1L Summer Job Search C/O 2017 Forum

[20141023]

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[BigZuck]

even if you can't get stellar grades, you can still land a 1L SA

Uh, not sure I completely agree with this point Reggie, at least as it relates to most mere mortals

Anyway, this is something I think you might be overstating a bit:

Researching and applying to firms during your first semester should be easy given the fact there is fall break, Thanksgiving break, and many other opportunities to do this stuff - applying to 1L SAs and studying for class are not even close to mutually exclusive activities.

From what I understand, despite their ever-pervasive love of RIGOR, doesn't Chicago kind of go easy on 1Ls in the fall? Correct me if I'm wrong on that, that's just the sense I have got from reading TLS. I know for UT bros (which is probably a school where students should be mass blasting on December 1st given that Texas is the land of milk and 1L SAs), fall of 1L is kind of a bastard. There is no fall break, Thanksgiving is just Thursday-Friday (and probably classes cancelled on Wednesday, but sometimes professors make those up during "deadweek" or at least mine did), the graded LRW memo is due like December 5th or something, and then finals start like the 10th with only 3 days of "deadweek" before that.

I 100% agree with you that it's doable to mass blast December 1st and juggle all that and not get bad grades (I did) but I think the point a lot of other people are making ITT is well taken. Be careful and don't let the job search impact your grades. I think you might be underestimating the degree to which that could be possible (maybe depending on one's school?). I know that personally I could churn out firm apps at a good rate now because I am well-seasoned. But last year? I was still trying to figure out how to be a law student and navigate classes, let alone figure out the differences between firms and come up with a bunch of decent tailored cover letters. It was a lot to juggle and I'm pretty good with time management but I wouldn't call it easy. In fact, that was the only part of 1L that I found to be a bit overwhelming. Doable, certainly, but I think cautioning people to be cognizant of their time/priorities is TCR.

Anyway I pretty much agree with what you said and I'm probably annoyingly picking at that part based on my own experience, I just know a few UT students have posted ITT and I think they (and maybe people at other schools?) should just try to take a look at the end of their semester and figure out how they're going to get all this stuff done.

[sublime]

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[20141023]

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[A. Nony Mouse]

I get the above, but isn't it still the case that most people aren't going to do a 1L SA? I'm not saying people shouldn't try for one, but they're still fairly rare, numbers-wise, and people shouldn't feel like they're doomed at OCI without one. (Not that you said they were doomed, Regulus, but I think saying OCI is "much more difficult" without a 1L SA is a little anxiety-inducing when doing OCI w/o the 1L SA is much more common.)

[BankruptMe]

Checking in.

Already making up my mailing list
Beginning to network
Getting Cover Letters, Resumes and finalizing writing sample to be sent.

[chuckbass]

Does anyone have any advice about working in-house for the summer? It seems to be rare as well, but I've briefly perused F500 websites and can't find any that hire 1Ls, yet I've seen people on TLS talk about spending their 1L summers this way.

[BankruptMe]

Does anyone have any advice about working in-house for the summer? It seems to be rare as well, but I've briefly perused F500 websites and can't find any that hire 1Ls, yet I've seen people on TLS talk about spending their 1L summers this way.

Most Corps I have seen only want 2Ls. I have found maybe 3 out of the Fortune 100 that will take on 1L interns.

[NYCFAN1]

Does anyone have any advice about working in-house for the summer? It seems to be rare as well, but I've briefly perused F500 websites and can't find any that hire 1Ls, yet I've seen people on TLS talk about spending their 1L summers this way.

my school has a small 1l oci which some f500 companies come to...generally, it seems like you'll need to do a bunch of research on your own and spam out your resume to counsel offices

[20141023]

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[BigZuck]

Checking in.

Already making up my mailing list
Beginning to network
Getting Cover Letters, Resumes and finalizing writing sample to be sent.

You're already finalizing a writing sample? On October 17th?

You, sir, are the gunniest gunner who has ever gunned. You impress me.

[BankruptMe]

Checking in.

Already making up my mailing list
Beginning to network
Getting Cover Letters, Resumes and finalizing writing sample to be sent.

You're already finalizing a writing sample? On October 17th?

You, sir, are the gunniest gunner who has ever gunned. You impress me.

I don't know if this is sarcasm or not, but I have a strong upward climb in front of me, so I need to do all I can to make sure I succeed. So by Dec. 1, I will have all of my apps sent out and let the chips fall where they may.

[chuckbass]

Checking in.

Already making up my mailing list
Beginning to network
Getting Cover Letters, Resumes and finalizing writing sample to be sent.

You're already finalizing a writing sample? On October 17th?

You, sir, are the gunniest gunner who has ever gunned. You impress me.

I don't know if this is sarcasm or not, but I have a strong upward climb in front of me, so I need to do all I can to make sure I succeed. So by Dec. 1, I will have all of my apps sent out and let the chips fall where they may.

I haven't seen anything that asks for a writing sample.

[20141023]

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[chuckbass]

Skadden's 1L Scholar Program is the only thing that required a writing sample of the places I applied to, and they specify the thing you have to write about, so a generic sample won't work.

The only other thing I see is that Arent Fox requires you to do some legal analysis problem, but other than that no one requests anything beyond resume, cover letter, transcript, and references.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I get the above, but isn't it still the case that most people aren't going to do a 1L SA? I'm not saying people shouldn't try for one, but they're still fairly rare, numbers-wise, and people shouldn't feel like they're doomed at OCI without one. (Not that you said they were doomed, Regulus, but I think saying OCI is "much more difficult" without a 1L SA is a little anxiety-inducing when doing OCI w/o the 1L SA is much more common.)

