UChicago OCI 2014 Forum

[Anonymous User]

So quick question... Some firms list pretty strict GPA floors. For example, WilmerHale NYC's info page on Symplicity mentions, "Transcript and writing sample required. Top 15% required; law journal preferred." However, based on the callback report, it looks like their 25th percentile last year was around 176.5. Are they stepping up their game bigtime, or what does this mean?

[Anonymous User]

So quick question... Some firms list pretty strict GPA floors. For example, WilmerHale NYC's info page on Symplicity mentions, "Transcript and writing sample required. Top 15% required; law journal preferred." However, based on the callback report, it looks like their 25th percentile last year was around 176.5. Are they stepping up their game bigtime, or what does this mean?

Pretty good evidence that those symplicity requirements are BS, consistent with the TLS CW.

[gchatbrah]

Pretty sure these firms just choose a floor (arbitrarily, probably) and copy and paste it to every single one of their OCI listings. For non-T14, they mean something. I don't really think they mean much in the t14 itself, and even less so at Chicago.

[Anonymous User]

179.5, no journal, URM, interested in lit. Wondering if I have too many NY safeties. Hopefully I'm getting close to a final, please comment, thank you! Also, anyone know how popular O'Melveny is?And I prefer LA/SF but I'm super risk averse so that's why I'm stuffing the bag with NY offices. Please don't quote, thank you. --- Caesar

1 Gibson LA 12
2 Kirkland Ellis NY 21
3 Sidley Austin NY 21
4 Proskauer Rose NY 21
5 Goodwin Procter LA 6
6 O'Melveny  LA 21
7 Milbank NY 21
8 White and Case NY 21
9 Shearman NY 21
10 Boies (LIT) NY 21
11 Latham SF 22
12 Jones Day NY 21
13 Davis Polk NY 42
14 Paul Weiss NY 42
15 Cleary NY 42
16 Wilmer Hale NY 38
17 Skadden NY 42
18 Debevoise NY 63
19 S&C NY 42
20 Cravath NY 38
21 Ropes & Gray NY 21
22 Fenwick SV 21
23 WSGR SV 42
24 Munger LA 42
25 Irell LA 42
26 Wachtell NY 42

[WheninLaw]

179.5 URM should do very, very well. Assuming some quality WE and decent interviewing skills, no firm should be off the table for you. As far as your list specifically:

1. OMM is popular because it has a ton of CA offices and are less grade conscious, but easy to get in your top 10.
2. Do you want to do tech stuff? If not, not sure what Fenwick/WSGR are doing on your list.
3. You want LA/SF, but only have a few CA firms on there (and most are SV??). I understand being risk-adverse but you can be more confident. Why isn't PH on here? Kirkland LA? You cannot be afraid of missing those places but also be bidding Irell/MTO/Gibson. Does not compute.

[Anonymous User]

179.5 URM should do very, very well. Assuming some quality WE and decent interviewing skills, no firm should be off the table for you. As far as your list specifically:

1. OMM is popular because it has a ton of CA offices and are less grade conscious, but easy to get in your top 10.
2. Do you want to do tech stuff? If not, not sure what Fenwick/WSGR are doing on your list.
3. You want LA/SF, but only have a few CA firms on there (and most are SV??). I understand being risk-adverse but you can be more confident. Why isn't PH on here? Kirkland LA? You cannot be afraid of missing those places but also be bidding Irell/MTO/Gibson. Does not compute.

I don't have an IP background but I think it would be cool to work with tech companies. I also really like the Silicon Valley as a place to live. Are these dumb reasons?

Heard bad things about PH's offer rate. But yeah, I'll add K&E LA to the list, forgot about the separate office thing. -- Caesar.

[2014]

So quick question... Some firms list pretty strict GPA floors. For example, WilmerHale NYC's info page on Symplicity mentions, "Transcript and writing sample required. Top 15% required; law journal preferred." However, based on the callback report, it looks like their 25th percentile last year was around 176.5. Are they stepping up their game bigtime, or what does this mean?

They listed the same req last year and called back well lower. Ignore stated requirements or even rumored requirements outside of the 4-5 firms known to be super selective.

