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Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:09 am
by BaberhamLincoln
BaberhamLincoln wrote:Forgive my ignorance, I'm trying to comb through NU documents and this thread and a couple others. General consensus is not to bid on firms I'll interview with at PLIP, and I only want Chicago
This really narrows down my options right? And then just rank them according to who I'm most interested in from that subset?
So Im in Simplicity for the first time (first time for NU) and see there are 45 IL firms. 13 of which I am interviewing with at PLIP plus possibly 6 more alternates. But it would be dumb to just use 26-32 of my bids...
I guess I'm at a loss because I know you shouldn't bid a firm you're already interviewing at elsewhere and I'm not interested in firms outside Chicago. Is the common practice to bid Ny no matter what?
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:13 am
by Wildcats17
Anonymous User wrote:How much of a boost does being on law review provide? Here's some of my relevant info:
GPA: 3.15
No work experience
Law review
EXCELLENT letters of rec (less relevant, I realize)
Can I bid on some of the firms whose medians are closer to 3.4? Or would that be a total waste?
Forgive my ignorance, but are we supposed to have letters of rec for OCI? I knew we needed a list of references but I wasn't aware that I needed to be asking people for actual letters...
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:15 am
by BaberhamLincoln
Also, if a firm rejects a screener with you for PLIP do you not bid on them for OCI?
My resume has changed obviously by transferring so I am tempted to say I still bid but I really don't know
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:21 pm
by moneyball026
Wildcats17 wrote:Anonymous User wrote:How much of a boost does being on law review provide? Here's some of my relevant info:
GPA: 3.15
No work experience
Law review
EXCELLENT letters of rec (less relevant, I realize)
Can I bid on some of the firms whose medians are closer to 3.4? Or would that be a total waste?
Forgive my ignorance, but are we supposed to have letters of rec for OCI? I knew we needed a list of references but I wasn't aware that I needed to be asking people for actual letters...
no, they arent a thing.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 7:09 pm
by Anonymous User
Transfer here and I have no idea what to do with my bid list. Does anyone have any advice? I heard transfers do well at OCI but I'm not sure if I should still be bidding on the top firms.
Don't have a huge preference of litigation or transactional, but am leaning more towards transactional right now.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:01 pm
by bdubs
feralinfant wrote:Anonymous User wrote:3.88; all in for litigation. Are there any big lit firms in Chicago I'm missing here? Downside: I don't have any real ties to Chicago.
1 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher (LA, Denver, NY, etc)
2 Morrison & Foerster (LA, Denver, NY, DC, etc)
3 Polsinelli (Chicago, Denver, LA, DC)
4 Perkins Coie (LA, Portland, Denver)
5 Dorsey & Whitney (Seattle, Denver)
6 Latham & Watkins (Chicago)
7 Sidley (Chicago)
8 Schiff Hardin (Chicago)
9 Jenner (Chicago)
10 Barack Ferrazzano (Chicago)
11 Kirkland & Ellis(Chicago)
12 Greenberg Traurig (Chicago)
13 Faeger Baker Daniels (Chicago)
14 Baker & Hostetler (Chicago)
15 Bryan Cave (Chicago)
16 Husch Blackwell (Chicago)
17 Dentons (Chicago)
18 Winston & Strawn (Chicago)
19 Skadden (Chicago)
20 McDermott Will & Emery (Chicago)
21 Eimer Stahl (Chicago)
22 Katten (Chicago)
23 Baker & McKenzie (Chicago)
24 Foley & Lardner (Chicago)
25 K & L Gates (Chicago)
26 McGuire Woods (Chicago)
27 Reed Smith (Chicago)
28 Neal Gerber Eisenberg (Chicago)
29 Schopf & weiss (Chicago)
30 Jones Day (Chicago)
31 Morgan Lewis (Chicago)
This is going to echo cookie's advice about not being overly cautious with high grades like this.
(1) Isn't Barack Ferrazzano just real estate? Someone else should weigh in.
(2) The top Chicago firms are too low, you risk missing them. If you want Lit and Chicago and have grades like yours I would put Kirkland, Sidley, Jenner, Skadden, and Latham all a lot higher, even at the very top. Definitley above Schiff and GGreenberg.LA is not as likely to be popular and can probably go lower (Definite exception-GIbson, this will have to be a high bid if you want to interview there). Having grades like yours its not a problem to bid all the top firms high because (1) you grades arent what will hold you back, and its not like Greenberg takes people who are median grades and median awkward, your interviewing affects these places in the same way (2) these firms have the biggest class sizes, so if your grades arent going to DQ you, you have a better shot in someways of snagging a CB.
