Law firm recruiter answering questions for a bit Forum

[lawfirmrecruiter]

i assume you also do a previous employment verification?

Yes.

What does this employment verification entail? Just a simple "did he/she work there" or do they go through everything on the resume?

Generally, companies will only verify dates of employment and job title.

[Anonymous User]

I have a question: I accepted a biglaw SA offer on the east coast. I suspect that my firm may look pretty good, but I don't really know. Anyway, my life situation changed and now I desperately need to get a 1st year associate position in a specific major city (which isn't one of the top 5 biggest markets). Obviously, I'm in a bit of a bind but not a horrible one because I do have a good summer position. However, I would like to work early and effectively to hopefully get hired out of the 3L job market in the other city. What's the best approach, as a 3L, to network and send out resumes? Should I start e-mailing alums at some point? Should I make it a point to go to that city and go to bar association events? In terms of my school/rank - my grades are fine and my school is fine (Top 15% at a T25, but neither are going to wow anyone. How would you suggest going about this so I give myself the best chance to get a good job in this specific city now that I have almost a year to plan? Thanks!

You should start to research the area and find out the top firms you would like to target. Then make a list of all alums at those firms and start to reach out to them. Ask for informational interviews to learn more about their practices and firms.

Thanks a ton for the response! Just to clarify, when would a good time be to start e-mailing people? beginning of the summer or even in May? Are informational interviews like actual interviews or is it more like me asking whether I can talk to the the lawyer in person or on the phone about what their job is like?

[Anonymous User]

I have a lot of unpaid internships etc that I didn't need to fill out W2s etc. When you do a past employment verification do you call up every place on my resume, or just the places on my ssn record? or both?

[lawfirmrecruiter]

I have a question: I accepted a biglaw SA offer on the east coast. I suspect that my firm may look pretty good, but I don't really know. Anyway, my life situation changed and now I desperately need to get a 1st year associate position in a specific major city (which isn't one of the top 5 biggest markets). Obviously, I'm in a bit of a bind but not a horrible one because I do have a good summer position. However, I would like to work early and effectively to hopefully get hired out of the 3L job market in the other city. What's the best approach, as a 3L, to network and send out resumes? Should I start e-mailing alums at some point? Should I make it a point to go to that city and go to bar association events? In terms of my school/rank - my grades are fine and my school is fine (Top 15% at a T25, but neither are going to wow anyone. How would you suggest going about this so I give myself the best chance to get a good job in this specific city now that I have almost a year to plan? Thanks!

You should start to research the area and find out the top firms you would like to target. Then make a list of all alums at those firms and start to reach out to them. Ask for informational interviews to learn more about their practices and firms.

Thanks a ton for the response! Just to clarify, when would a good time be to start e-mailing people? beginning of the summer or even in May? Are informational interviews like actual interviews or is it more like me asking whether I can talk to the the lawyer in person or on the phone about what their job is like?

Informational interviews are really nothing more than meeting with someone and learning more about their practice and what they do. It takes the pressure off the other person when they know you are not specifically hitting them up for a job. When you reach out to someone, just simply say that you are interested in moving and practicing the area and would like to meet with them to learn more about the market, their firm, what they do and get their advice for how to meet more people.

May or early summer is probably a good time to start having the meetings but you can start your research and target list now.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

I have a lot of unpaid internships etc that I didn't need to fill out W2s etc. When you do a past employment verification do you call up every place on my resume, or just the places on my ssn record? or both?

We will generally contact all major employers listed to confirm employment, that includes internships.

[Anonymous User]

Pretty sure you covered a similar question earlier in this thread, but...

I sent emails out the day after my callback with my first choice firm and shortly afterwards I received a response from one of the more senior partners I met thanking me and wishing me the best moving forward. (I'm paraphrasing, but not by much.) The letter I sent looked and sounded fine and I thought the interview went pretty well. Not sure if he's on the recruiting committee, but I am sure his opinion carries a lot of weight. So am I just being paranoid or might his response actually suggest he was less enthused about my summering there than I am?

[lawfirmrecruiter]

Pretty sure you covered a similar question earlier in this thread, but...

