1L Summer Job Search C/O 2017 Forum

[dood]

yea mine has a little added like I'm involved with xyz and was a finalist in this competition blah blah

and everything in DC I'm like IM A LOCAL PLZ HIRE ME

yeah this. put single sentence why hire you. I did in email subjects. "law student with 2 years work experience in finance at GS seeking internship" or "law student from Chicago and U Chicago grad seeking internship"

shit like that. got me a CoA internship 1L year and multiple firm offers 2L year, some from cold emails at firms I had no business interviewing at bc my grades sucked.

as a third year associate I tell you what, I delete ALL emails on my iPhone i don't recognize based on subject line only, so yeah maybe extreme but that's how a lot of us roll

[sesto elemento]

Thank you checkers and dood for the feedback.

[MT Cicero]

I'm looking to get back to my small-ish (500-600K metro) secondary market this summer if at all possible. I'd love a judicial externship, and I've got letters in the mail (they'll go out Monday) to my market's District and CoA judges. Also applying to the USAO. There really are very few law firms with even 50 attorneys (think 5-6), half of which are based somewhere else and only do 1L diversity SAs in other cities. So, maybe I could hit up the 2-3 of them that could possibly have a 2% shot at taking a 1L SA.

Any ideas on atypical paths people have taken or know of, especially in these types of markets?

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

I'm looking to get back to my small-ish (500-600K metro) secondary market this summer if at all possible. I'd love a judicial externship, and I've got letters in the mail (they'll go out Monday) to my market's District and CoA judges. Also applying to the USAO. There really are very few law firms with even 50 attorneys (think 5-6), half of which are based somewhere else and only do 1L diversity SAs in other cities. So, maybe I could hit up the 2-3 of them that could possibly have a 2% shot at taking a 1L SA.

Any ideas on atypical paths people have taken or know of, especially in these types of markets?

Sounds like we're in the same boat with the same approach.

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

Can writing samples be printed front and back? My sample is 17 pages and that's going to make my envelope awfully thick.

[BigZuck]

Can writing samples be printed front and back? My sample is 17 pages and that's going to make my envelope awfully thick.

Don't send a 17 page writing sample unless it's specified that they want a long one. 10 pages max IMO, and that's pushing it.

[chuckbass]

Can writing samples be printed front and back? My sample is 17 pages and that's going to make my envelope awfully thick.

Don't send a 17 page writing sample unless it's specified that they want a long one. 10 pages max IMO, and that's pushing it.

10 page max also sounds right considering firms that ask for a writing sample either have 5 or 10 page max listed.

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

Can writing samples be printed front and back? My sample is 17 pages and that's going to make my envelope awfully thick.

Don't send a 17 page writing sample unless it's specified that they want a long one. 10 pages max IMO, and that's pushing it.

10 page max also sounds right considering firms that ask for a writing sample either have 5 or 10 page max listed.

Not applying to firms and I assume judges / clerks want to see something closer to around 10 pages. Does this mean we can cut out the shittiest parts of our final LRW memos?

[A. Nony Mouse]

Yes, cut out the crappy parts of your memo.

And don't print front and back.

[chuckbass]

I know you're not applying to firms I was just giving an example.

And I'd think you cut out everything that's not the analysis essentially. Like they don't need to read your two page statement of facts. But idk someone above us should tell you how to do it exactly, since I think you also label that you cut out certain things.

[BVest]

Not applying to firms and I assume judges / clerks want to see something closer to around 10 pages. Does this mean we can cut out the shittiest parts of our final LRW memos?

I'd go 8 max, personally, not counting the cover page. As for the cover page, at the most this:

Writing Sample
The writing sample below is an excerpt from a research memo prepared for my first-year Legal Research, and Writing class.

The case presented two issues in a __________ case: [very short description of issues]. The former is included in this excerpt.

To give you an accurate reflection of the quality of my work, I present the excerpt substantially as turned in on deadline, within page limits, and without outside assistance. The only subsequent edits are mine alone.

[El Principe]

I'm almost sure this is a stupid question, but what exactly do we put in the body of these emails when we mass mail them? Do we copy & paste the text from the cover letter, and just attach the pdfs for the resume & cover letter? Or do we just put a sentence or so saying "please accept my application for …"?

[KM2016]

I'm almost sure this is a stupid question, but what exactly do we put in the body of these emails when we mass mail them? Do we copy & paste the text from the cover letter, and just attach the pdfs for the resume & cover letter? Or do we just put a sentence or so saying "please accept my application for …"?

The latter. Attach separate PDFs of cover letter, resume, and writing sample, all with similar file-naming formats. Also, physically sign the cover letter. Print it, sign it, and scan it.

[A. Nony Mouse]

If you're e-mailing, a physical signature isn't necessary.

[KM2016]

If you're e-mailing, a physical signature isn't necessary.

I agree it's not necessary, but I think it's a nice personal touch and just looks more professional. To each his own, I guess.

[03152016]

if a firm says a writing sample is optional, do people generally include it or not
i'd prefer not to since i'm new to legal writing, but wouldn't want my app to stand out for not having it

[chuckbass]

Plus I mean also see what the firm asks you for. I have only seen one that wants a writing sample so far.

ETA: kinda scooped by topic.

[lawlschool1l]

[chuckbass]

It seems like some 1L SA diversity positions require a 500-word personal statement instead of a cover letter. Any advice on if I should be approaching this in some sort of hybrid cover letter/law school personal statement way or should I just approach it how I would a normal cover letter? Also by any chance are there any example 1l sa cover letters floating around -- I feel like I'm being very pithy since there isn't really all that much I can say about each firm.

I didn't approach it at all like a cover letter because it's not a cover letter. Mine is definitely like a law school PS.

[whats an updog]

Is sending applications on 12/2 or 12/3 basically reducing the already small chance of 1L firm employment to 0?

[TheSpanishMain]

Anyone know if you should expect some kind of email acknowledging application receipt/decision timelines? Or is it basically just a black box and then hopefully you get a call a month later?

[Kratos]

Is sending applications on 12/2 or 12/3 basically reducing the already small chance of 1L firm employment to 0?

lol no

Anyone know if you should expect some kind of email acknowledging application receipt/decision timelines? Or is it basically just a black box and then hopefully you get a call a month later?

Some will respond, some won't. Most of the responses are automated. Very, very few give decision timelines.

[sublime]

..

[whats an updog]

yo as a 1L entering the stress of exam season, i don't even know which of the above answers is truthy

[Attax]

I have been told hard dec. 1 deadline even if they say you can apply sooner.