Final OCI results: 2011 Version Forum

[Kronk]

Cornell

Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: top 40%
Law review: yes
Work experience: none
IP background: none
Anything else that might have an impact?:
Screening Interviews: 19
Mass mails: none
Callbacks received: 5
Callbacks accepted: 5
Offers w/vault ranges: 2 V30, 1 V100, cancelled remaining two decisions
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?

I know exactly who this is.

[Bronte]

Not that anyone's quite done so yet, I vote for not making this thread about trying to guess who people are.

[Kronk]

Not that anyone's quite done so yet, I vote for not making this thread about trying to guess who people are.

Consider your vote disregarded.

[Anonymous User]

I'm going to break the chain of anonymous replies, mostly because my OCI season was a tale of two cities and I was afraid it might not be credible anonymous.

It's hard to say exactly what was responsible for my lack of success in DC, but it seems unlikely that I just sucked as an interviewee because of the contrast in NY, even with the highly selective firms. You can strike out in DC from anywhere in any class, so I highly recommend bidding smartly.

I had a similar experience, but rationalized it slightly differently in my mind. I applied to only two DC firms - W&C and Covington (both are very selective, so maybe I can't speak about DC generally) and did not get CBs from either. I had a pretty rough time in NYC, too, getting one V5 but none of the others to which I applied in NY. On the other hand, I murdered California - including CBs-> offers from those two CA firms at the top of the Vault Selectivity rankings.

I have science background and my resume is entirely California (aside from the fact that I go to law school on East Coast) and concluded that DC and NY both want ties. People said NY wouldn't matter - but I got grilled about it during my screeners; actually, the one that grilled me most was the V5 that gave me an offer; maybe I was able to convince them. Felt well-prepared for screeners in DC but didn't feel a great connection with the interviewer. Maybe it's because I'm a California kid.

School: DNCG
Market(s): LA, SF, DC, NY
Approximate class rank: top 3%
Law review: secondary
Work experience: 2 years paralegal
IP background: B.S.
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.): no
Screening Interviews: 18
Mass mails: 10
Callbacks received: 8
Callbacks accepted: 8
Offers w/vault ranges: 1(v5), 4 top-California
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? maybe 1-2

[quakeroats]

tag

[Anonymous User]

School range: UCLA
Market(s): LA, SF
Approximate class rank: Top 15%ish
Law review: Yes
Work experience: Yes (full time during undergrad at non-undergrad style job)
IP background: No
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.):
Screening Interviews: 19
Mass mails: 0
Callbacks received: 13
Callbacks accepted: 8
Offers w/vault ranges: 5 (2 V5, 1 V10, 1 V25, 1V40)
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? 3

[Anonymous User]

School range: CLS
Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: Bottom 1/3 or so.
Law review: Secondary
Work experience: None
IP background: science degree, but got some offers from completely non-IP places
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.): less-valuable diversity, and the language skills to match. I have been told that I am a very good interviewer. Bidding wisely and on firms that matched closely with my interests and background.
Screening Interviews: 30
Mass mails: 5? no cbs from this though.
Callbacks received: 13
Callbacks accepted: 11, but withdrew from 3.
Offers w/vault ranges: 8 (1 V10, 1 V20, 3 V30, 1 V50, 1 V100, 1 non-V)
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? so many I can't count.

Words of wisdom: it can be done with a sub-par GPA, but you MUST know how to package and sell yourself as something valuable that the law firm may want.

[Anonymous User]

T14

Market(s): SF
Approximate class rank: top 1/3
Law review: yes
Work experience: extensive
IP background: no
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.): no
Screening Interviews: 30
Mass mails: 0
Callbacks received: 9
Callbacks accepted: 9
Offers w/vault ranges: 2 V50
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? 5 from screeners, 5 from callbacks

[Anonymous User]

UCLA/USC

Market(s): LA
Approximate class rank: top 15%
Law review: Y
Work experience: Y
IP background: N
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.):
Screening Interviews: 18
Mass mails: 0
Callbacks received: 8
Callbacks accepted: 8
Offers w/vault ranges: 1(v5), 1(v40), 2(v60-100)
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? 1

[NYC Law]

Sticky plz?

[Anonymous User]

Behold, the big non-T14 strikeout.

