I'm in a bit of a bind. There is an off campus interview program for my school in NY that I really want to participate in, and I think I may have an alright shot there. The interview day takes place on a Thursday, however, and I will be in the middle of an SA gig when it takes place.

The SA I'll be working at is in a secondary market. Would definitely be open to working at this firm next year and beyond, but I also want to see what's out there for me in NY

What is the best way to approach this with my employer? Should I just take off Thursday and fly up there Wed night and come back Thurs night? Should I make up an excuse or just be honest about what it's for?

I of course would be willing to work a weekend or two to make up for the lost time, but I don't want to look awful for doing this.

Advice?

also should add, the reason I say maybe take off Fri in addition to Thurs in option 2 is that, should I make up an excuse, it seems it would be easier to just take off both days. Could say I have a family reunion or something. I feel like it would be easier to come up w/ believable excuses that way...

Need more info. Are you a 1L or a 2L? What's your summer firm's historic offer rate? If you miss this interview program are you going to get a chance to interview with these firms again on campus or is this it?

I probably wouldn't do it but that's just me.

I'm a rising 2L. Most of the NY firms at this off campus program will not be at our OCI, so this would probably be my only chance to interview with them. The firm I'm summering at is a small firm (dozen or so attorneys) and is not market paying. Not sure what their offer rate is.

Just be honest with them and ask for the days off with a promise to make up the time on the weekend(s).

Oh, in that case I'd go to the interview program.

Most firms that hire 1Ls know that they will be participating in their school's interview programs before 2L year. Just tell them and go.

I think I'm just gonna be honest w/ them. 1--I'm not a very good liar; 2--I don't think there's anything wrong w/ this so long as I make up the hours to them.

If anyone has direct experience w/ a similar situation, I'd love to hear from you. But, I thihnk I'm just going to go tell the atty who runs the summer program the truth when I go in.

Yeah, I would just request the day off and go. You may be able to take the day without explanation for a "prior commitment," but I wouldn't be dodgy about it. The firm should be aware that you'll be doing OCI, and shouldn't have a problem with letting you go.

Trying to be coy will backfire when either someone from the firm or someone who knows the firm sees you there. Just be a grown up about it and things should be fine.

If they have a problem with it, they're free to make you an offer before you leave.

I agree that being coy would backfire, and that's what I meant about not being dodgy. And it's better to err on the side of seeming straightforward. I was just trying to say that it might be possible to be completely straightforward by asking something along the lines of "Who would I need to talk to about having one day off on [date] for a prior commitment?" Maybe they would ask, maybe not. But in no circumstances would I advise being coy, cagey or embarrassed about letting people know what you're doing if you ask.