179.5, no journal, URM, interested in lit. Wondering if I have too many NY safeties. Hopefully I'm getting close to a final, please comment, thank you! Also, anyone know how popular O'Melveny is?And I prefer LA/SF but I'm super risk averse so that's why I'm stuffing the bag with NY offices. Please don't quote, thank you. --- Caesar

1 Gibson LA 12
2 Kirkland Ellis NY 21
3 Sidley Austin NY 21
4 Proskauer Rose NY 21
5 Goodwin Procter LA 6
6 O'Melveny  LA 21
7 Milbank NY 21
8 White and Case NY 21
9 Shearman NY 21
10 Boies (LIT) NY 21
11 Latham SF 22
12 Jones Day NY 21
13 Davis Polk NY 42
14 Paul Weiss NY 42
15 Cleary NY 42
16 Wilmer Hale NY 38
17 Skadden NY 42
18 Debevoise NY 63
19 S&C NY 42
20 Cravath NY 38
21 Ropes & Gray NY 21
22 Fenwick SV 21
23 WSGR SV 42
24 Munger LA 42
25 Irell LA 42
26 Wachtell NY 42

This list is too conservative. At 179.5 URM you will clean up in the NY v10 so you need to consider if and why you would take some of the other firms you bid higher over those firms. There are good reasons to since Vault is dumb but you need to think about it.

[WheninLaw]

179.5 URM should do very, very well. Assuming some quality WE and decent interviewing skills, no firm should be off the table for you. As far as your list specifically:

1. OMM is popular because it has a ton of CA offices and are less grade conscious, but easy to get in your top 10.
2. Do you want to do tech stuff? If not, not sure what Fenwick/WSGR are doing on your list.
3. You want LA/SF, but only have a few CA firms on there (and most are SV??). I understand being risk-adverse but you can be more confident. Why isn't PH on here? Kirkland LA? You cannot be afraid of missing those places but also be bidding Irell/MTO/Gibson. Does not compute.

I don't have an IP background but I think it would be cool to work with tech companies. I also really like the Silicon Valley as a place to live. Are these dumb reasons?

Heard bad things about PH's offer rate. But yeah, I'll add K&E LA to the list, forgot about the separate office thing. -- Caesar.

It being "cool to work with tech companies" is as good a reason as any (seriously). Just have something more compelling to say in interviews. Also, I think everyone found WSGR and Fenwick to be pretty weird. Just a heads up.

Why not Cooley or MOFO? Honestly, if I were you, I'd ditch most of these NY firms.

[Anonymous User]

anyone with experience bidding DC available for advice via PM?

[Anonymous User]

So quick question... Some firms list pretty strict GPA floors. For example, WilmerHale NYC's info page on Symplicity mentions, "Transcript and writing sample required. Top 15% required; law journal preferred." However, based on the callback report, it looks like their 25th percentile last year was around 176.5. Are they stepping up their game bigtime, or what does this mean?

Pretty good evidence that those symplicity requirements are BS, consistent with the TLS CW.

they copy + paste from school to school; it's not tailored towards UofC

[Anonymous User]

I have a question for OCI alums. I did a 1L SA callback with a V20. I really like the firm, however, I did not get the offer. They told me to send them my materials in July, which I did, to apply for 2015. However, I have not heard from them. Another firm with the same 1L SA situation gave me a pre-OCI callback already. Should I reach out and ask them if they want to see me before bidlists are due? Alternatively, if for some reason they decide to not give me a pre-OCI callback, is it safe to say they aren't interested?

EDIT: BTW my grades are quite good and should be enough for this firm

[Anonymous User]

So quick question... Some firms list pretty strict GPA floors. For example, WilmerHale NYC's info page on Symplicity mentions, "Transcript and writing sample required. Top 15% required; law journal preferred." However, based on the callback report, it looks like their 25th percentile last year was around 176.5. Are they stepping up their game bigtime, or what does this mean?

Pretty good evidence that those symplicity requirements are BS, consistent with the TLS CW.

they copy + paste from school to school; it's not tailored towards UofC

Although McDermott does specify 178+, so should that be taken seriously?

