What is the timeline? Forum

[jjcorvino]

How does this all work? Beginning of 2L you do Interviews for SA positions at firms. Then when you get that position your job search is done? I know a lot about SA positions, but I have no idea what happens after that. The firm you work for your 2L summer will likely be the firm you work for after you graduate? What if you don’t like the firm? What if you don’t get an offer from that SA?

I just haven’t seen a timeline on here after 2L OCI.

[UVA2B]

Most big firms will be reaching out to you starting now-ish for your SA, nailing down the logistics of the summer (start date, expected schedule, things they need from you, etc.). From there, you show up on your first day bright eyed and bushy tailed. You go through orientation, and you eventually get your assignments. You do your best on those assignments. You may or may not get feedback on those specific assignments, but you'll have reviews of your performance during the SA. At the conclusion of your SA, you'll have an end of summer review. You might get an offer at that meeting, or they might need to meet with their recruiting committee to discuss offers for SAs. If you did well, you'll probably get an offer. If you are at a 100% offer firm, you'll almost certainly get an offer. If you danced naked on a table at a partner's house without being asked to do so, you might be sorely let go.

When you think back to your SA, you can decide whether you want to accept the offer at your SA firm. You can keep that offer open while you test the waters during 3L OCI/mass mailing if you didn't love your experience at the firm. Or you can just turn down the offer if you decide Biglaw just isn't for you.

NALP will drive the timing of offers and accepting offers timeline, so there isn't really a "timeline" there. But if you think you could realistically see yourself working at the firm for 2-5 years, then it's probably equal to any other firm you find during 3L. You can always try your hand at other firms to see if you find a better personal fit, or maybe find a firm that wants to take you on in a different practice group that you want more, but 3L hiring is notably more idiosyncratic.

Do you have any more precise questions? Some of this is driven by specific firms and markets, so giving generic information is going to be very...generic.

[jjcorvino]

Most big firms will be reaching out to you starting now-ish for your SA, nailing down the logistics of the summer (start date, expected schedule, things they need from you, etc.). From there, you show up on your first day bright eyed and bushy tailed. You go through orientation, and you eventually get your assignments. You do your best on those assignments. You may or may not get feedback on those specific assignments, but you'll have reviews of your performance during the SA. At the conclusion of your SA, you'll have an end of summer review. You might get an offer at that meeting, or they might need to meet with their recruiting committee to discuss offers for SAs. If you did well, you'll probably get an offer. If you are at a 100% offer firm, you'll almost certainly get an offer. If you danced naked on a table at a partner's house without being asked to do so, you might be sorely let go.

When you think back to your SA, you can decide whether you want to accept the offer at your SA firm. You can keep that offer open while you test the waters during 3L OCI/mass mailing if you didn't love your experience at the firm. Or you can just turn down the offer if you decide Biglaw just isn't for you.

NALP will drive the timing of offers and accepting offers timeline, so there isn't really a "timeline" there. But if you think you could realistically see yourself working at the firm for 2-5 years, then it's probably equal to any other firm you find during 3L. You can always try your hand at other firms to see if you find a better personal fit, or maybe find a firm that wants to take you on in a different practice group that you want more, but 3L hiring is notably more idiosyncratic.

Do you have any more precise questions? Some of this is driven by specific firms and markets, so giving generic information is going to be very...generic.

No, that makes sense. I am a 1L and just got my grades back. I was just confused when I read through all the information here because none of it really mentioned what happens after that SA job search (besides vale of tears).

[mcmand]

I mean, it is a vale of tears after the SA job search. If you didn't get something, that vale starts right away. If you did get something, the vale starts whenever you realize biglaw is a grind and not the buckets of fun they make you think it is over summer.

So you've had the right impression, more or less.

[UVA2B]

Oh, you're a 1L? That at least partially changes things (not substantially, but there are important differences).

Assuming you've already nailed down your 1L SA, and assuming it's a full summer SA, your goal will be to do good work so you get what is commonly referred to as a holding offer or a touch-back offer. What that typically means is the firm would love to bring you back for 2L SA, but if you want to explore other opportunities (and some firms actually prefer this since they've already seen you and could employ you long-term), they'll bring you back for 3-6 weeks of the 2L summer while you work at another firm for the rest of the summer (known as splitting your summer).

You'll still likely participate in OCI and go through the traditional rigmarole unless you're dead set on the firm (and they want to host you again the next summer). You'll try not to talk about 2L OCI while you're in your 1L SA, but everyone pretty much gets the deal and understands you'll be interviewing with other firms following working for their firm. Depending on the size and insularity of the firm/market, they may or may not care about that.

As a 1L, it's too early to be worrying about the rest of your timeline. If you got a 1L SA, embrace the experience and try your best. You'll still have to do necessary preps for 2L OCI when the time comes, but you don't need to get ahead of yourself.