GW

Market(s): DC, LA/OC, and Denver (all with strong ties - I have lived in all these places), and a handful of SF and NY (without significant ties)
Approximate class rank: 35%
Law review: secondary journal
Work experience: 3 years significant WE as a reporter and later a paralegal
IP background: media background, interested in soft IP
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.): nope, totally white
Screening Interviews: 3
Mass mails: 66 (in addition to 45 OCI and regionals bids)
Callbacks received: 0
Callbacks accepted: 0
Offers w/vault ranges: 0
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? 51 (of which all but a dozen are a month old or later)

Ask me how depressing this spreadsheet is.

[Anonymous User]

DCNG

Market(s): Chi & NYC
Approximate class rank: Top 5%
Law review: Yes
Work experience: Yes
IP background: No
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): A unique b.g. that seems to cut for me w/ some firms and against me w/ others
Screening Interviews: 19
Mass mails: 3 or 4
Callbacks received: 12
Callbacks accepted: 6
Offers w/vault ranges: 2 V15s, 1 V30 so far
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? none

[Anonymous User]

School range: CLS
Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: Bottom 1/3 or so.
Law review: Secondary
Work experience: None
IP background: science degree, but got some offers from completely non-IP places
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.): less-valuable diversity, and the language skills to match. I have been told that I am a very good interviewer. Bidding wisely and on firms that matched closely with my interests and background.
Screening Interviews: 30
Mass mails: 5? no cbs from this though.
Callbacks received: 13
Callbacks accepted: 11
Offers w/vault ranges: 5 so far, still waiting to hear (2 V30, 1 V50, 1 V100, 1 non-V)
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? so many I can't count. Will update this as my count changes.

Words of wisdom: it can be done with a sub-par GPA, but you MUST know how to package and sell yourself as something valuable that the law firm may want.

This was true in my case as well. Grades didn't kill me, because I packaged myself as a unique value-add. I'm below median at T25-50 with an offer at a great V100 firm in CA.

[Anonymous User]

GULC
Market(s): DC, NYC, Boston; mass mailed any GPA realistic firm that had a sizable tax department
Approximate class rank: top 1/3
Law review: nope. On irrelevant secondary journal
Work experience: extensive
IP background: nope
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.): white male, but competed through Olympics in an obscure sport. Not sure any one really cared, but it killed at least 5 minutes in every interview.
Screening Interviews: 18
Mass mails: countless
Callbacks received: 4
Callbacks accepted: 4
Offers w/vault ranges: 2 V50, 1 V100, 1 tax boutique; accepted the V50 that had the stronger tax department
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? Heard back from all screeners/CBs; barely heard back from anything from mass mail
Random thoughts: I did much better in DC than in NYC and boston. I have no idea why as most of my classmates found the opposite. I would maybe not bother with mass mailing and resume drops if you don't have a stellar GPA. I heard absolutely nothing. Glad its over with as it was a stressful couple months.

[minnbills]

This was true in my case as well. Grades didn't kill me, because I packaged myself as a unique value-add. I'm below median at T25-50 with an offer at a great V100 firm in CA.

How did you go about this? Just gearing your resume toward a certain theme?

[Anonymous User]

DNCG
1st: LA; 2nd: Chi
~Top 20%, Secondary, minimal w/e, no IP
16 OCI screener
2 direct app screener
10 CB (3 canceled)
4 offer, 2 ding, 1 pending
All V50

[Anonymous User]

This was true in my case as well. Grades didn't kill me, because I packaged myself as a unique value-add. I'm below median at T25-50 with an offer at a great V100 firm in CA.

How did you go about this? Just gearing your resume toward a certain theme?

Yes, but I don't think that really did it. I'm not sure it was anything other than luck to get a few screeners. The real packaging came into play for screeners and callbacks. I had unique strategies for each interviewer and prepared for them as if they were a final. Even when the interviews became conversational (they were much of the time), I was always trying to convey my "message" about my fit for the particular firm. It was nerve-wracking and I had almost no margin for error, but it worked out. My advice is to spend 10-15 hours preparing for each firm. I don't just mean do mock interviews (I did 0), but I mean prepare substantively.

[Anonymous User]

.

[minnbills]

Yes, but I don't think that really did it. I'm not sure it was anything other than luck to get a few screeners. The real packaging came into play for screeners and callbacks. I had unique strategies for each interviewer and prepared for them as if they were a final. Even when the interviews became conversational (they were much of the time), I was always trying to convey my "message" about my fit for the particular firm. It was nerve-wracking and I had almost no margin for error, but it worked out. My advice is to spend 10-15 hours preparing for each firm. I don't just mean do mock interviews (I did 0), but I mean prepare substantively.