Sorry, I didn't mean to have it come across like that. My point was that a 1L SA can help make up for grades despite what that one anon was saying. Yes, 1L SAs are rare, but that is no reason not to spend a little bit of time looking for one. And to be honest, OCI with bad grades and no 1L SA is much more difficult than OCI with bad grades and a 1L SA.

That makes a lot of sense. And overall I agree that people don't have to choose between grades and sending out job apps, unless they're incredibly inefficient.

[Anonymous User]

Is it ok to mm generic CL to all NY firms that hire 1Ls? Or should I tailor some of them? Also how does one tailor CLs? (is "I learned about your firm by talking to xyz associate who told me about xyz" ok? or is it fine to just mention something you picked up from browsing their site?)

I also have ties to two other primary markets but they're in the same state and some of the firms have offices in both locations and NY. How do I approach sending CL to these firms? Just pick one?

[20141023]

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[Nonconsecutive]

Somehow missed this thread up until now.

Guess I should start monitoring this sub-forum more often.

Checking in.

[03152016]

a couple qs:

1) is it worth mass mailing firms outside those listed in a nalp search for firms that have positions for 1Ls? or is that list considered pretty complete?
2) do firms with diversity positions generally indicate this on their site (i know some do, but i wasn't sure if it's standard practice)? i'd hate to get dinged by a firm i mass mailed only to find out i could have applied through a diversity program

tyiaaaaa

[BigZuck]

1) I'm pretty sure the first rule of mass mailing is that if you're trying to be discerning/not waste your time by applying to too many/pointless firms you're doing something horribly, horribly wrong. Mail first, think later.

2) Not sure on that one, will say that firms are proud of their diversity initiatives so if they aren't broadcasting it they probably don't have one. Don't think they would have a secret diversity program. I'm gonna reserve the right to be wrong on that point though, let's see what other people say.

[AT9]

Probably naive 1L questions:

1) All this talk about paid 1L SA positions...I assume these are biglaw?
2) For that matter, is it worth trying to do the mail blast on Dec. 1 for those SA gigs from a standard "T1" regional school? I get the impression that non-T14 resumes will just get tossed out for 1L SA positions.
3) Other than simply trying to get some legal work in these areas, any specific pointers for Minneapolis or Carolina markets? (ties to both regions).
4) How geographically focused should you be during 1L hunt? I'm not picky and have at least basic ties (have lived in or near) to about 5 non-major markets in which I'm interested. I don't want to waste time being too broad or narrow in my search. Target all of them and see what happens? Pick 1-2 and focus everything there? Again, this is coming from a school with decent placement outside its region for a non-T14, but that's not saying a lot (disclaimer: I'm targeting the school's region as well and would be perfectly happy here - just exploring other markets I like which may or may not be possible for me).

[jbagelboy]

Checking in.

Already making up my mailing list
Beginning to network
Getting Cover Letters, Resumes and finalizing writing sample to be sent.

You're already finalizing a writing sample? On October 17th?

You, sir, are the gunniest gunner who has ever gunned. You impress me.

I don't know if this is sarcasm or not, but I have a strong upward climb in front of me, so I need to do all I can to make sure I succeed. So by Dec. 1, I will have all of my apps sent out and let the chips fall where they may.

Okay, it's fair to be prepared; I think the broader point Zuck alluded to remains that 1L summer jobs really aren't important, at all, and placing this much effort into searching and applying for them might display some misplaced priorities. Or you're just someone who overworks for everything, in which case yea gunner but its law school so you're in a tryhard environment that's tough to break. Just don't take time away this fall from class, preparing for exams, and yes even socializing with your peers for summer gigs.

What you're always realizing a little too late in law school is that so many of the events and obstacles you view as so crucial or relevant or anxiety-producing or necessary, in retrospect were largely inconsequential and not worth nearly as much effort or stress. Kids who salvaged a part time job at a center on campus or as a research assistant in late April then summered at very prestigious firms and clerked for very poshy judges, just as or often more often that those who lined their spiffy judicial internship or corporate diversity position the first week of December. But hindsight is 20-20.

[JustHawkin]

Does it matter if I stay in DC 1L summer, or go back home to New England, if I want to stay in DC 2L/post-grad?

[BigZuck]

Probably naive 1L questions:

1) All this talk about paid 1L SA positions...I assume these are biglaw?
2) For that matter, is it worth trying to do the mail blast on Dec. 1 for those SA gigs from a standard "T1" regional school? I get the impression that non-T14 resumes will just get tossed out for 1L SA positions.
3) Other than simply trying to get some legal work in these areas, any specific pointers for Minneapolis or Carolina markets? (ties to both regions).
4) How geographically focused should you be during 1L hunt? I'm not picky and have at least basic ties (have lived in or near) to about 5 non-major markets in which I'm interested. I don't want to waste time being too broad or narrow in my search. Target all of them and see what happens? Pick 1-2 and focus everything there? Again, this is coming from a school with decent placement outside its region for a non-T14, but that's not saying a lot (disclaimer: I'm targeting the school's region as well and would be perfectly happy here - just exploring other markets I like which may or may not be possible for me).

1L SAs are by and large big law but there are small firms, in house gigs, etc. that sometimes pay.

What do you ultimately want to do? Being open to stuff sounds great but not really how you should approach the job search necessarily. Especially in an interview: you walk into one for a wills and estates practice in a California firm and you were born to practice wills and estates in CA. Next interview is with a DA in Maine and you couldn't possibly fathom being anything but a DA in Maine. Ya dig?

I suggest getting a bit more geographic focus. Summer in the area of your strongest ties/your school's main market (I really hope for your sake this is the same place). Later you can target your job search super wide but let's give you your best shot by establishing a good narrative via your 1L job.