1L Summer Job Search C/O 2017 Forum

[nothingtosee]

I've received a few 1L winter break reception invites. Conflicted as to whether I'll do more harm than good by going.

How would going do harm?

Last year I went to one of these things, and the lawyers were mobbed by students. Everyone was competing to get their prepared questions in so they could earn a business card and have an excuse to write that crucial thank-you letter. I'm just not convinced that there's a lot of opportunity for boosting your chances (low upside), and, knowing myself, I'll probably say something awkward or commit a faux pas worthy of remembering (high downside).

GET THAT TYPE B PERSONALITY OUT OF THIS HERE FORUM BY SUNDOWN

[JustHawkin]

I'm just not convinced that there's a lot of opportunity for boosting your chances (low upside), and, knowing myself, I'll probably say something awkward or commit a faux pas worthy of remembering (high downside).

(high downside).[/quote]

I LOVE when this happens to me...

[Attax]

I RSVP'ed to two of them, but they're both at firms I applied to and have heard back from recruiting highly urging me to attend.

[Baby_Got_Feuerbach]

I've received a few 1L winter break reception invites. Conflicted as to whether I'll do more harm than good by going.

How would going do harm?

Last year I went to one of these things, and the lawyers were mobbed by students. Everyone was competing to get their prepared questions in so they could earn a business card and have an excuse to write that crucial thank-you letter. I'm just not convinced that there's a lot of opportunity for boosting your chances (low upside), and, knowing myself, I'll probably say something awkward or commit a faux pas worthy of remembering (high downside).

GET THAT TYPE B PERSONALITY OUT OF THIS HERE FORUM BY SUNDOWN

Hahaha, thank you for Type B personality. I like to describe myself that way.

Second DING! from a judge.

[Manteca]

Recieved an e-mail last night:

"Hi [redacted],
Thank you for the correspondence. Best time to ask me about summer internship will be in May. So please feel free to write."

Isn't that kind of late for 1L? Or is he referring to something during 2L summer?

[BVest]

Recieved an e-mail last night:

"Hi [redacted],
Thank you for the correspondence. Best time to ask me about summer internship will be in May. So please feel free to write."

Isn't that kind of late for 1L? Or is he referring to something during 2L summer?

I pulled my 1L in-house in May (interviewed during finals; offer received during write-on). There are basically two schedules: Big Law with their shit together + some AIII judges (December apps and interviews with January interviews and decisions); and Everyone Else (anytime from January through May or even into early June.)

[DCNTUA]

Weekends are the worst.

[Anonymous User]

Phone screen interview next week. Tips?

Bump

[BigZuck]

Phone screen interview next week. Tips?

Bump

Be prepared to answer why law, why X law school, why X geographical area, how you like law school/what classes are your favorite, and anything you listed on your resume. Maybe even what type of law you want to practice. Will probably be about 20-30 minutes. Check out the OCI guides in the legal employment sub forum.

[Manteca]

Looks like I might have a midlaw gig lined up for this summer.

[chuckbass]

Looks like I might have a midlaw gig lined up for this summer.

Hot shit nice dude!

[Sheriff]

Would love to hear what those of you who are non-t14 / non-daddy owns a firm people who have snagged screeners or jerbs are doing.

I've mass-mailed and have a solid non-trad resume, but haven't heard much outside of "send us your grades when you have them," or "2Ls only," if any communication at all.

I'm at a t25 also so I am not exactly hitting employers up from Cooley.

e: I know it's early and I am not freaking out, just curious to hear if anyone has implemented a unique strategy. BTW, congrats to those of you who have nabbed a position, or interview.

[chuckbass]

Would love to hear what those of you who are non-t14 / non-daddy owns a firm people who have snagged screeners or jerbs are doing.

I've mass-mailed and have a solid non-grad resume, but haven't heard much outside of "send us your grades when you have them," or "2Ls only," if any communication at all.

I'm at a t25 also so I am not exactly hitting employers up from Cooley.

e: I know it's early and I am not freaking out, just curious to hear if anyone has implemented a unique strategy. BTW, congrats to those of you who have nabbed a position, or interview.

I've gotten a few screeners through family connections (which I never imagined would get me far) so personally I'd say try to work anything you think you have.