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Market(s): NY/Boston
School: HYS
Approximate class rank: Straight Ps (conventional TLS wisdom suggests this is like bottom 20-30%)
Law review: no
Work experience: Barely
IP background: no
Anything else that might have an impact? URM with v. unique background
Screening Interviews: 24
Mass mails: 0
Callbacks received: 5
Callbacks accepted: 4 ( I received an offer from my first choice before my last scheduled callback)
Offers w/vault ranges: 1 v10, 2 v20, 1 v50 (accepted at v10)
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? None

Even though I'm a URM, people told me that my chances of getting a biglaw job were slim, and that I should only focus on the v75-100. A lot of URMs with similar grades at my school are struggling, and have yet to find jobs, so please don't read this and think "zOMG URM secure!!!" because it really isn't. All I can say is personality and enthusiasm goes a LONG way. My v10 screener that eventually became an offer was wonderful -- we laughed, joked and genuinely enjoyed each other's company. I consider myself a very strong interviewer but best advice? Don't let your transcript be a self-fulfilling prophecy; make sure the interviewer sees that you're more than your grades. I have a friend who has nothing but Ps and two LPs but also did very well, and accepted at another v10. Bid wisely, include some reaches in your bid list and just keep a positive attitude.

[Anonymous User]

CCN

Market(s): New York
Approximate class rank: top 20%
Law review: no
Work experience: yes
IP background: no
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): good interviewer
Screening Interviews: 34
Mass mails: 0
Callbacks received: 26
Callbacks accepted: 6
Offers w/vault ranges: 5 (1 V5, 2 V10, 2 V15)
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? 1 (Sullivan & Cromwell)

[Anonymous User]

Gtown
Market(s): DC/Chi/NY/Secondary back home
Approximate class rank: top 10%
Law review: nope. On irrelevant secondary journal<--that fits me, too
Work experience: interesting, but pretty shallow. Good conversation fodder/ personality touchpoints
IP background: nope
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.): I don't know, but I think I just rub people as a pretty wholesome dude
Screening Interviews: 18
Mass mails: none, but I did send an application to one firm back home, which led to a phone screener and then a CB. However, since it's a secondary market I still haven't heard anything and no longer really care
Callbacks received: 10
Callbacks accepted: 8
Offers w/vault ranges: So far, I have offers from the only two I've heard back from, both are V20, although I think it could be fairly said that their selectivity is higher than their vault ranks would indicate, based on market (dc/chicago), reputation and relatively small class sizes. They're my top choices, so while I haven't figured out how to decide to accept one or the other yet, I'm working on cancelling other cbs, etc.

I'd say I played the whole process pretty conservatively, from bidding down to interviewing. By that I mean mostly that I pedaled the same nice, smart guy schtick every time I interviewed--and so while it didn't work at some of the more selective NYC shops--CSM, Davis Polk--I feel it's the only reason why I racked up some CBs in DC and Chi while others struggled. Anyhoo.

[Anonymous User]

CCN

Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: ~ Top 35%
Law review: No, good secondary
Work experience: No (but some interesting/prestigious internships to talk about)
IP background: No
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): Good interviewer, enthusiastic
Screening Interviews: ~ 25
Mass mails: 0
Callbacks received: ~ 10
Callbacks accepted: 1 (first choice CB scheduled first)
Offers w/vault ranges: 1 v5
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? 1 or 2

[Anonymous User]

School tier: DNCG

Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: Top 10%
Law review: Secondary
Work experience: Crappy
IP background: Nope.
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really):
Screening Interviews: 17
Mass mails: 0
Callbacks received: 4
Callbacks accepted: 4
Offers w/vault ranges: One V10 offer. Two V20 ding. One V50 ding.
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? Just one big one.

[Anonymous User]

Hastings

Market(s): SF, SV, LA
Approximate class rank: 25%-33%
Law review: No
Work experience: Several years of actual, useful WE
IP background: No
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc.): Wasn't a liberal arts major
Screening Interviews: 19
Mass mails: N/A
Callbacks received: 6
Callbacks accepted: 2 (cancelled the other 4 as they came after I got offers)
Offers w/vault ranges: V15 (1), V50 (1)
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback? 8

Aside from law school, I have no ties to any of these markets. Pretty sure WE was a huge positive factor that is consistently discounted here.