Advice on where to turn now

[Anonymous User]

There are some threads on this, but I think my circumstances are kind of unique. So, it looks like I will be striking out in terms of biglaw. I plan on staying in school, mostly because I will graduate with 0 debt, but am unsure of where to go from this point. I was/am legitimately interested in the work biglaw transactional attorneys do (think M&A work), but I now know that is not a real option. I go to Vandy/Texas/GT, and I can't imagine doing "shitlaw" as a career. My grades are just around median, but I was somehow able to secure some callbacks even though I had very few OCI interviews due to my mediocre-to-less-than grades. From what I have been told, I am a very good at interviewing, just apparently not good enough to overcome my poor grades. In early August prior to my school's OCI, I mass mailed the 40-50 biggest firms in my target market (which happens to be outside the regular geographic destination from the school I attend; think Atlanta coming from UT or Dallas/Houston coming from Vanderbilt). From that mass-mailing I got a few "screeners," no CBs, and a few "keep in touch, as we make hiring decisions later in the year." My question is where the hell do I go now? I've done the mass mail thing, it appears I flunked at the BigLaw thing, and now I don't know where to turn. Any help will be much appreciated.

[theduder]

tough situation. not sure what to tell you, but I hope it works out. the no debt thing makes it a lot better though.

[Anonymous User]

nothing?

[zomginternets]

If you're going to have 0 debt, just keep networking and try to get an interview through that. Also, brush up on your interview skills--if you got callbacks and no offers, then you probably don't interview so well.

All is not doomed.. everyone has anecdotal stories of getting biglaw offers right up until december, or even in 3L OCI. Just network, network network.

[BaiAilian2013]

Mass mail the not-biggest firms in your target market? Mass mail other markets, including the one your school is in?

[Anonymous User]

Yeah I'm planning on mass mailing my school's target market at this point. I mean, given a choice I would not want to work in this market, but I don't really have much of a choice at this point.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry to hear about your situation. But lol, what is "shitlaw."

[Anonymous User]

its shitty law... no honestly its just law that is not up to the caliber of BigLaw. think PI...

[Bronte]

Sorry to hear about your situation. But lol, what is "shitlaw."

Pejorative term for temp work, personal injury, insurance defense, divorce work, low level private criminal defense, and individual debtors bankruptcy work.

[mrloblaw]

its shitty law... no honestly its just law that is not up to the caliber of BigLaw. think PI...

I don't think PI qualifies; the moniker is, I think, mostly for firms that have the sweatshop hours and mindless work of notorious biglaw firms without the pay or prestige.

[Veyron]

GT? Protip, op does not go to GULC. P.S. nice try putting your school on par with them.

[Anonymous User]

GT? Protip, op does not go to GULC. P.S. nice try putting your school on par with them.

How do you know I'm not talking about Georgia Tech?

[BlueDiamond]

GT? Protip, op does not go to GULC. P.S. nice try putting your school on par with them.

How do you know I'm not talking about Georgia Tech?

i cant believe your sense of humor didnt win them over in the interviews and callbacks

[MrAnon]

Look for any kind of work you can find while in school whether with a company, law firm, anything. Paralegal would be fine. Get feet in door now. I mean permanent full time work during school. Working on grades wont help you, let them fall, the only thing that matters now is getting a foot in the door somewhere. Your ability or inability to find such a job and do well and get an offer based on your work should give you a clearer picture about your future. Doubling down on schoolwork wont help you and will leave you as lost at graduation as you feel today.

[Grizz]

its shitty law... no honestly its just law that is not up to the caliber of BigLaw. think PI...

I don't think PI qualifies; the moniker is, I think, mostly for firms that have the sweatshop hours and mindless work of notorious biglaw firms without the pay or prestige.

Personal injury, not public interest.

[Bronte]

its shitty law... no honestly its just law that is not up to the caliber of BigLaw. think PI...

I don't think PI qualifies; the moniker is, I think, mostly for firms that have the sweatshop hours and mindless work of notorious biglaw firms without the pay or prestige.

Low level personal injury work (aka slip and trip) is basically the textbook example.

[mrloblaw]

its shitty law... no honestly its just law that is not up to the caliber of BigLaw. think PI...

I don't think PI qualifies; the moniker is, I think, mostly for firms that have the sweatshop hours and mindless work of notorious biglaw firms without the pay or prestige.

Personal injury, not public interest.

Eep, my bad. I frequently forget that personal injury is a legitimate law subfield. You don't exactly hear anything about it past Torts 101.

Edit: Actually, when I think shitlaw, I just think it's time for areyouinsane to make an appearance.

[PDaddy]

Screw it! Make your own luck! Go right to some top firms and talk to someone. Once in awhile, a first-year associate from HYS, etc. will begin blowing it right away, and the hiring partner won't feel like sifting through resumes. If you show up at the right time, you can have a job. Knock on doors...make calls directly to firms and get the meetings. Drop off resume's in-person. Be a salesman...sell YOU door-to-door. Show them that you're hungry. If you have the balls to do it, someone will appreciate those balls.

[theduder]

word pdaddy

[Anonymous User]

Look for any kind of work you can find while in school whether with a company, law firm, anything. Paralegal would be fine. Get feet in door now. I mean permanent full time work during school. Working on grades wont help you, let them fall, the only thing that matters now is getting a foot in the door somewhere. Your ability or inability to find such a job and do well and get an offer based on your work should give you a clearer picture about your future. Doubling down on schoolwork wont help you and will leave you as lost at graduation as you feel today.

working as a paralegal (especially full time, breaking ABA rules) is not going to help the situation.

Depending on what you did 1L summer, I'd apply to government and public interest jobs in between mass mailing firms. Government is an easier sell for having any chance at 3L OCI, and unpaid summer internships aren't nearly as ultracompetitve as 3L government honors programs. Focus on an area that regulates the businesses that are biglaw clients. It's still not a great option but it's damage control.

[Anonymous User]

Edit because it was clarified that PI could mean Personal Injury as well.

/class warfare rant.

[Anonymous User]

all i can say is good luck