Contacting Firm as a OL (old) / Personal JX (new topic) Forum

[APHill]

I live, attend school and want to work for a firm in the same market. I am hoping to land a 1L internship during summer '11. Would it be smart to contact regional recruiter now and express my interest?

[badfish]

I live, attend school and want to work for a firm in the same market. I am hoping to land a 1L internship during summer '11. Would it be smart to contact regional recruiter now and express my interest?

they won't care

[APHill]

you mean it would not be good or bad? I am only worried about if it would be bad, but otherwise if it is not likely to do any good I still want to take a cjance and try to get in touch.

[patrickd139]

I live, attend school and want to work for a firm in the same market. I am hoping to land a 1L internship during summer '11. Would it be smart to contact regional recruiter now and express my interest?

they won't care

You're so courteous, bf.

OP: expect major ridicule for this thread.

[APHill]

why? or is this question funny also?

I have a lot of quality work experience and am a CPA.

[patrickd139]

why? or is this question funny also?

There may be hope for you yet.

[APHill]

My point is - you cannot contact firms during first 4 months in law school. I am trying to pop on the radar for a second and then re-express interest and when first semester grades are in.

Can you please explain in detail why this idea is so ridiculous? I am not saying that it will help me land a job, but hope that there is .0001% chance it will increase my chances, and am willing to try.

[badfish]

My point is - you cannot contact firms during first 4 months in law school. I am trying to pop on the radar for a second and then re-express interest and when first semester grades are in.

Can you please explain in detail why this idea is so ridiculous? I am not saying that it will help me land a job, but hope that there is .0001% chance it will increase my chances, and am willing to try.

dude, they won't care. if you go to a top school there will be recruiting events all through second semester. you could go to all of those and chum up with partners and associates and they still won't care. all they will care about is your grades after 1L. seriously, they won't care if you throw them a phone call or a few emails before your 1L year.

[patrickd139]

I think your time would be better spent on 0L prep.

Besides, you're a CPA. That will give you the advantage over your fellow students possible come OCI. Assuming you have grades. Which you don't, yet. See BF's post re: grades and how they're they only thing that matters.

[Kiersten1985]

I can you right now, if my coworkers caught wind of an 0L contacting one of our recruiters to "express interest," we would have some hilarious conversations about said 0L for months.

That's why it's a ridiculous question.

[Mattalones]

I can you right now, if my coworkers caught wind of an 0L contacting one of our recruiters to "express interest," we would have some hilarious conversations about said 0L for months.

That's why it's a ridiculous question.

I was wondering about contacting a SD firm about how I can try to get into the market there coming from the east coast. I want to work in SD and will go to LS on the other coast. That seems more like advice seeking than expressing interest. How do you think that would be perceived?

[patrickd139]

I can you right now, if my coworkers caught wind of an 0L contacting one of our recruiters to "express interest," we would have some hilarious conversations about said 0L for months.

That's why it's a ridiculous question.

I was wondering about contacting a SD firm about how I can try to get into the market there coming from the east coast. I want to work in SD and will go to LS on the other coast. That seems more like advice seeking than expressing interest. How do you think that would be perceived?

Kiersten is spot-on.

Do you have any preexisting contacts with said firm? If not, it's going to be perceived as expressing interest. That said, good advice is good advice, no matter the source.

[APHill]

I doubt your co-workers would get wind of it, because I would contact a recruiter, not an employee.

I have bought all the books for first semester (the books which will actually be used in my sections) and have covered 300 pages already, so thank you for the 0L prep hint.

[Rand M.]

I have bought all the books for first semester (the books which will actually be used in my sections) and have covered 300 pages already, so thank you for the 0L prep hint.

Whoa.

[emoticons777]

First, even though you're not a 1L yet, you clearly will be. There are specific rules about these sort of contacts, and you're purposely trying to game the system. Seems like a gray area, I would not do it.
Second, recruiters have co-workers, and yes - you probably will get made fun of.
Third, they don't care about you. They don't even care about you post December 1. It is a waste of time to contact them, and will not have a beneficial result. No one likes a gunner.
Fourth, if you're worried about the market, contact your school's career center about general prospects, other students going into firms you're interested in, etc. You can't really get specific, because they also wont help you until they're allowed to (I can't remember what that date is). You also might be able to get access to their alumni database assuming you've committed to the school, in which case you can e-mail alumni in your target area. This will also be more beneficial than contacting a recruiter w/ no interest.
Fifth, you are insane for reading your law text books already. Professors pick and choose what they want you to know, and by going outside of your potential reading area, you are really only hurting yourself. You're wasting time on unimportant issues that will not help you (you don't get points on exams for discussing things that weren't taught). As for 0L prep in general, its debatable whether its truly helpful. I'd say at most read GTM. Relax!

[APHill]

thanks, i already got an idea that contacting anyone b4 1L OCI is not good idea. In terms of reading textbooks - it is not work for me, it is really enjoyable in fact. I know I will cover a lot more material than necessary, but if I cover 100% and they teach 70%, the 70% of the material will still be a review for me while it will be all new for most other students.

[wakefield]

thanks, i already got an idea that contacting anyone b4 1L OCI is not good idea. In terms of reading textbooks - it is not work for me, it is really enjoyable in fact. I know I will cover a lot more material than necessary, but if I cover 100% and they teach 70%, the 70% of the material will still be a review for me while it will be all new for most other students.

Do you...have friends? Hobbies? You have three years of law school to read textbooks.

[Grizz]

A.P. Hill?

[avacado111]

i bet your insecure/gunnerish because you are going to a t3

[ja57047]

I got this from webmd...

"Asperger's syndrome is a lifelong condition, although it tends to stabilize over time, and improvements are often seen. Adults usually obtain a better understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. They are able to learn social skills and how to read others' social cues. Many people with Asperger's syndrome marry and have children.

Some traits that are typical of Asperger's syndrome, such as attention to detail and focused interests, can increase chances of university and career success. Many people with Asperger's seem to be fascinated with technology, and a common career choice is engineering. But scientific careers are by no means the only areas where people with Asperger's excel. Indeed, many respected historical figures have had symptoms of Asperger's, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Thomas Jefferson. "


You can have a very happy and productive life. Good Luck!!

[rando]

I was wondering about contacting a SD firm about how I can try to get into the market there coming from the east coast. I want to work in SD and will go to LS on the other coast. That seems more like advice seeking than expressing interest. How do you think that would be perceived?

If they even respond they will ask you why you went to school on the east coast if you want to work in SD. If you have a good reason, like you are going to T6, then you don't need to contact them b/c you can practice where you want. So... not beneficial.

[AtticusFinch]

I doubt your co-workers would get wind of it, because I would contact a recruiter, not an employee.

I have bought all the books for first semester (the books which will actually be used in my sections) and have covered 300 pages already, so thank you for the 0L prep hint.

I have an OL prep hint, work on your grammar.

[rando]

If I cover 100% and they teach 70%, the 70% of the material will still be a review for me while it will be all new for most other students.

haha. thanks for brightening a dreary sunday afternoon in the library for me.

[TTH]

Have you bought your rolling backpack yet?

[ja57047]

Have you bought your rolling backpack yet?