I sent emails out the day after my callback with my first choice firm and shortly afterwards I received a response from one of the more senior partners I met thanking me and wishing me the best moving forward. (I'm paraphrasing, but not by much.) The letter I sent looked and sounded fine and I thought the interview went pretty well. Not sure if he's on the recruiting committee, but I am sure his opinion carries a lot of weight. So am I just being paranoid or might his response actually suggest he was less enthused about my summering there than I am?

I think you are being paranoid. This is most likely a canned e-mail he sends in response to everyone he interviews. It was a nice gesture for him to return your message and I would not read anything further into it.

[Anonymous User]

I think you are being paranoid. This is most likely a canned e-mail he sends in response to everyone he interviews. It was a nice gesture for him to return your message and I would not read anything further into it.

That's what I was hoping to hear. Thanks for the reality check!

[Anonymous User]

thanks for all of the advice you've provided

I was wondering what your thoughts would be on accepting an offer with a govt position for 2L summer. I have not received any offers from the OCI process and I recently received the unpaid govt offer in a niche practice area that I am not planning to pursue. It sounds like a great substantive experience that I would have loved as a 1L but as a 2L I am concerned because they only hire laterals and its a niche area that wont directly help for future employment.

I'm concerned if I turn down the offer, I wont find anything for the summer. At the very least, I'd have to wait until spring when the smaller firms start hiring. If I were to go through the OCI process again as a 3L, how might a firm look at the experience? Would it look much better to have worked at a small law firm? I would like to work at a firm after law school, but would certainly consider govt down the line.

If this is the only option you have right now, I suggest you take it. It may not be what you ultimately want to do and it may not lead to a permenant offer, but it is experience in a legal capacity and you can use it to network with as many people as possible during your summer.

Are you suggesting that taking any legal job now is better than waiting in the spring when small firms start their hiring process? I have a lot of work experience and I feel a bit frustrated with taking an unpaid job

[lawfirmrecruiter]

thanks for all of the advice you've provided

I was wondering what your thoughts would be on accepting an offer with a govt position for 2L summer. I have not received any offers from the OCI process and I recently received the unpaid govt offer in a niche practice area that I am not planning to pursue. It sounds like a great substantive experience that I would have loved as a 1L but as a 2L I am concerned because they only hire laterals and its a niche area that wont directly help for future employment.

I'm concerned if I turn down the offer, I wont find anything for the summer. At the very least, I'd have to wait until spring when the smaller firms start hiring. If I were to go through the OCI process again as a 3L, how might a firm look at the experience? Would it look much better to have worked at a small law firm? I would like to work at a firm after law school, but would certainly consider govt down the line.

If this is the only option you have right now, I suggest you take it. It may not be what you ultimately want to do and it may not lead to a permenant offer, but it is experience in a legal capacity and you can use it to network with as many people as possible during your summer.

Are you suggesting that taking any legal job now is better than waiting in the spring when small firms start their hiring process? I have a lot of work experience and I feel a bit frustrated with taking an unpaid job

It completely depends on the situation. This candidate has an offer already for this unpaid intership. It would be terrible to turn this down and end up with nothing. That's not to say he or she should not continue to actively pursue all options, but to turn even an upaid offer down because you hope to land something in the spring if and when smaller firms decide to start interviewing and hiring would be foolish ITE. Smaller firms will most likely have opportunities, but there will only be a small number.

[Anonymous User]

Following-up on a prior question, how and why does the recommendation that one attorney (at the firm) offers about a candidate factor into the callback/offer stage?

[lawfirmrecruiter]

Following-up on a prior question, how and why does the recommendation that one attorney (at the firm) offers about a candidate factor into the callback/offer stage?

It completely depends on the connection and, quite frankly, the level of the attorney. With so many qualified candidates, having an attorney vouche for you can keep you from getting lost in the shuffle. Example: If you know a partner, having him or her vouche for you may help get you bumped up in the pile a bit. HOWEVER, ITE, you still have to stand out on your own merits to land a job.

[Anonymous User]

This may have been addressed in one of your previous answers, so forgive me if I'm just repeating another question, but do you think it is beneficial to contact an alum from your school at a law firm to which you just applied? And, as a follow up, if doing so is beneficial, what's a tactful way of saying "please do everything you can to help me" without seeming so...needy?

[slv123086]

This question is in regards to "maybe" piles

I've been told by two larger firms that I am still being considered for an offer, but that they have to see whether other applicants to whom they already extended offers accept.

