Asking school what firms attended most recent OCI Forum

[corporatelaw87]

Would this be frowned upon? Lets be honest one of the main reasons we choose schools is because of the career prospects, so if the type of firm I want (big law) is not actively recruiting at the school I am looking at, it would be a major factor for my decision. Also, the schools post who comes to their OCIs but its often a couple years out of date, so I want to ask for most recent.

[icydash]

Actually, I would NOT look at the most recent. Nobody is recruiting now. OCIs are REALLY shitty these days. You'd be better off looking at past stats to see what the OCIs will be like in two or three years when you're in/about to graduate law school.

[BioEBear2010]

OP, you can definitely (and in my opinion should) ask this question. Just ask politely which firms went for OCI this past year. As icydash mentioned, though, this year was really rough for recruiting. It might be more helpful to know what firms have been coming the past few years. Also, I would speak with the career development office (or whatever the school calls it) in person -- e-mail is too impersonal and this is a subject better discussed face-to-face.

[lawschoollll]

OP, you can definitely (and in my opinion should) ask this question. Just ask politely which firms went for OCI this past year. As icydash mentioned, though, this year was really rough for recruiting. It might be more helpful to know what firms have been coming the past few years. Also, I would speak with the career development office (or whatever the school calls it) in person -- e-mail is too impersonal and this is a subject better discussed face-to-face.

Really? Do you think 2-3 years ago is more representative of next year/2 years from now than is the most recent OCI? I'm genuinely curious. Do a lot of people think that last year was rock bottom? Frankly I've always thought OCI would stagnate for another few years and have been preparing for the worst.

[corporatelaw87]

Actually, I would NOT look at the most recent. Nobody is recruiting now. OCIs are REALLY shitty these days. You'd be better off looking at past stats to see what the OCIs will be like in two or three years when you're in/about to graduate law school.

Well the reason I want to look a this past year is because it was so shitty. I mean, top top schools like NYU and Columbia still do have firms come to their school. Whether or not people actually get hired is another story. But, if firms are not even coming, then there is zero chance I get hired by those firms, while at other schools there is at least a ten percent chance.

[Flanker1067]

Plan for the worst, hope for the best? Maybe find out both, who usually comes and who decided not to this year?

[Xiaolong]

OP, you can definitely (and in my opinion should) ask this question. Just ask politely which firms went for OCI this past year. As icydash mentioned, though, this year was really rough for recruiting. It might be more helpful to know what firms have been coming the past few years. Also, I would speak with the career development office (or whatever the school calls it) in person -- e-mail is too impersonal and this is a subject better discussed face-to-face.

Really? Do you think 2-3 years ago is more representative of next year/2 years from now than is the most recent OCI? I'm genuinely curious. Do a lot of people think that last year was rock bottom? Frankly I've always thought OCI would stagnate for another few years and have been preparing for the worst.

Of course no one can give you a definite answer on this one. However when the C/O 2013 does OCI in the fall of 2011, they will be hired under the assumption what demand is in the summer of 2013. Naturally most firms will base their demand for new full time associates on assumptions about what the economy will look like in the summer of 2013 and onwards. Now, if you are a pessimist you will not believe that things will change dramatically between now and three and a half years down the road. I for one however am optimistic that the economy will have recovered noticeably.

[icydash]

OP, you can definitely (and in my opinion should) ask this question. Just ask politely which firms went for OCI this past year. As icydash mentioned, though, this year was really rough for recruiting. It might be more helpful to know what firms have been coming the past few years. Also, I would speak with the career development office (or whatever the school calls it) in person -- e-mail is too impersonal and this is a subject better discussed face-to-face.

Really? Do you think 2-3 years ago is more representative of next year/2 years from now than is the most recent OCI? I'm genuinely curious. Do a lot of people think that last year was rock bottom? Frankly I've always thought OCI would stagnate for another few years and have been preparing for the worst.

Of course no one can give you a definite answer on this one. However when the C/O 2013 does OCI in the fall of 2011, they will be hired under the assumption what demand is in the summer of 2013. Naturally most firms will base their demand for new full time associates on assumptions about what the economy will look like in the summer of 2013 and onwards. Now, if you are a pessimist you will not believe that things will change dramatically between now and three and a half years down the road. I for one however am optimistic that the economy will have recovered noticeably.

+1