2015 Pre-OCI Interviews Forum

[Anonymous User]

good luck to those still waiting.

For what its worth, I had 2 CBs for which I never received an answer after two weeks. One CB i received an offer 24 hours later.


It really just all depends.

[Anonymous User]

good luck to those still waiting.

For what its worth, I had 2 CBs for which I never received an answer after two weeks. One CB i received an offer 24 hours later.


It really just all depends.

Do you mean from this year or last?

[Anonymous User]

I know of at least 2 NYC Debevoise offers.

[Anonymous User]

Just scheduled a screener with Willkie Farr. It's technically came pre-oci but due to scheduling the CB will probably take place during OCI.

[Anonymous User]

Kirkland NY offer.

[Anonymous User]

good luck to those still waiting.

For what its worth, I had 2 CBs for which I never received an answer after two weeks. One CB i received an offer 24 hours later.


It really just all depends.

Do you mean from this year or last?

This year. Accepted the offer, and withdrew candidacy from the other 2.

[Anonymous User]

I had a partner set up an interview for me at a firm in DC. The person (another partner) I interviewed with was basically talking to me like I had it in the bag. That was friday, and it's the end of the day monday now. I'm probably just freaking out for no reason but I thought for sure they would hit me up today with a callback.

Anyway, my school sent out journal decisions today, and I was wondering how long I should wait before I send them a "journal update/omg why haven't you got back to me yet?" email?

[Anonymous User]

Know someone with a CB at BH (NY)

[Anonymous User]

Need some advice here. I've mass mailed a secondary market (which is where I'd like to end up) because not many firms from that city come to my OCI. I just received my first email from a firm asking about my availability to travel for a CB-style interview. I have this week and next week before OCI, and I'd really like to do more than one non-OCI interview before my schedule goes crazy.

Ideally, it'd be great to be able to schedule interviews with a couple of firms all in a row so I don't have to fly back and forth. I'm trying to think of a way to do this. My plan is to respond to this firm about my availability, and as soon as they pick a day for me to come, to forward my documents to the recruiting contact at the other firms with an email that says something like "I've applied through your online job app system, but I'm scheduled to be in X city on X day and would love to extend my stay to meet with you about a summer position" etc.

Is this a good idea? I'm not sure what the usual protocol is. Should I be up front with the first firm about my plan so they hold off on committing to a travel itinerary for me, or just proceed as usual and then see if I can reschedule my travel if I hear from any other firms? I'm top 10% at an upper T-14, law review, with decent WE and good ties to the target city (noticeable from my resume), if that is helpful at all. I mass mailed mid last week so I'm still hopeful that other firms will be interested in me, they just haven't moved as quickly.

[chingwoo]

Need some advice here. I've mass mailed a secondary market (which is where I'd like to end up) because not many firms from that city come to my OCI. I just received my first email from a firm asking about my availability to travel for a CB-style interview. I have this week and next week before OCI, and I'd really like to do more than one non-OCI interview before my schedule goes crazy.

Ideally, it'd be great to be able to schedule interviews with a couple of firms all in a row so I don't have to fly back and forth. I'm trying to think of a way to do this. My plan is to respond to this firm about my availability, and as soon as they pick a day for me to come, to forward my documents to the recruiting contact at the other firms with an email that says something like "I've applied through your online job app system, but I'm scheduled to be in X city on X day and would love to extend my stay to meet with you about a summer position" etc.

Is this a good idea? I'm not sure what the usual protocol is. Should I be up front with the first firm about my plan so they hold off on committing to a travel itinerary for me, or just proceed as usual and then see if I can reschedule my travel if I hear from any other firms? I'm top 10% at an upper T-14, law review, with decent WE and good ties to the target city (noticeable from my resume), if that is helpful at all. I mass mailed mid last week so I'm still hopeful that other firms will be interested in me, they just haven't moved as quickly.

I'm pretty sure firms won't want to pay if you are "already in town".

[Anonymous User]

I got three mm callbacks by saying I would be in town and they all offered to pay for flights/lodging/meals, fwiw

[Anonymous User]

Need some advice here. I've mass mailed a secondary market (which is where I'd like to end up) because not many firms from that city come to my OCI. I just received my first email from a firm asking about my availability to travel for a CB-style interview. I have this week and next week before OCI, and I'd really like to do more than one non-OCI interview before my schedule goes crazy.

Ideally, it'd be great to be able to schedule interviews with a couple of firms all in a row so I don't have to fly back and forth. I'm trying to think of a way to do this. My plan is to respond to this firm about my availability, and as soon as they pick a day for me to come, to forward my documents to the recruiting contact at the other firms with an email that says something like "I've applied through your online job app system, but I'm scheduled to be in X city on X day and would love to extend my stay to meet with you about a summer position" etc.

Is this a good idea? I'm not sure what the usual protocol is. Should I be up front with the first firm about my plan so they hold off on committing to a travel itinerary for me, or just proceed as usual and then see if I can reschedule my travel if I hear from any other firms? I'm top 10% at an upper T-14, law review, with decent WE and good ties to the target city (noticeable from my resume), if that is helpful at all. I mass mailed mid last week so I'm still hopeful that other firms will be interested in me, they just haven't moved as quickly.

I'm pretty sure firms won't want to pay if you are "already in town".

Honestly, I care a lot less about firms paying than about getting the interviews in general. I can foot the bill if that's the best way to do it.

[Anonymous User]

I got three mm callbacks by saying I would be in town and they all offered to pay for flights/lodging/meals, fwiw

Do you mind sharing how you communicated your situation with the firms? Is it basically what I outlined above?

[Anonymous User]

Need some advice here. I've mass mailed a secondary market (which is where I'd like to end up) because not many firms from that city come to my OCI. I just received my first email from a firm asking about my availability to travel for a CB-style interview. I have this week and next week before OCI, and I'd really like to do more than one non-OCI interview before my schedule goes crazy.

