Michigan OCI 2015 Forum

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

So, I think LR is pretty useless to anyone in the top 20 percent of the class (I'm the LR person above), unless you want to clerk, and in that case a good position on ed board may help. There are certainly people in the 2016 class who did not do a journal and ended up with V5 offers. You should just have an explanation as to where you're putting the time that would have been spent on a journal--doing research with the professor, really devoted to becoming great at oral arguments, or taking care of my kids could all work (as might, look, I didn't get onto law review and I decided I really wanted to devote myself to this clinic I'm going to be working in). As to the circumstances of having a 3.2 and not doing a journal: you're not totally screwed, but you should consider joining a journal that you didn't apply to. You should also be searching for jobs today with the assumption that OCI is not going to work out. Odds may be against you with a 3.2 unless you're super relatable and are just smooth as fuck.

[Anonymous User]

how do you join a journal that you didn't apply to? I'm definitely open to doing a journal, I had just been told that it was sufficient to apply to LR and a secondary.

I know OCI is a long shot for me 3.2 journal or no journal. I have been hustling.

[UnamSanctam]

3.2, no, but I will be an RA and I was a paralegal for two years

Yes, lack of journal will hurt. It will be very helpful to sell your legal work experience.

[Anonymous User]

In terms of getting on a journal you didn't apply to. The easiest way would be to contact the managing editors of some journals you did not apply to and say that you applied to LR and one secondary and didn't get on either. However, you really want to be on a journal and have an interest in what they do, and would they consider making an exception. I'm not saying they all will, but I expect one or two of the secondary journals will be short on AEs and would at least invite you to submit an application with the transfers.

It would help, btw, to be someone who people generally liked, as that might be checked into.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know much about Detroit biglaw? Is compensation going back up to 125? Major transactional players are still Foley/Honigman/Clark Hill/Miller Canfield/Bodman/JD right?

[Anonymous User]

How much of a pipe dream is it to bid magic circle London offices?

I was looking exclusively at NY firms, but I have strong London ties (family, full year study abroad, some W/E there). It looks like a few offers went out last year, but are they much more selective than they are for their NY offices? I wouldn't want to waste a slot.

[Anonymous User]

^i think it depends on gpa and if you have UK citizenship.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, 3.4 and no UK citizenship.

[UnamSanctam]

OP here, 3.4 and no UK citizenship.

Don't waste the slot.

[Anonymous User]

Law review rejections out this morning. Any reason apart from practice area interest to pick MJLR over other secondaries?

[UnamSanctam]

Law review rejections out this morning. Any reason apart from practice area interest to pick MJLR over other secondaries?

If you are a masochist intent on punishing yourself with a lot of work to prep your body for firm life, yes.

[jrthor10]

How much of a pipe dream is it to bid magic circle London offices?

I was looking exclusively at NY firms, but I have strong London ties (family, full year study abroad, some W/E there). It looks like a few offers went out last year, but are they much more selective than they are for their NY offices? I wouldn't want to waste a slot.

Do you mean work at a magic circle firm in NYC or in London? Those two are very different. Note that I've heard compensation in London is less than ideal. Magic circle offices in NYC/DC are usually easier to get than V5-10.

[Anonymous User]

I did mean the London offices.

Looking at the GPA data, London offices for Allen & Overy and Freshfields actually look on par with or slighly less selective than their NY offices. Is UK citizenship a major factor? I imagine it's not easy to get a work permit.

[Anonymous User]

Disclaimer: I go to a a different lower t14 and just like to lurk all the t14 OCI boards I can

But I have two friends summering at Latham and Linklaters without UK citizenship of any kind (one lacks ties to the UK). One is top 10 percent and the other is top 30ish for what it's worth

Also Latham pays much more than NYC market for US associates overseas.

[Anonymous User]

B

[BuckinghamB]

Law review rejections out this morning. Any reason apart from practice area interest to pick MJLR over other secondaries?

Listen to Unam. Don't do it. No one cares what one you do and MJLR is way more work than the others.

Source: former MJLR member and I had friends on pretty much every other journal

TL;DR MJLR is almost as much work as LR but gives you no boost

[Anonymous User]

On getting a job in London: it's possible. Grades are less important than an interest in capital markets work and an explanation of why you want to be / will stay in London for several years. At least one person in 2016 class took a job in London. The person I'm thinking of probably had reasonably good but not great grades. I think the pay is on the US scale and they cover housing. Also, there are firms that will send you to London for a portion of your summer.

[Anonymous User]

Any estimates ideas of percentile for gpa of 3.5

[Anonymous User]

Any estimates ideas of percentile for gpa of 3.5

DISCLAIMER: This is based on hearsay/what I saw on the 2014 OCI thread.

1L median under the new grading curve has been 3.35-36. This puts 3.500 after 1L around the top 1/3.

3.441 was the median graduating GPA over 2010-2014. 1L GPA would be a bit lower, so 1L median of 3.35-36 passes the smell test.

[Anonymous User]

You realize they post the grade curves, and median is guaranteed to be very close to average, probably a little lower.

We should not post stuff here. But that's a very solid GPA.

[Anonymous User]

I also think worrying about whats the exact median isn't necessarily helpful. I doubt there is any thing functionally different from +/- .03 off of median (maybe even higher). The only thing that I can think of that would be important is if a firm has a hard floor at 3.3, then being sub that would hurt. But I doubt the middling NYC firms see anything all that different between 3.25 and 3.35. At that point, I suspect they would be willing to dip for a 3.25 over a 3.35 (assuming both are within range) for someone they liked better, had an interest in a practice area they need help with, relevant w/e, etc.

I guess what I'm trying to say is top 45% or top 55% isn't really a distinction that is going to make or break you at that point--you're functionally median.

[Anonymous User]

I have a 3.26, got onto to a secondary journal, K-JD, URM.

Realistically, what are my chances of getting a CB at a Chicago firm?
Here's my bid list (I realize K&L & JB are huge reaches) in order of Vault rankings, NOT in the order that I will actually be bidding on them. I picked ones that had a median GPA from last year that is close to mine, like OCP told me (OCP actually told me I should add more reach firms).

K&L Gates
Jenner & Block
Dechert
Greenberg Traurig
Perkins Coie
Holland & Knight
Nixon Peabody
Foley & Lardner
Bryan Cave
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
Katten Muchin Rosenman
Locke Lord
Drinker Biddle & Reath
Duane Morris
Chapman & Cutler
Vedder Price
Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg
Faegre Baker Daniels
Polsinelli
Thompson Coburn
Taft Stettinius & Hollister
Quarles & Brady
Michael, Best, & Friedrich
Schiff Hardin

I have Midwest ties and am also going to be bidding on Michigan firms (likely all of the ones coming to OCI). Are these Chicago firms impossible for me? I do not want to go to NYC, but am open to any other "easier" markets that you all might suggest.

[umichman]

Also, how important is reaching out to Michigan alums at firms I'm bidding on & having phone conversations with them, really? Couldn't I just say at a screening interview that I talked to so-and-so at X firm and just blabber off the same stuff that I would have if I had actually talked to them?

I am also a 1L, but this seems like a terrible idea

[BuckinghamB]

Also, how important is reaching out to Michigan alums at firms I'm bidding on & having phone conversations with them, really? Couldn't I just say at a screening interview that I talked to so-and-so at X firm and just blabber off the same stuff that I would have if I had actually talked to them?

I am also a 1L, but this seems like a terrible idea

yeah don't do this