Getting hired by biglaw firms not at a T6 school's OCI? Forum

[jimmyd11011]

Is there any way that someone from a T6 can get a summer associate position at a big firm that isn't recruiting at that school? For example, there must be offices of big firms in LA that don't interview at Columbia, NYU, etc. I assume that's because it isn't economically feasible to travel across the country to recruit students who largely won't be interested in living in LA. That's not to say that the offices wouldn't jump on the chance to hire top students at these schools. My question is how would a student at one of these schools get hired at a big firm that would seem to want students from that school but don't participate in their OCI?

[NotANoob]

Is there any way that someone from a T6 can get a summer associate position at a big firm that isn't recruiting at that school? For example, there must be offices of big firms in LA that don't interview at Columbia, NYU, etc. I assume that's because it isn't economically feasible to travel across the country to recruit students who largely won't be interested in living in LA. That's not to say that the offices wouldn't jump on the chance to hire top students at these schools. My question is how would a student at one of these schools get hired at a big firm that would seem to want students from that school but don't participate in their OCI?

Reach out to the firm. Contact the recruiting coordinator directly and explain your interest. You can find out if there is an official mechanism. Also send a resume and brief cover letter explaining your interest to the firm's hiring partner. You can also contact alumni that work at the firm. You're a bit late on this one though. Ideally you should do this in advance of OCI so that you can keep that call informational. Also ask your CSO. Take their advice with a grain of salt, though.

Once you have your callbacks set up, you can take a second swing at the non-OCI firms in your areas of interest. Let them know you will be in the area and ask if it would be possible to meet with them (reminding them that you have already sent in your resume). (This can get tricky, because I believe you need make sure costs get shared with all the firms you interview with. If the firms are NALP firms, they will know how to deal with it, though.)

[HAMBONE]

Is there any way that someone from a T6 can get a summer associate position at a big firm that isn't recruiting at that school? For example, there must be offices of big firms in LA that don't interview at Columbia, NYU, etc. I assume that's because it isn't economically feasible to travel across the country to recruit students who largely won't be interested in living in LA. That's not to say that the offices wouldn't jump on the chance to hire top students at these schools. My question is how would a student at one of these schools get hired at a big firm that would seem to want students from that school but don't participate in their OCI?

email your resume along with a cover letter to the firm's legal hiring recruiter. Most firms have the information on their websites about how students should apply if the firm is not coming to their school's OCI

[jimmyd11011]

so this actually leads to a fair amount of hiring?

[NYAssociate]

.