Barrack Ferrazzano is only chambers ranked for real estate, but they are actually a litigation heavy boutiqueish firm.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 9:19 pm
by irishballa
Anonymous User wrote:Transfer here and I have no idea what to do with my bid list. Does anyone have any advice? I heard transfers do well at OCI but I'm not sure if I should still be bidding on the top firms.
Don't have a huge preference of litigation or transactional, but am leaning more towards transactional right now.
I know some transfers who didn't do so well. I also know a couple others who went 1/1 on callbacks. I would hesitate to bid too aggressively. Possible others can speak to other variation. My experience only crosses about 7-8 people.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:06 pm
by Anonymous User
irishballa wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Transfer here and I have no idea what to do with my bid list. Does anyone have any advice? I heard transfers do well at OCI but I'm not sure if I should still be bidding on the top firms.
Don't have a huge preference of litigation or transactional, but am leaning more towards transactional right now.
I know some transfers who didn't do so well. I also know a couple others who went 1/1 on callbacks. I would hesitate to bid too aggressively. Possible others can speak to other variation. My experience only crosses about 7-8 people.
Wow, really? Part of the reason why I am transferring is to open up my options for big law. Does anyone else have any insight on this?
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 1:43 am
by Micdiddy
Anonymous User wrote:irishballa wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Transfer here and I have no idea what to do with my bid list. Does anyone have any advice? I heard transfers do well at OCI but I'm not sure if I should still be bidding on the top firms.
Don't have a huge preference of litigation or transactional, but am leaning more towards transactional right now.
I know some transfers who didn't do so well. I also know a couple others who went 1/1 on callbacks. I would hesitate to bid too aggressively. Possible others can speak to other variation. My experience only crosses about 7-8 people.
Wow, really? Part of the reason why I am transferring is to open up my options for big law. Does anyone else have any insight on this?
Sure. Where are you transferring from? What scholarship money are you giving up?
Edit: this is assuming your decision to transfer is not final. Also what rank were you at your old school? Most likely if you're transferring, it's a good thing, but that's not always the case.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 7:27 am
by cookiejar1
BaberhamLincoln wrote:Also, if a firm rejects a screener with you for PLIP do you not bid on them for OCI?
My resume has changed obviously by transferring so I am tempted to say I still bid but I really don't know
Firm pre-select people to interview they don't reject you. As long as you haven't already had a screener with the firm during this recruiting cycle you're good to go. Hell, I had a screener with Latham SV pre-OCI, didn't get a callback, and so copped Latham LA at OCI without any problems. Didn't even mention that I interviewed with Latham SV during my callback. Guess I fell through the cracks / recruiting didn't care. Your milage will vary.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 11:26 am
by Anonymous User
Does anyone have an explanation of the process used to apply for non-OCI firms? Is it really just sending the firm CL/resume/transcript?
Also, what do I put in a cover letter?
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 11:52 am
by Anonymous User
Cliff has been making journal calls since Wednesday night and I haven't gotten one yet, so I'm assuming I didn't make the cut for law review. What does this mean for the job hunt? The clerkship hunt?
I have a 3.85.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 11:54 am
by moneyball026
Anonymous User wrote:Does anyone have an explanation of the process used to apply for non-OCI firms? Is it really just sending the firm CL/resume/transcript?
Also, what do I put in a cover letter?
yes that is really what it is. go to careerspace, theyve got all the literature or at least that's what Tim's Guide to Getting A Job told me - i trust that guy. but generally list things youve done in your jobs - particularly skills that are transferrable to a law firm (legal research & writing, client facing experience, etc).
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 11:55 am
by moneyball026
Anonymous User wrote:Cliff has been making journal calls since Wednesday night and I haven't gotten one yet, so I'm assuming I didn't make the cut for law review. What does this mean for the job hunt? The clerkship hunt?
I have a 3.85.
means nothing for the job hunt, means something for the "clerkship hunt" if that is even a thing. talk to janet brown about clerking options, skip kadens because she will tell you to apply to the court of common pleas of hawaii if you arent on law review.
