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What is the “Midwest coast”?
I came to the comments to ask that.
Are you barred in that state? If not, what’s the plan there?
I’d start with the bar association in you want to connect to others but it’d be hard to do it ahead of time. If firm, 3-4 seems fine but maybe try to find a recruiter there with good references. If in house, I’d start applying around 6 months ahead of time if not more.
Do you have a flexible timeline for the move? That would impact my answer too
Harder to get a job and it takes longer to get through interviews, most companies drag it out and have a lot of bureaucracy involved in hiring. Also, the market sucks for IHC right now.
Not being barred might be an issue at a smaller/regional firm as they’d need someone who can practice ASAP I would imagine. So maybe target bigger firms that can put you in other deals with more associates. The timing also, most firms will want someone ASAP and companies might be more willing to wait s little longer for relocation.
I moved from Chicago to a West Coast city about 15 years ago so YMMV. I applied for jobs from Chicago and was ghosted. Not being here was like an automatic disqualifier. Even when I was in the city I moved to, it was hard to secure any kind of position (I found a contract position through a friend who was an in-house claims counsel and assigned files to the firm). Did that for about a year before I found a full-time gig. Once I was here, barred, and employed, everything was MUCH easier
I did my best to make contacts - used my Chicago network to meet people here, used my employer's contacts, reached out to grads of my law school, etc.
It was tough, not going to lie, nor do I want to dissuade you. It's worked out and was the best decision of my life to move here.
I moved coast to coast. Took me a year to find a job and another 4 months to move.
I moved from Minneapolis to Nashville. It’s hard to tap into the legal communities prior to moving, but in advance of moving definitely have a list of all the bar organizations that you’d like to join so you can start going to events right away and building your network. I also messaged attorneys in Nashville on LinkedIn to get coffee, since you haven’t moved yet maybe ask them if you could do a virtual zoom coffee. Good luck with the move!
I know someone who got a job at a firm locally that had an office where she wanted to go, with the understanding that she would transfer after she was barred.
I recently moved back to my Midwest hometown (smaller city than Denver) after practicing for 5 years in NY big law. I started putting out a couple feelers through informational interviews probably a year before I began my search in earnest to get the lay of the land in terms of what firms I wanted to target. I had the advantage of having decent network through family and friends that I could tap into, but I also found contacts through my prior firm’s alumni network that I found invaluable. Not sure if the latter is a resource you have access to but recommend leveraging it if you do. FWIW I was also asked in interviews what my plans were to get admitted - I had researched the rules and told folks I planned to waive in once eligible which was a few months away at the time. Also to your timing point - even if interviews/offers move quickly (they did for me at least) don’t forget to build in time for conflicts.