Now back to my question:
I would like to work for a bank in either trusts or real estate (or maybe even general counsel). The problem is that they all ask for experienced lawyers. If anyone knows a good way to get there without working BigLaw for a few years please let me know.
Experience, is experience, regardless if it's with biglaw. However, if you wish to work in a big city, the banks will want biglaw experience. Perhaps try working in a smaller city for a few years, then work for a bank in a smaller city which will give you experience to work for a bank, in a larger city.
Are biglaw jobs more manageable/interesting in smaller cities (such as Charlotte)? And is there any way to gain specialised experience in real estate or trust work in biglaw or other firms soon after graduating for ls?
Technically, BIGLAW only applies to major markets like NYC, DC, ATL (borderline), LA, Chicago. Charlotte is more Midlaw. Anyway, Midlaw firms are generally more humane than BIGLAW firms. With your WE, you can probably set yourself up to go into T&E. But I doubt too many people here know much about it, so I'd talk to lawyers in the field to get advice.
EDIT: I also suggest doing a search on XO. I recall some threads about T&E.