1L Summer Job Search C/O 2018 Forum

[DJM]

Sent out ~20 resume / cover letters yesterday for SAs. Got one ding within about an hour. And a couple told me to go apply online.

[yost]

Probably because hiring 1L summers isn't high on anyone's list of favorite things to do, and hiring people who apply on December 1 provides an easy way to limit the field/keep the process short and sweet.

(I have no idea if you are actually fucked if you don't apply on Dec 1, but I can see why firms wouldn't bother dragging the process out.)

I don't doubt that some firms have this policy, but I didn't apply until early January, and I had no problem securing callbacks in a competitive secondary market. Mediocre grades, but very desirable background.

[pancakes3]

12/1 deadline or bust is flame. Possible firm-by-firm policy, but definitely not the presumptive default (as he posts on 12/2).

[Law1491]

What is the general rule on applying in the secondary market? What size firms hire 1L SAs?

[foregetaboutdre]

What is the general rule on applying in the secondary market? What size firms hire 1L SAs?

Honestly - it's time consuming (somewhat), I would look at all the firms you're interested in the secondary market and look on their "Law Students" page and see if they mention hiring 1Ls.

If they mention it -> Priority Application
If they don't, but mention hiring law students -> Still apply, but not priority
If they say they don't -> Don't apply and consider an informational interview if you're truly interested in the firm.

I'm applying in a secondary market right now too and have had some moderate success so far (which has shocked me).

[xael]

re: december 1st "deadline"

I got interviews from firm stuff I randomly applied to in like, mid January.

Take that with all the grains of salt necessary (school, interviews not offers)

[Glasseyes]

you'll find lots of firms like the ones people are mentioning above (that take apps all the way until January), yet I know plenty of folks that applied to things later in the day on 12/1 and the firms were already full. Not full as in "hey, we're not looking", full as in "we have all the resumes we need and you missed the boat". 12/1 deadline is plenty real for a lot of firms. Have to figure it's a way to filter for the candidates who are actually organized and confident enough to submit a well-prepared application package in the middle of first semester finals hysteria.

[Law1491]

What is the general rule on applying in the secondary market? What size firms hire 1L SAs?

Honestly - it's time consuming (somewhat), I would look at all the firms you're interested in the secondary market and look on their "Law Students" page and see if they mention hiring 1Ls.

If they mention it -> Priority Application
If they don't, but mention hiring law students -> Still apply, but not priority
If they say they don't -> Don't apply and consider an informational interview if you're truly interested in the firm.

I'm applying in a secondary market right now too and have had some moderate success so far (which has shocked me).

Thank you. It is a pretty good strategy.

[enibs]

Also, I know that this is fairly contentious, but is there any sort of authority that suggests applying to 1L jobs immediately actually gives you an advantage? Assuming the deadline is in a month or so.

If the firm has an express deadline, you should assume that's their deadline and not some earlier date. Our firm sets a deadline of early January because we don't want to force students to worry about putting together an application while they're in the middle of exams. We basically collect whatever comes in and look at everything as soon as the deadline has passed. No doubt each firm has its own policies.

I would agree with others that your number 1 priority as a 1L is grades, which will largely determine your 2L placement. It really doesn't matter where you work (or even if you work) during your 1L summer. You can always get some BS research assistant position to put on your resume if nothing else pans out. But if you get lousy 1L grades, you're going to have a tough time. So you should not do anything that will interfere with getting the best 1L grades you can get.

[BigZuck]

Thing is it's not that hard to apply December 1st and be prepared for exams. You guys are acting like mass blasting is some hugely time consuming thing that means you can't stay on top of your other stuff which is totally not true.

[thisiswater]

Thing is it's not that hard to apply December 1st and be prepared for exams. You guys are acting like mass blasting is some hugely time consuming thing that means you can't stay on top of your other stuff which is totally not true.

It has been for me. I got out the auto-apps on dec. 1st and then I applied two other places. If I just keep getting a handful out everyday I hopefully will be done with my faves/best chances at least by this weekend

[IsThisForReal]

So you guys are emailing the majority of your apps then?

[foregetaboutdre]

So you guys are emailing the majority of your apps then?

Depends on firm and market. Look at the firms' website. Some request you to apply through a portal; others say email a certain number of materials to a person etc...

[NoBladesNoBows]

[Law1491]

Question for those who have an "auto-apps" option. How does it work?

[03282016]

[Anonymous User]

Question for those who have an "auto-apps" option. How does it work?

We submit our resumes to a university-controlled website and select which firms we want to receive them, and then the school sends the appropriate collection of resumes to each firm. Then some of those firms bug us for cover letters while we're trying to TLSstudy for finals.

[Anonymous User]

Interview! Secondary market (hometown), biglaw (500+), non-diverse, YHS. I didn't do a mass blast (saving any more apps until after finals), but targeted 5 firms in my home market.

[Poldy]

So if a firm wants you to complete an online app after sending a resume, do you upload option docs like a writing sample or just the required ones (resume and cover letter)?

[Anonymous User]

Ding from Winston & Strawn. Evidently they are not hiring 1Ls this year?

[03282016]

[dabigchina]

got like 3 dings in a 2 hour period today. feeling stupid for wasting time on mass mailing on Dec 1

[czpczp]

got like 3 dings in a 2 hour period today. feeling stupid for wasting time on mass mailing on Dec 1

this is too real

[DJM]

got like 3 dings in a 2 hour period today. feeling stupid for wasting time on mass mailing on Dec 1

Same

[KMart]

Ding from Winston & Strawn. Evidently they are not hiring 1Ls this year?

NALP had expected 0 1Ls for this year for them, down from 3 last year

Asking never hurt anyone as long as you can survive the almost-certain dings coming your way!