RA to OCI? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm a rising 2L that will be an RA for a professor not in my interested practice field for several weeks after taking full-time international summer classes that end late June. Am I at a serious disadvantage for OCI's because of this? T-50 school, top 1/3 GPA, previous work experience with master's degree. Have received positive feedback from legal NGO to simultaneously work part-time in their office while being a RA. Waiting on official offer from NGO. Suggestions? Will the NGO hurt because it's not a firm/judicial experience?

[Anonymous User]

no way any sort of 1L summer experience will hurt your OCI chances as long as it's legal work

[Anonymous User]

no way any sort of 1L summer experience will hurt your OCI chances as long as it's legal work

I want to condition this. Based on my experience, and the experience of others, you should try to get a summer position in the area of interest you plan on gunning for OCI (IE litigation/transactional). For example, if you intern for the USAO, and you tell your screeners that you're really interested in corporate securities law, you're going to have to work harder and have a good and convincing story for why that is the case. This is extra important if you're K-Law School, or someone with minimal work experience.

An RA position is relatively neutral in this regard, and its usefulness will depend on what you're researching. But in the end, your grades are what will hold you back from/get you a SA position––not necessarily incongruous summer work-to-OCI issues.

[sparkytrainer]

IDK why my original post wasn't approved by the mods, but you have meh grades at a t50. Your chances at OCI are <1%. That is the honest brutal truth. Whatever job you have this summer isn't going to chance now nor is it going to make a difference in whether you are going to be successful at OCI or not. Summer associateship positions were down 25% last year and that trend looks like its gonna continue. Medianish at t50 isn't going to cut it. Sorry.