Can we consolidate all 3L mailing questions, stories, and whatnot into this thread? Too many random threads floating around to be helpful.


Instead of just mass-mailing firms, I've been emailing the recruiting contacts and asking if their firm will be considering 3L's for permanent employment in 2013, and if so, when is a good time to submit information. I've gotten a response from every firm so far, some saying they do, some saying they don't. I feel like that is more helpful than just sending a resume and cover letter with a hope and a prayer.

I'm working corporate in-house with the IP department, and I haven't gotten around to mass mailing yet, but my manager sent out some unsolicited recommendations of me, and I've gotten one interview so far, which I think is going to be like a callback style interview, since I've encountered the IP chair from that firm a few times before. Here's to hoping I don't need to mass mail.

I'm putting together cover letters this weekend and hopefully sending out applications Monday.

I've had a few Dallas-area firms tell me not to apply yet, that they do consider 3L's but to wait until December / January when they have a better idea of their hiring needs.

So far, I have mass mail targeted CA firms in SF and LA. I have an interview in SF next week, another in LA the following week, and an informational lunch interview in LA with a different firm. I also managed to get some lunch dates with some of the partners of one of the firms that I am interviewing with at a job fair in Chicago in a few weeks.

I am totally overwhelmed with everything going on this summer, and I feel like this summer is one huge blur. It is so hard to find time to mass mail firms!!!

Here's to hoping we get something....soon!! Good luck my fellow rising 3Ls!! We can do this!

Operation: Be Employed at Graduation

Anon from above here. The language in the email from the partner was this:
"Would you be available next week or the following week to meet with me and other members of our IP group and IP litigation group?"

Does this sound more like a screener or a callback type deal to you?

This thread, while anecdotal, has me ready to start sending stuff out tonight. My CSO told me to wait until late August. But I feel like a) apparently some people are sending stuff already and some firms might be looking at 3Ls now b) if it's too early, they'll probably tell you to check back later unless you are an auto-trash. HERE WE GO!

Glad someone started this thread.

FWIW, to me it seems too early to mass mail for first-year associate positions. I (also rising 3L) was thinking of waiting until at least August.

That being said, I guess it couldn't hurt to do as one person recommended: email and ask whether the firm is considering apps from 3Ls.

I haven't really heard a consensus on when the best time to start is.

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FWIW, started mass mailing last week and I've heard back from two firms with interviews scheduled for the first week of August. These two interviews plus some job fairs gives me 7 interviews in the next 3 weeks.

Let's do this c/o 2013!

Do you mind sharing the market?

Impressive! School/grades?

Top 15% at a T2 that places well in the region.

Mid Atlantic

Edit: Sorry, I realize this isn't very helpful. When I say Mid Atlantic, I mean New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Re. interviews in early August: I'm really (pleasantly) surprised to hear this. I did not think that firms would even be responding to employment inquiries from rising 3Ls at this point.

What are people writing in their emails when they send their mass mails? What about in the subject line?

I was thinking of:

I am a rising-third year law student at the University of ____ and I am applying for an entry level position with (FIRM)'s ____ (city) office. I have attached my cover letter, resume, and transcript. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time.

We only send (1) cover letter (2) transcript (3) resume, correct? Should these be one document or three?

Exactly what I did.

I'm pasting my cover letter in the body of the email and attaching resume and transcript pdfs.

What about subject line for a 3l?

Considering these are my exact stats, I'm suddenly pretty hopeful. If you wouldn't mind PMing me, I'd love to chat about this (also at a T2 in the mid atlantic).

On my front, I've compiled a list of high school and college alumni to send out feelers to. Any suggestions on how to go about this? Just ask to meet up and talk about their practice area and firm? I'm mainly looking at boutiques as of now (10-20 person firms with very specific practices, i.e 7/11 bankruptcy, comm lit, etc.), should I look at larger firms too?

I take whatever first-year associates are described as on the firm website, then add "2013" in front and "application" at the back. For example, "2013 First-year Associate application" or "2013 Entry-level Associate application."

I've just been putting "2013 Hiring" or something like that.

Can anyone shed any light on what a 3L Summer Associate position is? Venable has one, for example. Do you not take the bar the summer after graduation? How does this work?

I think they're for clerks and students pursuing combined degrees, like JD/MBAs.