Ideally, it'd be great to be able to schedule interviews with a couple of firms all in a row so I don't have to fly back and forth. I'm trying to think of a way to do this. My plan is to respond to this firm about my availability, and as soon as they pick a day for me to come, to forward my documents to the recruiting contact at the other firms with an email that says something like "I've applied through your online job app system, but I'm scheduled to be in X city on X day and would love to extend my stay to meet with you about a summer position" etc.

Is this a good idea? I'm not sure what the usual protocol is. Should I be up front with the first firm about my plan so they hold off on committing to a travel itinerary for me, or just proceed as usual and then see if I can reschedule my travel if I hear from any other firms? I'm top 10% at an upper T-14, law review, with decent WE and good ties to the target city (noticeable from my resume), if that is helpful at all. I mass mailed mid last week so I'm still hopeful that other firms will be interested in me, they just haven't moved as quickly.

I'm pretty sure firms won't want to pay if you are "already in town".

Honestly, I care a lot less about firms paying than about getting the interviews in general. I can foot the bill if that's the best way to do it.

Absolutely do this. Granted, I'm just a rising 2L as well, but I had great success doing this during my 1L job search (I was competitive for 1L SAs and had several callbacks.) Firms were very receptive to fitting me in when I let them know I would be traveling to their city, and this led to at least one callback I would not have otherwise gotten.

[Anonymous User]

I got three mm callbacks by saying I would be in town and they all offered to pay for flights/lodging/meals, fwiw

Do you mind sharing how you communicated your situation with the firms? Is it basically what I outlined above?

I had the opposite experience. I got the CB and emailed firms in the area/surrounding areas and set up some more. No offers for travel reimbursement from anyone but the first firm. I just didn't schedule travel through the first firms booking agent and paid for it all by myself.

[Anonymous User]

Anonymous User wrote:
I got three mm callbacks by saying I would be in town and they all offered to pay for flights/lodging/meals, fwiw

Same on the in-town, however I received an off handed comment that I might have to cover all the costs. Is it worth sending a note to clear up whether there is reimbursement? (considerable cost for travel)

[Anonymous User]

Anonymous User wrote:
I got three mm callbacks by saying I would be in town and they all offered to pay for flights/lodging/meals, fwiw

Same on the in-town, however I received an off handed comment that I might have to cover all the costs. Is it worth sending a note to clear up whether there is reimbursement? (considerable cost for travel)

If these are NALP firms we are talking about, the firms you interview with during a single trip split the costs of that trip. The first firm you interview with, or "host" firm, handles all the logistics.

[Anonymous User]

I got three mm callbacks by saying I would be in town and they all offered to pay for flights/lodging/meals, fwiw

I have seven pre-oci callbacks total in the city from saying "I'll already be in town..." and only two offered to pay. Specifically, Debevoise and Dechert were the only two fwiw

[Anonymous User]

Anonymous User wrote:
I got three mm callbacks by saying I would be in town and they all offered to pay for flights/lodging/meals, fwiw

Same on the in-town, however I received an off handed comment that I might have to cover all the costs. Is it worth sending a note to clear up whether there is reimbursement? (considerable cost for travel)

If these are NALP firms we are talking about, the firms you interview with during a single trip split the costs of that trip. The first firm you interview with, or "host" firm, handles all the logistics.

Is it different if you told the firms you already were going to be in town?

[Anonymous User]

Just curious about the people who said they didn't get travel $$ when they were "already in town" -- did you mention you were traveling specifically for an interview at another firm, or did you just say "I'll be in town" and make it seem like you were funding a personal trip but would have time to meet?

[InvalidUsername]

I had a partner set up an interview for me at a firm in DC. The person (another partner) I interviewed with was basically talking to me like I had it in the bag. That was friday, and it's the end of the day monday now. I'm probably just freaking out for no reason but I thought for sure they would hit me up today with a callback.

^same. Went through a screen 2 weeks ago and a callback on Friday. It's now midday Tuesday and no word. On average how long is there generally between a CB interview and an offer at this stage?

[OutoftheWoods]

Here was my experience with the "in-town" thing.

First, if they mention anything about you paying, do not try to ask them to pay. However, in my experience no one ever said anything. It's pretty standard for the firms to pay, so the default is they do. So you dont need to bring it up. Also, usually when you send reimbursements, they have you email the info to the firm's general HR or someone else who isn't even the recruiter. They also assume the firms pay, so technically even if the firm didn't intend on paying you (which is doubtful, given the general standard...unless of course you bring it up) it really doesn't matter, because these people will.

Note that for me, I didn't send my reimbursement requests until like November, so either the people forgot they didnt intend to pay me, or it is the general default. So, if you have doubts, I'd suggest sending in your reimbursement requests later on if you can front the cash now.

If you believe this in disingenuous, then of course don't do it. But it's industry standard to pay for big law callbacks, so there's nothing wrong with it if the firm never specifies they won't pay, IMO. worst case scenario, they reject your request.

[Anonymous User]

Just curious about the people who said they didn't get travel $$ when they were "already in town" -- did you mention you were traveling specifically for an interview at another firm, or did you just say "I'll be in town" and make it seem like you were funding a personal trip but would have time to meet?

I just said "I will be in the area..." and didn't specify why.

[LawFirmInterviews]

Mod edit: SPAM.

[LawFirmInterviews]

Just interviewed a non-URM from a T40 law school (in late July). Interestingly enough, he was referred through a SUMMER ASSOCIATE. This is not atypical. Goes to show that you do NOT need to be URM, from a T6, or have some super awesome connections to high-up partners to snag these pre-OCI interviews. Fortune favors the brave!