Summer 2013 Non-OCI Job Hunt (Mass Mail, Job Fairs, etc) Forum

[theavrock]

Argh. Heart stopped when I saw a missed call + voice mail from the area code where I had my interview. Was another firm confirming my interview tomorrow. Never felt so many conflicted feelings about one phone notification....

The game is young my friend. Settle thy nerves.

Checking in here. I feel like I am late to the game. I'll be going through OCI at my school, but I won't be relying on it and plan to mass mail a ton of firms in my target markets as well as get out there as much as possible to meet people.

Let the games begin!

[Anonymous User]

Argh. Heart stopped when I saw a missed call + voice mail from the area code where I had my interview. Was another firm confirming my interview tomorrow. Never felt so many conflicted feelings about one phone notification....

The game is young my friend. Settle thy nerves.

Checking in here. I feel like I am late to the game. I'll be going through OCI at my school, but I won't be relying on it and plan to mass mail a ton of firms in my target markets as well as get out there as much as possible to meet people.

Let the games begin!

Definitely not late to the game. TLS is just incredibly neurotic.

[piccolittle]

Argh. Heart stopped when I saw a missed call + voice mail from the area code where I had my interview. Was another firm confirming my interview tomorrow. Never felt so many conflicted feelings about one phone notification....

The game is young my friend. Settle thy nerves.

Checking in here. I feel like I am late to the game. I'll be going through OCI at my school, but I won't be relying on it and plan to mass mail a ton of firms in my target markets as well as get out there as much as possible to meet people.

Let the games begin!

Definitely not late to the game. TLS is just incredibly neurotic.

I think "late" depends on when you're leaving your summer market. I'm targeting this market and leaving in a week, so it would be late if I were only starting to send out applications now. I don't think TLS is neurotic, I just think people's circumstances differ.

[jess]

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[jess]

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[rad lulz]

Also, question: should I wait until I receive my journal results the first or second week of August to start mass mailing again?

I have all NYC firms + about 50 more DC firms to mass mail, but I put the process on hold for now while I wait for journal results in case it might boost me a bit.

You could use it as a followup opportunity.

[Anonymous User]

Also, question: should I wait until I receive my journal results the first or second week of August to start mass mailing again?

I have all NYC firms + about 50 more DC firms to mass mail, but I put the process on hold for now while I wait for journal results in case it might boost me a bit.

This might be a little late-I've already been dinged by 2 DC firms via mass-mail. Waiting until mid August could potentially put you behind the game.

[piccolittle]

Also, question: should I wait until I receive my journal results the first or second week of August to start mass mailing again?

I have all NYC firms + about 50 more DC firms to mass mail, but I put the process on hold for now while I wait for journal results in case it might boost me a bit.

You could use it as a followup opportunity.

Yes yes yes. Send out now and provide them with an update later

[jess]

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[Anonymous User]

How many mass mailings should I have done at this point? (I haven't heard anything back)

[ilovesf]

How many mass mailings should I have done at this point? (I haven't heard anything back)

I've only done 3 lol. I just feel like I don't have the time to research firms and write cover letters, ugh.

[fingersxd]

If you're telling a firm that you are mass-mailing that you will be in their city on [x days], how much notice is reasonable?

For instance, I'll be in my target market in 10-14 days. I'm finalizing cover letters and the like now. If I send them out by week's end is that sufficient time? Or would firm's look down on me for the short notice?

[shock259]

I'm using one cover letter and I add a sentence to it about practice groups or something else notable. Seems like a decent compromise between mass mailing and targeted mailing.

[ilovesf]

I'm using one cover letter and I add a sentence to it about practice groups or something else notable. Seems like a decent compromise between mass mailing and targeted mailing.

Problem is I don't know what I want to practice so I just end up saying I want lit & they have a lot of lit practice groups but that sounds super lame.

[mr_toad]

I'm using one cover letter and I add a sentence to it about practice groups or something else notable. Seems like a decent compromise between mass mailing and targeted mailing.

Georgetown OCS specifically recommended not tailoring cover letters at this stage. I think what shock259 proposes is about as far as you need to go. I've not tailored at all (beyond noting some regional ties where appropriate) and have two interview offers at firms from my home area as well as several offers from NY firms to interview at OCI if I don't get a slot through bidding. Significant tailoring may help, but not at the cost of volume, from what I've seen and heard.

[letsdoit]

If you're telling a firm that you are mass-mailing that you will be in their city on [x days], how much notice is reasonable?

For instance, I'll be in my target market in 10-14 days. I'm finalizing cover letters and the like now. If I send them out by week's end is that sufficient time? Or would firm's look down on me for the short notice?

Send them yesterday. HTH.

[bazinga!]

Sending out about 20 mass mails (is that what they're called? packets maybe?) right now. Nerves are high. Good luck to everyone out there!

[fingersxd]

I'm using one cover letter and I add a sentence to it about practice groups or something else notable. Seems like a decent compromise between mass mailing and targeted mailing.