Edit: point being that you can still get a good clerkship if not on law review, kadens probably wouldnt let you believe that though. just work your butt off on another journal, get on eboard, and youll be ok if you keep up the gpa.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 12:03 pm
by Anonymous User
I can just skip working with Kadens altogether? What a relief.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 12:26 pm
by Anonymous User
kadens won't really work with you if you are not one of the top candidates. janet is amazing though.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 1:01 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:kadens won't really work with you if you are not one of the top candidates. janet is amazing though.
yeah i get that Kadens is not a people person but her dismissiveness can be really discouraging. I really second that Janet Brown is incredibly diligent, dedicated, and responsive. Not only that, she's much more understanding that students aren't law robots who should want to clerk anywhere at all costs and won't judge you for limiting yourself geographically in any way for personal reasons (though she will explain the risks and costs of doing so).
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 1:04 pm
by Anonymous User
Over 3.59 cumulative - practicing for Skadden NY or chicago, is this doable with the GPA?
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 1:22 pm
by moneyball026
Anonymous User wrote:Over 3.59 cumulative - practicing for Skadden NY or chicago, is this doable with the GPA?
i would say slightly better chance at Ny over chicago, it is an uphill climb but doable. also, what is over 3.59 cumulative? that's an odd number to reference if it isn't even your exact number.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 1:27 pm
by LongTymeLurker
moneyball026 wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Over 3.59 cumulative - practicing for Skadden NY or chicago, is this doable with the GPA?
i would say slightly better chance at Ny over chicago, it is an uphill climb but doable. also, what is over 3.59 cumulative? that's an odd number to reference if it isn't even your exact number.
Thanks for the reply - I should have just put an 'x''.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 2:39 pm
by Anonymous User
This might be a dumb question, but how are we supposed to know what our scheduling conflicts will be for OCI (and have them entered into simplicity by July 27th) if we don't bid on classes until august 7th? Do we just guess?
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 2:55 pm
by BaberhamLincoln
Anonymous User wrote:This might be a dumb question, but how are we supposed to know what our scheduling conflicts will be for OCI (and have them entered into simplicity by July 27th) if we don't bid on classes until august 7th? Do we just guess?
I could be wrong but I think they mean scheduling conflicts that aren't class - like work or vacation. Class doesn't start until two-three weeks after OCI
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 2:55 pm
by Cobretti
LongTymeLurker wrote:moneyball026 wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Over 3.59 cumulative - practicing for Skadden NY or chicago, is this doable with the GPA?
i would say slightly better chance at Ny over chicago, it is an uphill climb but doable. also, what is over 3.59 cumulative? that's an odd number to reference if it isn't even your exact number.
Thanks for the reply - I should have just put an 'x''.
It's gonna be close, but I would say worth pursuing.
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 3:00 pm
by Anonymous User
BaberhamLincoln wrote:Anonymous User wrote:This might be a dumb question, but how are we supposed to know what our scheduling conflicts will be for OCI (and have them entered into simplicity by July 27th) if we don't bid on classes until august 7th? Do we just guess?
I could be wrong but I think they mean scheduling conflicts that aren't class - like work or vacation. Class doesn't start until two-three weeks after OCI
Oh, duh, thanks!
Re: Northwestern OCI 2015
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 3:57 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:irishballa wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Transfer here and I have no idea what to do with my bid list. Does anyone have any advice? I heard transfers do well at OCI but I'm not sure if I should still be bidding on the top firms.
Don't have a huge preference of litigation or transactional, but am leaning more towards transactional right now.
I know some transfers who didn't do so well. I also know a couple others who went 1/1 on callbacks. I would hesitate to bid too aggressively. Possible others can speak to other variation. My experience only crosses about 7-8 people.
Wow, really? Part of the reason why I am transferring is to open up my options for big law. Does anyone else have any insight on this?
Transfer here. Got 11 CBs. Accepted 3rd offer I got because it was my first choice; canceled the rest of CBs. Didn't feel a transfer stigma. I bid pretty aggressively. I personally would not bid any less aggressively than you would if you were a homegrown NU just because you are a transfer. If you have good grades from your former school (within ballpark to qualify to do OCI there), you are a good interviewer, and have decent work experience, then you have a good shot at doing well in OCI...