[Neal Patrick Harris]

So quick question... Some firms list pretty strict GPA floors. For example, WilmerHale NYC's info page on Symplicity mentions, "Transcript and writing sample required. Top 15% required; law journal preferred." However, based on the callback report, it looks like their 25th percentile last year was around 176.5. Are they stepping up their game bigtime, or what does this mean?

Pretty good evidence that those symplicity requirements are BS, consistent with the TLS CW.

they copy + paste from school to school; it's not tailored towards UofC

Although McDermott does specify 178+, so should that be taken seriously?

No.

[2014]

I have a question for OCI alums. I did a 1L SA callback with a V20. I really like the firm, however, I did not get the offer. They told me to send them my materials in July, which I did, to apply for 2015. However, I have not heard from them. Another firm with the same 1L SA situation gave me a pre-OCI callback already. Should I reach out and ask them if they want to see me before bidlists are due? Alternatively, if for some reason they decide to not give me a pre-OCI callback, is it safe to say they aren't interested?

EDIT: BTW my grades are quite good and should be enough for this firm

Yeah I'd follow up, just do so tactfully. All firms say that btw and most don't follow through. I had 5 1L cbs in a secondary, none leading to offers all leading to emails like you received. Of those 1/5 even gave me a 2L cb and my grades got quite a bit better from fall to summer.

[Anonymous User]

I have a question for OCI alums. I did a 1L SA callback with a V20. I really like the firm, however, I did not get the offer. They told me to send them my materials in July, which I did, to apply for 2015. However, I have not heard from them. Another firm with the same 1L SA situation gave me a pre-OCI callback already. Should I reach out and ask them if they want to see me before bidlists are due? Alternatively, if for some reason they decide to not give me a pre-OCI callback, is it safe to say they aren't interested?

EDIT: BTW my grades are quite good and should be enough for this firm

Yeah I'd follow up, just do so tactfully. All firms say that btw and most don't follow through. I had 5 1L cbs in a secondary, none leading to offers all leading to emails like you received. Of those 1/5 even gave me a 2L cb and my grades got quite a bit better from fall to summer.

Previous anon. Did you rebid on those firms during OCI?

[2014]

I have a question for OCI alums. I did a 1L SA callback with a V20. I really like the firm, however, I did not get the offer. They told me to send them my materials in July, which I did, to apply for 2015. However, I have not heard from them. Another firm with the same 1L SA situation gave me a pre-OCI callback already. Should I reach out and ask them if they want to see me before bidlists are due? Alternatively, if for some reason they decide to not give me a pre-OCI callback, is it safe to say they aren't interested?

EDIT: BTW my grades are quite good and should be enough for this firm

Yeah I'd follow up, just do so tactfully. All firms say that btw and most don't follow through. I had 5 1L cbs in a secondary, none leading to offers all leading to emails like you received. Of those 1/5 even gave me a 2L cb and my grades got quite a bit better from fall to summer.

Previous anon. Did you rebid on those firms during OCI?

For the most part they were very effective at getting me rejected before I had to make the choice. I did rebid one of them (still didn't get a cb lol). If you are truly interested in them I think you basically have to especially if the market isn't Chi /NY where more firms are fungible. Silence is probably not rejection it just means your app is buried and doing OCI with them helps to circumvent that.

It's definitely better to push for a response now though so you aren't forced to bid.

[Anonymous User]

Hey guys, I would appreciate any feedback on my bid-list-- I'm really not sure what to do in terms of bid strategy, particularly, ordering the Chicago firms at the top. 180-180.5, no journal, K-JD. Leaning transactional. Chicago/Minneapolis>NY. All firms are Chicago unless noted.

