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Grades just released - 3.55 with a weak Legal Writing grade, strong softs, significant work experience (specifically real estate and financial)

Looking for Chicago, NY or DC V100 1L SA

Applying broadly this weekend. Wanted to avoid the "Send us your grades" responses.

Geographic ties to Chicago and DC.

Anyone have similar experience? Suggestions on firms to pursue/avoid? Advice?

Thanks!

Chances very close to zero.

It's late, your grades + school combo isn't that impressive, and there are very close to zero 1L summer associate positions nationwide. It's a game generally "won" by those who have major connections, usually via diversity, small home markets, or personal ties.

You see people picking up 1L SAs in small southern markets they're from, because they have a talent for a language a firm really needs, due to prior work experience with the firm, as a result of family ties, through diversity programs, etc. Even worse, major market firms have the fewest 1L summer spots. One reason many smaller market firms do them at all is so they can compete for law students at graduation as doing so through 2L OCI is difficult if not impossible.

In short, 1L summer firm jobs aren't really dolled out meritocratically to people who perform well in law school and then interview well. Happily for you, 2L summer positions typically are.

Now I'm not saying there's no chance, and you should absolutely apply - but it's important to have the right expectations about these things. Every year there are 50,000 law students, roughly 5,000 big firm 2L summer associate positions, and a tiny fraction of that number of 1L summer associate positions.

0.

I do have some significant connections at firms, but have been thinking it would be better to use them during my 2L SA application cycle since the chances are pretty slim now.

It sounds like this is the correct line of thought.

Thanks for the feedback.

Anonymous User wrote:I do have some significant connections at firms, but have been thinking it would be better to use them during my 2L SA application cycle since the chances are pretty slim now.

It sounds like this is the correct line of thought.

Thanks for the feedback.

Why wait on connections? If they don't get you the job now, there's a chance it'll be because the firm isn't hiring anyone, and your interest 2L year will seem all the more credible.

Anonymous User wrote:Applying broadly this weekend. Wanted to avoid the "Send us your grades" responses.

This was your mistake. You should have started applying nearly two months ago when they started accepting applications. (Notice how no one has their grades on in early december when applications open up.) At this point, you have essentially no chance of leap frogging all of the other GW students who applied timely and have already interviewed.

You'd be well advised to readjust from the V100 and start targeting either small firms, PI organizations, or judicial internships. Don't be so slow this summer when it comes to submitting materials to fall job fairs and reaching out to your connections at firms (you'll be waiting even longer for your spring grades).

OK. I am definitely applying broadly, have judicial internship apps out (district and superior courts), non-profit, and am looking at other opportunities.

That said almost no one I have talked with has interviewed yet, and I have talked with a fair amount of people who applied in December. I realize this might be because GW is not placing in big law very well. Yet most of the firms say that they accept applications through March and don't make decisions until around then. A lot of people I spoke with were getting emails back asking for grades when they came out. I wasn't sure where my grades would fall and didn't want to withdraw apps if they were not at least decent (I realize they are not that great).

I will make sure to get apps out early for the next cycle and definitely appreciate all the info.

I'm at GW as well. From what I remember last year I had gone on a handful interviews before grades were even released. Few people had received offers before grades were released to be sure, but a lot of firms did interviews January. Either way, with your grades I would realistically focus on the small firm / PI / judicial route unless you're a URM, in which case you may still snag a BigLaw 1L SA, but even that's doubtful.

Applied to a limited number of firms whose focus fit well with my background, as well as multiple federal agencies. Got a lot of bites from agencies but ended up taking an SA at an ~100 attorney firm. Thanks for the advice everyone.

Anonymous User wrote:Applied to a limited number of firms whose focus fit well with my background, as well as multiple federal agencies. Got a lot of bites from agencies but ended up taking an SA at an ~100 attorney firm. Thanks for the advice everyone.

Which firm?