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I've been invited to visit a firm and have lunch with a hiring partner at another firm over the summer, all pre-OCI. I've been told that it's not uncommon if they like you, but I don't really understand what's going on. I am very interested in both firms and just overall have tons of respect for the hiring partner, so I'm excited for both, but I guess I just don't know why I'm visiting/ lunching if they're going to have to potentially re-do everything during OCI. Are they just trying to get to know me more before OCI?

Anon, because I don't want the gunners in my class to have another reason to be out for my blood.

Anonymous User wrote:I don't want the gunners in my class to have another reason to be out for my blood.

lol

How did the hiring partners at these fears hear about you?

Disclosing how would out my school's rank. Post with your name & I'll PM you.

Anonymous User wrote:I guess I just don't know why I'm visiting/ lunching if they're going to have to potentially re-do everything during OCI. Are they just trying to get to know me more before OCI?

Don't underthink the value of the invitation. Although it guarantees nothing, if the hiring partner does like you, that buy-in will matter MUCH more than the five back-to-back callback interviews between associates and other rank-and-file partners.

Yes, they are trying to get to know you. If they like what they see, OCI won't be a redo. Instead, it will be more of a formality. So shine your shoes, do your homework, and make the gunners piss their pants.

I'm interested in this as well. The hiring partner invited me to stop by this summer after I was rejected for a 1L position at his firm. I wonder if this was just him easing the burden of rejection or if he somehow would be still interested after already rejecting me once. Any thoughts?

Anonymous User wrote:I'm interested in this as well. The hiring partner invited me to stop by this summer after I was rejected for a 1L position at his firm. I wonder if this was just him easing the burden of rejection or if he somehow would be still interested after already rejecting me once. Any thoughts?

I had a hiring partner for a market-paying lit boutique give me a similar talk during my 1L interview. He told me that he wasn't tipping his hand, but that he hoped I wouldn't be offended if things didn't work out for a 1L position because he were only going to make one offer. He invited me to stay in touch with the firm.

The firm ended up being my first offer for a 2L SA position and I will be there for the second half of this summer.

You can't take the 1L rejections too personally because there are not very many 1L positions. Another firm rejected me for a 1L position but asked me to skip OCI interviews and had me go straight to a CB for a 2L position.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm interested in this as well. The hiring partner invited me to stop by this summer after I was rejected for a 1L position at his firm. I wonder if this was just him easing the burden of rejection or if he somehow would be still interested after already rejecting me once. Any thoughts?

I was not hired at multiple places because of lack of space in the summer program (reason I was given anyway), and I have been invited to get in touch after this semester, before anything OCI. I was told by 2 place I wouldn't have to interview again because I already did a callback. I think it's a really positive sign when they invite you back because they wouldn't waste anymore valuable time on you if they don't have any real interest in you.

Anonymous User wrote:
I had a hiring partner for a market-paying lit boutique give me a similar talk during my 1L interview. He told me that he wasn't tipping his hand, but that he hoped I wouldn't be offended if things didn't work out for a 1L position because he were only going to make one offer. He invited me to stay in touch with the firm.

The firm ended up being my first offer for a 2L SA position and I will be there for the second half of this summer.

You can't take the 1L rejections too personally because there are not very many 1L positions. Another firm rejected me for a 1L position but asked me to skip OCI interviews and had me go straight to a CB for a 2L position.

Great to hear this! Hopefully my instinct turn out to be right since I had the same talk (see above post).

r6_philly wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I'm interested in this as well. The hiring partner invited me to stop by this summer after I was rejected for a 1L position at his firm. I wonder if this was just him easing the burden of rejection or if he somehow would be still interested after already rejecting me once. Any thoughts?

I was not hired at multiple places because of lack of space in the summer program (reason I was given anyway), and I have been invited to get in touch after this semester, before anything OCI. I was told by 2 place I wouldn't have to interview again because I already did a callback. I think it's a really positive sign when they invite you back because they wouldn't waste anymore valuable time on you if they don't have any real interest in you.

I had a bunch of firms tell me this as well. I am wondering if I should truly follow up with any of them.

My instinct is that they said that to everyone but I guess it could not hurt to follow up.

shoeshine wrote:

r6_philly wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I'm interested in this as well. The hiring partner invited me to stop by this summer after I was rejected for a 1L position at his firm. I wonder if this was just him easing the burden of rejection or if he somehow would be still interested after already rejecting me once. Any thoughts?

I was not hired at multiple places because of lack of space in the summer program (reason I was given anyway), and I have been invited to get in touch after this semester, before anything OCI. I was told by 2 place I wouldn't have to interview again because I already did a callback. I think it's a really positive sign when they invite you back because they wouldn't waste anymore valuable time on you if they don't have any real interest in you.

I had a bunch of firms tell me this as well. I am wondering if I should truly follow up with any of them.

My instinct is that they said that to everyone but I guess it could not hurt to follow up.

Doesn't matter if they "say it to everyone or not". If you show initiative and follow up, the firm will have a better idea that you're interested and more than likely will let you skip right to the CB stage (and possibly BEFORE OCI even starts). Seriously there is ZERO downside to following up and meeting with a hiring partner or any other major partner at any firm. Worst case scenario, you learn more information about a firm to use at OCI or you realize you totally don't want to work at the firm and don't even bother with them at OCI.

I'm sorry, but these are absolute no-brainers in that you should ABSOLUTELY get in touch with the firm and meet people over the summer.

keg411 wrote:Doesn't matter if they "say it to everyone or not". If you show initiative and follow up, the firm will have a better idea that you're interested and more than likely will let you skip right to the CB stage (and possibly BEFORE OCI even starts). Seriously there is ZERO downside to following up and meeting with a hiring partner or any other major partner at any firm. Worst case scenario, you learn more information about a firm to use at OCI or you realize you totally don't want to work at the firm and don't even bother with them at OCI.

I'm sorry, but these are absolute no-brainers in that you should ABSOLUTELY get in touch with the firm and meet people over the summer.

I totally agree but I have a weird situation. I am actually working for a big firm this summer (my 1L summer). I really like the firm but I guess I just want to have multiple options for my 2L summer. I think the firms might find it weird if someone is contacting them while working for one of their competitors.

Or maybe they will interpret that as a sign of my serious interest in their firm? I also don't want it to get back to my summer firm if i do any of this. So I am not sure if it is worth it to contact any of the firms that told me to keep in touch during the summer. If I was doing a judicial externship or pretty much anything but working for another big firm I would definitely not be hesitating about contacting them.

What I was referring to before is I am not sure if it is worth the risk of contacting them this summer only to find out that they were not seriously considering me and that "contact us this summer, we would love to have you back and take you to lunch" is something they say to everyone.

Especially if you're at your hometown market or a market during 1L summer that you're not sure you'll target during OCI, you want to go out to lunch during June and probably send resume/transcript during mid-July. See if you can get interviews before OCI starts. I had a few offers before heading back to OCI which made life easier, even though the offers weren't in the markets I was targeting during OCI.

Contact alumni and 2L's now that will be in the same city as you during summer. Tell them you'll be there and would love to grab lunch/coffee to catch up, talk about law school, etc. Then make the set plans sometime in June once you're there.

OP, please message me...

desertlaw wrote: Contact alumni and 2L's now that will be in the same city as you during summer. Tell them you'll be there and would love to grab lunch/coffee to catch up, talk about law school, etc. Then make the set plans sometime in June once you're there.

I can state from experience that this is a great way to get your name circulating before OCI.