Is there anything I can do in this situation besides wait with your fingers crossed?

[lawfirmrecruiter]

This may have been addressed in one of your previous answers, so forgive me if I'm just repeating another question, but do you think it is beneficial to contact an alum from your school at a law firm to which you just applied? And, as a follow up, if doing so is beneficial, what's a tactful way of saying "please do everything you can to help me" without seeming so...needy?

Absolutely. They may be in the position to help keep you in the mix and can provide advice about the firm. They can also be a great resource for learning more info about the legal market in that particular city if you wind up not getting an offer. When you contact them, just say that you have applied to their firm and would love the chance to talk to them further about their careers and experiences at that firm. "Please do everything you can to help me" is implied by you reaching out so no need to address it.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

This question is in regards to "maybe" piles

I've been told by two larger firms that I am still being considered for an offer, but that they have to see whether other applicants to whom they already extended offers accept.

Is there anything I can do in this situation besides wait with your fingers crossed?

Unfortunately, no. Wait a few weeks and then follow up with the recruiter to see where they are in their decisions.

[Anonymous User]

Hi LFR- thanks again for doing this.

So, I received an offer from a firm that says "upon clearance of background checks." I have a misdemeanor on my history from 2004 for shoplifting (basically I was with a kid who pocketed something from a Walmart, and we both got "arrested" by security). It was dismissed after I took a class (sort of like traffic school). Anyway, should I be worried? It was a long time ago, and dismissed, so I'm not sure if I should mention it, and if I do, would it get my offer rescinded.

I also have traffic violations on my record from the past ten years, but I'm guessing everyone has those. Anyway, thank you for your help!

[Anonymous User]

Hi, I just had a question regarding employment and clerkships. I did not get a job from OCI and am currently debating whether to take a govt offer or wait for recruiting for the spring. It seems for 3L OCI, it is preferable to have a SA position from private sector if possible.

But if I am hoping to clerk after law school (if not federal, then state) then does the 2L job matter much to the firms? How often do people go into clerkships with jobs lined up?

thanks for the advice!

[Anonymous User]

How severe of a drop in grades during your first semester of 2L does it take to where a firm will cancel your upcoming (2L) summer position?

[lawfirmrecruiter]

Hi, I just had a question regarding employment and clerkships. I did not get a job from OCI and am currently debating whether to take a govt offer or wait for recruiting for the spring. It seems for 3L OCI, it is preferable to have a SA position from private sector if possible.

But if I am hoping to clerk after law school (if not federal, then state) then does the 2L job matter much to the firms? How often do people go into clerkships with jobs lined up?

thanks for the advice!

If you have the option for the govt job, I would recommend taking it. It would be bad to hold out for spring recruiting, strike out and end up with nothing. If you plan on clerking anyway after school, the previous 2L position is not that important (unless it is with the same firm and they defer your start date for the clerkship).

[lawfirmrecruiter]

How severe of a drop in grades during your first semester of 2L does it take to where a firm will cancel your upcoming (2L) summer position?

It would have to be pretty significant. Even if grades drop, we would work with the student and see what happened before canceling a summer position.

[Anonymous User]

How severe of a drop in grades during your first semester of 2L does it take to where a firm will cancel your upcoming (2L) summer position?

Oh god...this is the wrong question to ask right now. Thank you for destroying my relaxing evening.

[Anonymous User]

How specific of an answer do you prefer to the question of "Why work at a private firm?" I know that I want to do litigation, and there are a handful of litigation areas in which I am interested. Is that specific enough to set me apart from the "Well, I just want to try everything!" answers?

[Addy]

It’s possible that this is not available to a 1L, but in case it is. . . . if a paid doc review position was available, would it be wise or unwise to accept such a position?

[lawfirmrecruiter]

How specific of an answer do you prefer to the question of "Why work at a private firm?" I know that I want to do litigation, and there are a handful of litigation areas in which I am interested. Is that specific enough to set me apart from the "Well, I just want to try everything!" answers?

Focusing on your interest in litigation and tying it back to the particular practice areas of the firm you are interviewing with will help you on this question. Since it is a very broad and open ended question, try to narrow the focus in your answer to show that you have given some thought about the type of practice you would like to have.