[Sheriff]

Would love to hear what those of you who are non-t14 / non-daddy owns a firm people who have snagged screeners or jerbs are doing.

I've mass-mailed and have a solid non-grad resume, but haven't heard much outside of "send us your grades when you have them," or "2Ls only," if any communication at all.

I'm at a t25 also so I am not exactly hitting employers up from Cooley.

e: I know it's early and I am not freaking out, just curious to hear if anyone has implemented a unique strategy. BTW, congrats to those of you who have nabbed a position, or interview.

I've gotten a few screeners through family connections (which I never imagined would get me far) so personally I'd say try to work anything you think you have.

I don't have any consequential law-related connections and neither does my family. I know the attorney who helped me beat a murder charge but he says he won't hire me

[chuckbass]

Try working alums of your school? Setup informational interviews/coffee over break and get the ball rolling. I haven't done it so far but it seems like it's been helpful for some.

[Sheriff]

Try working alums of your school? Setup informational interviews/coffee over break and get the ball rolling. I haven't done it so far but it seems like it's been helpful for some.

Yeah, definitely going to do that, and already have been to an extent. Just wondering how people are getting affirmative responses within 10 days of sending apps to firms. Figured that maybe you guys were attaching Chili's gift cards to your cover letter or something.

Oh well, we'll see what happens.

[chuckbass]

Try working alums of your school? Setup informational interviews/coffee over break and get the ball rolling. I haven't done it so far but it seems like it's been helpful for some.

Yeah, definitely going to do that, and already have been to an extent. Just wondering how people are getting affirmative responses within 10 days of sending apps to firms. Figured that maybe you guys were attaching Chili's gift cards to your cover letter or something.

Oh well, we'll see what happens.

Besides people I knew, I have only gotten dinged from one firm and complete silence elsewhere. I'm not expecting anything but I'd at least expect to hear from diversity apps where I had to write a personal statement and such, so idk.

[nothingtosee]

Try working alums of your school? Setup informational interviews/coffee over break and get the ball rolling. I haven't done it so far but it seems like it's been helpful for some.

Yeah, definitely going to do that, and already have been to an extent. Just wondering how people are getting affirmative responses within 10 days of sending apps to firms. Figured that maybe you guys were attaching Chili's gift cards to your cover letter or something.

Oh well, we'll see what happens.

I used the alumni database from my undergrad, and emailed like 10 partners at firms in the city I'm aiming for. Got one "coffee" meetup, and like three people who put me in touch with the recruiting director (this was before Dec 1). I think it's helpful.

[chuckbass]

I agree, and if anything I think it's most helpful for 2L hiring. It's really not that hard for them to hopefully snag you a screener, and each screener just increases your chance so it's definitely worth the effort. Non-1Ls feel free to correct me if I'm wrong and giving bad advice.

[Yardbird]

I've received a few 1L winter break reception invites. Conflicted as to whether I'll do more harm than good by going.

How would going do harm?

Last year I went to one of these things, and the lawyers were mobbed by students. Everyone was competing to get their prepared questions in so they could earn a business card and have an excuse to write that crucial thank-you letter. I'm just not convinced that there's a lot of opportunity for boosting your chances (low upside), and, knowing myself, I'll probably say something awkward or commit a faux pas worthy of remembering (high downside).

GET THAT TYPE B PERSONALITY OUT OF THIS HERE FORUM BY SUNDOWN

2L here. A firm reception will only hurt if you RSVP yes and then don't show. As long as you can decently carry a conversation, you'll be fine. I would edit the above and say partners and senior associates tend to be the ones who are swarmed. At receptions, I focused on networking with junior associates for the sole reason that their experiences are most relevant to gauging the firm's culture, work/life, etc. People swarm the senior lawyers because they are the ones with the war stories, experiences, non-due diligence work, etc.

