also a lot fewer law firms in general in DC than in NY.

[stuffball]

Sounds reasonable.  I'm an attorney working in DC but don't really know too much about the NYC market.  All I know is that a few good firms in DC are actively recruiting student associates/patent agents/jr attys right now.  Also, I've seen our crop of summer associates for this year and they generally have credentials that pale in comparison to OP's credentials, save, perhaps, the UG GPA. 

For what it's worth, once you've established yourself it is not impossible to change markets.  I know plenty of people who've gone from NYC to DC and vice versa. 

[ChiefJRoberts]

it's settled. DC wins. The Abercrombie and Fitch store in NYC has bed bugs and had to close for a day. Who would want to live in NY?

[guysmiley]

Stuffball - which firms are recruiting for junior attorneys? Haven't really seen any listings or anything like that.