Michigan OCI 2012 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Folks with work experience seem to be doing better than those without.

I have good work experience and median grades. I have 7 callbacks, 3 w/ elite (for lack of a better word) firms. Two friends who have really interesting work experience and below median grades have 7 & 8. Our friend who's a K-JD at the tip top of the class has 3. . . . FWIW. None of us out HYP.

I honestly think that thoroughly researching the firm, having insightful firm-specific questions prepared, and dressing well matter more than grades or work experience. That's my anecdotal two cents.

What market?

[Anonymous User]

What market?

D.C.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone with CBs at Varnum, Warner, or Bodman mind sharing stats?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone with CBs at Varnum, Warner, or Bodman mind sharing stats?

Of people I know who got CBs from those firms, the decision wasn't based on stats. Some people had high GPAs and others had below median GPAs

[Anonymous User]

Skadden - Chi ding

[Anonymous User]

Skadden - Chi ding

How?

[Anonymous User]

Skadden - Chi ding

How?

And if you don't mind, what were your interviewer's initials?

[Anonymous User]

Skadden - Chi ding

How?

And if you don't mind, what were your interviewer's initials?

Different anon, but I got mine via snail mail yesterday (at my permanent address, closer to Chi than AA, dunno if that makes a difference), interviewer initials GT.

[Anonymous User]

Michigan people not doing well - first, mass mail. But also, go talk to OCP and put yourself on their radar. Trust me when I say that firms come around and you want to be one of the people that knows when they do. I know it's scary now to have 1/2/0 CB's, but you have to keep being as proactive as possible.

Also, read my thread. If you're worried about interviewing, OCP can help set you up with someone -- but try and ask for a real attorney and not just someone in the office. I got pretty brutal feedback last year, but it was definitely worth knowing how/where I was screwing up.

What do you mean by talk to OCP and put ourself on their radar? Other than asking for interviewing advice, what can they do? E.g., How do I get on a list of people they'll contact if a firm contacts them?

[Bronte]

Michigan people not doing well - first, mass mail. But also, go talk to OCP and put yourself on their radar. Trust me when I say that firms come around and you want to be one of the people that knows when they do. I know it's scary now to have 1/2/0 CB's, but you have to keep being as proactive as possible.

Also, read my thread. If you're worried about interviewing, OCP can help set you up with someone -- but try and ask for a real attorney and not just someone in the office. I got pretty brutal feedback last year, but it was definitely worth knowing how/where I was screwing up.

What do you mean by talk to OCP and put ourself on their radar? Other than asking for interviewing advice, what can they do? E.g., How do I get on a list of people they'll contact if a firm contacts them?

I would suspect she means to go in and ask for help. Tell them that you didnt do well at OCI and they will hell you out.

[keg411]

Michigan people not doing well - first, mass mail. But also, go talk to OCP and put yourself on their radar. Trust me when I say that firms come around and you want to be one of the people that knows when they do. I know it's scary now to have 1/2/0 CB's, but you have to keep being as proactive as possible.

Also, read my thread. If you're worried about interviewing, OCP can help set you up with someone -- but try and ask for a real attorney and not just someone in the office. I got pretty brutal feedback last year, but it was definitely worth knowing how/where I was screwing up.

What do you mean by talk to OCP and put ourself on their radar? Other than asking for interviewing advice, what can they do? E.g., How do I get on a list of people they'll contact if a firm contacts them?

I would suspect she means to go in and ask for help. Tell them that you didnt do well at OCI and they will hell you out.

Yup. If you go in and ask, they will give you advice and help you out. Tell them your concerns, what you feel might've gone wrong, ask what you can do to get a SA job, what you've done since OCI, etc.

I don't think there's a magic "list" or anything like that, but the more you work with them and listen to them, the more willing they will be to help you out (call firms you did CB's with, send you contacts for firms looking, etc.). But don't pushback against them or say what they suggest "won't work". Listen to them, do what they say, and they will help you out.

[Anonymous User]

Michigan people not doing well - first, mass mail. But also, go talk to OCP and put yourself on their radar. Trust me when I say that firms come around and you want to be one of the people that knows when they do. I know it's scary now to have 1/2/0 CB's, but you have to keep being as proactive as possible.

Also, read my thread. If you're worried about interviewing, OCP can help set you up with someone -- but try and ask for a real attorney and not just someone in the office. I got pretty brutal feedback last year, but it was definitely worth knowing how/where I was screwing up.

What do you mean by talk to OCP and put ourself on their radar? Other than asking for interviewing advice, what can they do? E.g., How do I get on a list of people they'll contact if a firm contacts them?

I would suspect she means to go in and ask for help. Tell them that you didnt do well at OCI and they will hell you out.

Yup. If you go in and ask, they will give you advice and help you out. Tell them your concerns, what you feel might've gone wrong, ask what you can do to get a SA job, what you've done since OCI, etc.

I don't think there's a magic "list" or anything like that, but the more you work with them and listen to them, the more willing they will be to help you out (call firms you did CB's with, send you contacts for firms looking, etc.). But don't pushback against them or say what they suggest "won't work". Listen to them, do what they say, and they will help you out.