The best strategy I employed was the following:

1) If reception is 2 hours long, arrive approximately 20 minutes after it starts. Associates and partners will come down/up as they finish work, and if you're there early you'll just be getting a drink earlier.
2) Once there, get a drink even if it's water in a glass (no water bottles). You will look awkward in a circle of people holding drinks if you don't have one. Hold in your left hand with a napkin in that hand (so your right had won't be wet for handshakes.
3) Find junior-mid level associates who seem personable. You honestly just need to find one person you can really click with. I honestly believe in quality over quantity when it comes to networking. Do NOT control the conversation in the circle if there are a lot of people. A question here and there is fine but you don't want to be the one asking all the questions. Ignore this if you're the only one talking to the lawyer.
4) As the conversation starts to seem like it's winding down, grab their contact info and leave.
5) Send a thank you to the associate within 24-36 hours. Express an interest in staying in touch. If you really clicked, ask them to be a mentor.
6) If you won't be in town for some time, stay in touch by email. At least one email exchange per month until you're back in town.
Any time after (5) from above:
7) Ask associate for introductions to other attorneys at firm. E.g., if a transactional associate, ask if there are any litigation associates or transactional partners they can put you in touch with so you can learn more about the firm. Rinse and repeat, all the while staying in touch. Get coffee/lunch if you're in town.
8) If you do this correctly, you should be able to get at least a screening interview come OCI/OGI, though grades will obviously still matter. You may not have tto your contact that you bid on the firm, but you might have to discretely. Don't lie and say it's your number one choice if it isn't. Once you know who your interviewer is, contact anyone you've met and ask for advice, etc. You shouldn't have to ask for them to reach out to your interviewer. If you've networked correctly, they'll do it without being told. You'll still need to kill the interview, but you'll have an edge.
9) At the interview, do not name drop if you know people reached out on your behalf to the interviewer. If the interviewer brings it up, acknowledge but don't turn it into a discussion of everything you and "vouching lawyer" have talked about. You still want the conversation to be about either your interviewer or yourself. Make a good impression, everything else will play out.
9.5) If your interviewer is the person you've been networking with, don't be casual unless they start to act casual. It's still an interview.
10) Callbacks: You can always network with your screening interviewer between screener and callback in addition to your other contacts. Screeners liked you enough to get you a callback, so you know they want you at the firm. They'll be a good connection for insight into hiring, future interviewers, practice area, etc.

Final Note: This is what worked for me.

[retreating back into my exam hole]

[sesto elemento]

Another V10 1L diversity interview invite confirmed, T6.

Straight white males are done here.

Can confirm that an HYS urm has already gotten an offer at a V25

[fltanglab]

I am of the opinion you all should be studying and not job searching at this point. I waited until after finals to mass mail 500 firms/judges and I had more interviews than I could schedule come January. With great grades you can lock in firms after the grades come out and if you don't get the grades or are too afraid to gamble on your grades (me), you can still have a job lined up with a judge before grades come out even if you wait another week. I was likely the first person to get a summer job. Grades >>> job search right now. Hit the books.

(I'm a 3L for those of you who won't go through my post history.)

[checkers]

I am of the opinion you all should be studying and not job searching at this point. I waited until after finals to mass mail 500 firms/judges and I had more interviews than I could schedule come January. With great grades you can lock in firms after the grades come out and if you don't get the grades or are too afraid to gamble on your grades (me), you can still have a job lined up with a judge before grades come out even if you wait another week. I was likely the first person to get a summer job. Grades >>> job search right now. Hit the books.

(I'm a 3L for those of you who won't go through my post history.)

Agreed, though I think most people here are purely in the waiting stage and are not actively applying. I threw out all of my stuff on Dec. 1 and won't really think about it again until after finals. Like you said though, if anyone is customizing cover letters right now, they're doing it wrong.

[chuckbass]

Yea I agree with checkers, I think a few of us just sent stuff out on the 1st and have been studying since. I don't think it was a detriment at all and I think especially for the diversity positions it was good to just get it out first.

Otherwise waiting until after finals to apply to more places.

[Yardbird]

Yea I agree with checkers, I think a few of us just sent stuff out on the 1st and have been studying since. I don't think it was a detriment at all and I think especially for the diversity positions it was good to just get it out first.

Otherwise waiting until after finals to apply to more places.

The exception being those people who will be home in a secondary market may want to at least get applications out to those firms/judges in that secondary market so you can schedule interviews (if invited) for as soon as you are home. I'd wait on any other mass mailing until after finals.