1. Sidley & Austin (84)
2. Faegre Baker Daniels (10)
3. Jones Day (21)
4. Jenner & Block (63)
5. Kirkland & Ellis (84)
6. Schiff Hardin (84)
7. Latham & Watkins (61)
8. Skadden (84)
9. Mayer Brown (63)
10. McDermott Will & Emery (63)
11. Foley & Lardner (42 shared)
12. Davis Polk (42) NY
13. Paul Weiss (42) NY
14. Katten Muchin Rosenman (42)
15. Simpson Thacher (57) NY
16. Cleary (42) NY
17. Sullivan & Cromwell (42) NY
18. Dorsey & Whitney (10) MN
19. Debevoise (63) NY
20. Cravath (38) NY
21. Barack Ferrazzano (30)
22. Pircher Nichols & Meeks (21)
23. Greenberg Traurig (21)
24. Edelson (21)
25. Stinson Leonard Street (10) MN
26. Winthrop & Weinsteine (21) MN
27. WLRK (42) NY
28. Maslon Edelman (21) MN
29. Lindquist & Vennum (21) MN
30. Hughes, Hubbard & Reed (21) NY

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any advice on where we can bid the LA firms comfortably? Anything from Irell to Latham/Kirkland/OMM/Cooley, etc.

[Anonymous User]

Mid-178. LR. Interested in lit. Would prefer to stay in Chicago over NYC, but only at a handful of places. Is bidding only twenty firms too aggressive?

1 Jenner Chi 63
2 Kirkland & Ellis Chi 84
3 Sidley Chi 84
4 Boies NY 21
5 Gibson Dunn DC 21
6 Skadden Chi 84
7 Gibson Dunn NY 21
8 Weil NY 21
9 Skadden NY 42
10 Jones Day NY 21
11 Sull Crom NY 42
12 Cravath NY 42
13 Latham Chi 61
14 Cleary NY 42
15 Skadden Chi 84
16 Debevois NY 63
17 Paul Weiss NY 42
18 Simpson NY 57
19 Latham NY 31
20 Proskauer NY 21

[WheninLaw]

Anyone have any advice on where we can bid the LA firms comfortably? Anything from Irell to Latham/Kirkland/OMM/Cooley, etc.

Depends on how many spots they will have and how interested your class is in LA. Generally, you want Gibson in the top 5-8. Irell and MTO can be done much later, as they do not fill because of grade requirements. Last year, you wanted Latham and Cooley in the top 5, and OMM could be in the 9-12 spot.

[Mad Hatter]

Mid-178. LR. Interested in lit. Would prefer to stay in Chicago over NYC, but only at a handful of places. Is bidding only twenty firms too aggressive?

Huh? Bidding only 20 firms is "too aggressive" for any GPA. Why wouldn't you use all 50 bids?

[20141023]

.

[2014]

Hey guys, I would appreciate any feedback on my bid-list-- I'm really not sure what to do in terms of bid strategy, particularly, ordering the Chicago firms at the top. 180-180.5, no journal, K-JD. Leaning transactional. Chicago/Minneapolis>NY. All firms are Chicago unless noted.

1. Sidley & Austin (84)
2. Faegre Baker Daniels (10)
3. Jones Day (21)
4. Jenner & Block (84)
5. Kirkland & Ellis (84)
6. Schiff Hardin (84)
7. Latham & Watkins (61)
8. Skadden (84)
9. Mayer Brown (63)
10. McDermott Will & Emery (63)
11. Foley & Lardner (42 shared)
12. Davis Polk (42) NY
13. Paul Weiss (42) NY
14. Katten Muchin Rosenman (42)
15. Simpson Thacher (57) NY
16. Cleary (42) NY
17. Sullivan & Cromwell (42) NY
18. Dorsey & Whitney (10) MN
19. Debevoise (63) NY
20. Cravath (38) NY
21. Barack Ferrazzano (30)
22. Pircher Nichols & Meeks (21)
23. Greenberg Traurig (21)
24. Edelson (21)
25. Stinson Leonard Street (10) MN
26. Winthrop & Weinsteine (21) MN
27. WLRK (42) NY
28. Maslon Edelman (21) MN
29. Lindquist & Vennum (21) MN
30. Hughes, Hubbard & Reed (21) NY

This is a good list overall. I'd swap Schiff and Mayer, would bump Cleary ahead of Paul Weiss given your corporate interest and otherwise I think you're set. I'm guessing you get all the MN firms but not positive. I can't think of more than two people in our class who considered MN.

[Robb]

Actually entering bids on Symplicity's slow-ass system is a surprisingly time-consuming task.

And every time you change ONE you have to go back and change them all, one by one. Argh.

[Anonymous User]

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