Thanks, you are awesome!

[Anonymous User]

Also, some of the counselors are better than others. If you go in and get lame advice, just make an appointment with someone else. I went in b/c I was fretting about not having a 1L SA. The first counselor said that I should think about working at the law library + Starbucks. I made another appointment and the next counselor gave me a list of seven or eight things I could actually do to continue to improve me chances. I ended up getting a paid gig two weeks later based on that second counselor's advice.

[Anonymous User]

Also, some of the counselors are better than others. If you go in and get lame advice, just make an appointment with someone else. I went in b/c I was fretting about not having a 1L SA. The first counselor said that I should think about working at the law library + Starbucks. I made another appointment and the next counselor gave me a list of seven or eight things I could actually do to continue to improve me chances. I ended up getting a paid gig two weeks later based on that second counselor's advice.

If you don't mind, what was the list?

[keg411]

Also, some of the counselors are better than others. If you go in and get lame advice, just make an appointment with someone else. I went in b/c I was fretting about not having a 1L SA. The first counselor said that I should think about working at the law library + Starbucks. I made another appointment and the next counselor gave me a list of seven or eight things I could actually do to continue to improve me chances. I ended up getting a paid gig two weeks later based on that second counselor's advice.

Agree with this. But I don't want to post on here who is/isn't good.

[AreJay711]

For next year's class, a note on why I think I received call-backs from a set of firms, but none from a couple peer firms: I wouldn't ever, ever, ever, ever, ever [Friday reference] talk about how much you like a firm's pro bono program. Unless you're making some quick, passing reference. Even for firms with great pro bono programs, they could be worried you're just going to use them to pay off debt, then skip off to whatever public interest gig you're thinking about. Maybe there are some situations in which it would be all right, but I would be wary.

I talked with one firm about their probono program and got a callback. I think it depends on how much emphasis they put on probono

[Anonymous User]

For next year's class, a note on why I think I received call-backs from a set of firms, but none from a couple peer firms: I wouldn't ever, ever, ever, ever, ever [Friday reference] talk about how much you like a firm's pro bono program. Unless you're making some quick, passing reference. Even for firms with great pro bono programs, they could be worried you're just going to use them to pay off debt, then skip off to whatever public interest gig you're thinking about. Maybe there are some situations in which it would be all right, but I would be wary.

I talked with one firm about their probono program and got a callback. I think it depends on how much emphasis they put on probono

Yep, also depends on how it fits with your narrative. Talked to one firm about a pro bono case I worked with one of their lawyers on this summer; got a callback.

[Anonymous User]

For next year's class, a note on why I think I received call-backs from a set of firms, but none from a couple peer firms: I wouldn't ever, ever, ever, ever, ever [Friday reference] talk about how much you like a firm's pro bono program. Unless you're making some quick, passing reference. Even for firms with great pro bono programs, they could be worried you're just going to use them to pay off debt, then skip off to whatever public interest gig you're thinking about. Maybe there are some situations in which it would be all right, but I would be wary.

I talked with one firm about their probono program and got a callback. I think it depends on how much emphasis they put on probono

Yep, also depends on how it fits with your narrative. Talked to one firm about a pro bono case I worked with one of their lawyers on this summer; got a callback.

Generally, I think it's good advice to only talk about pro bono to the extent you're discussing professional skills development. This is especially true for people with lots of pro bono on their resume.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to the culture of these firms' Chicago offices –

(1) Sidley Austin
(2) Mayer Brown
(3) Kirkland Ellis
(4) Jones Day
(5) Perkins Coie

[Anonymous User]

have CBs/dings gone out for Paul Weiss NYC? what about Quinn NYC? did either of these firms have callback dinners or that sort of thing during OCI week?

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to the culture of these firms' Chicago offices –

(1) Sidley Austin
(2) Mayer Brown
(3) Kirkland Ellis
(4) Jones Day
(5) Perkins Coie

I love Sidley....just did my CB last week and I'm leaning towards choosing Sidley. I found the Mayer Brown atmosphere to be a bit "nerdy." Kirkland's culture is intense. The free-market system is not for everyone. Don't know about JD or PC.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to the culture of these firms' Chicago offices –

(1) Sidley Austin
(2) Mayer Brown
(3) Kirkland Ellis
(4) Jones Day
(5) Perkins Coie

I love Sidley....just did my CB last week and I'm leaning towards choosing Sidley. I found the Mayer Brown atmosphere to be a bit "nerdy." Kirkland's culture is intense. The free-market system is not for everyone. Don't know about JD or PC.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to the culture of these firms' Chicago offices –

(1) Sidley Austin
(2) Mayer Brown
(3) Kirkland Ellis
(4) Jones Day
(5) Perkins Coie

I love Sidley....just did my CB last week and I'm leaning towards choosing Sidley. I found the Mayer Brown atmosphere to be a bit "nerdy." Kirkland's culture is intense. The free-market system is not for everyone. Don't know about JD or PC.

Thanks for the response . . .

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear from Latham Chicago? What about Neal, Gerber, Eisenberg?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear from K&L Gates Chicago or Locke Lord?