Georgetown OCS specifically recommended not tailoring cover letters at this stage. I think what shock259 proposes is about as far as you need to go. I've not tailored at all (beyond noting some regional ties where appropriate) and have two interview offers at firms from my home area as well as several offers from NY firms to interview at OCI if I don't get a slot through bidding. Significant tailoring may help, but not at the cost of volume, from what I've seen and heard.

A little confused. Is TCR to mass-mail even those firms that are coming to OCI in advance just in case you don't get a bid?

I've only been reaching out to those that aren't coming to OCI and was planning to follow up with OCI bids if I didn't get one, not before.

[akili]

I found an alumni from my law school doing the work I want to, in the city I want to, and with a firm I'm really interested in. Obviously I should contact her, but I'm not sure how to phrase the email.

Do I just say I'm interested in working in that city and in the practice group she's in? I don't want to cross any etiquette lines and I haven't seen an example of what to mail alumni.

[letsdoit]

I found an alumni from my law school doing the work I want to, in the city I want to, and with a firm I'm really interested in. Obviously I should contact her, but I'm not sure how to phrase the email.

Do I just say I'm interested in working in that city and in the practice group she's in? I don't want to cross any etiquette lines and I haven't seen an example of what to mail alumni.

More or less, what you said. Just say you are interested in the legal market and her practice. Just avoid sounding like you're inquiring about a job, focus on wanting to know what her experience is. I did the same thing with a couple of attorneys in my target market and had some success.

[kalvano]

I found an alumni from my law school doing the work I want to, in the city I want to, and with a firm I'm really interested in. Obviously I should contact her, but I'm not sure how to phrase the email.

Do I just say I'm interested in working in that city and in the practice group she's in? I don't want to cross any etiquette lines and I haven't seen an example of what to mail alumni.

"Dear Mr(s). xxxxx:

My name is Xxxx Xxxxxx , and I am a second-year student at XXX. I apologize if this seems a little forward, but I am sending out applications to firms in other cities for a summer position, and I noticed that you received your JD from XXX as well. As I am very interested in the XXX area and specifically in your practice area, I was hoping you might be able to give me some guidance on who to contact.

Why you like the city / area, some personal details. Keep it short, a couple-three lines. Enough they know it's not a form email.

I understand that you are very busy, but given my interest in the city and in your practice area, I thought it worth a try to get in contact with you.

Thanks for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Me"




Something like that worked well for me.

[mr_toad]

I'm using one cover letter and I add a sentence to it about practice groups or something else notable. Seems like a decent compromise between mass mailing and targeted mailing.

Georgetown OCS specifically recommended not tailoring cover letters at this stage. I think what shock259 proposes is about as far as you need to go. I've not tailored at all (beyond noting some regional ties where appropriate) and have two interview offers at firms from my home area as well as several offers from NY firms to interview at OCI if I don't get a slot through bidding. Significant tailoring may help, but not at the cost of volume, from what I've seen and heard.

A little confused. Is TCR to mass-mail even those firms that are coming to OCI in advance just in case you don't get a bid?

I've only been reaching out to those that aren't coming to OCI and was planning to follow up with OCI bids if I didn't get one, not before.

Not TCR, our OCS section rep said could go either way, but it won't annoy most firms (most of whom will tell you just to bid on them anyway), and several (3-4) have said to contact them if I don't get a slot to set up interviews at a free moment. A couple others straight up dinged me (luckily I hadn't bid either of those, they were kind of out of my price range). But yeah, most firms with a presence at OCI seem to want to go through that channel first (understandably).

[shock259]

My game plan is to make a list of:firms that come to OCI but I don't get an interview with.

And then mass mail them as soon as I get my interview list back (about a week before OCI).

I'm hoping it'll take a few days to process and I'll start hearing back from them about when OCI actually starts. Waiting until after OCI seems like a bad idea (even if CLS's EIP is really early).

Edit: I'm still struggling to find a good list of NY firms to work from. Need to mail NY firms NOT coming to EIP. NALP is worthless, Resume Launchpad seems really outdated, career services doesn't have anything. I guess I'll start going down the Vault list?

[tedalbany]

Got my first interview request It's over lunch but with a hiring attorney.

Preparing my cover letters now for another large mass mail batch ... Hoping to send out at least 100+

[Anonymous User]

My game plan is to make a list of:firms that come to OCI but I don't get an interview with.

And then mass mail them as soon as I get my interview list back (about a week before OCI).

I'm hoping it'll take a few days to process and I'll start hearing back from them about when OCI actually starts. Waiting until after OCI seems like a bad idea (even if CLS's EIP is really early).

Edit: I'm still struggling to find a good list of NY firms to work from. Need to mail NY firms NOT coming to EIP. NALP is worthless, Resume Launchpad seems really outdated, career services doesn't have anything. I guess I'll start going down the Vault list?

I don't know this for sure since I'm not at CLS, but I don't think any NY firm hiring SAs would NOT be coming to CLS.