UChicago OCI 2014 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Taking a shot at making a bidlist and would greatly appreciate feedback/advice. GPA is 176.2, 3 years WE, assume median interviewing skills. Also did writing comp so maybe a journal. Looking at Chicago and NY, strong Chicago ties, lesser NY ties. Interested in litigation, though some interest in certain corp/trans practice areas. Does this list look realistic? Any firms I should move around or get rid of b/c my grades are too low? Thanks in advance

1. Jones Day Chi 21
2. Baker & Mackenzie Chi 21
3. Winston Strawn Chi 42
4. Katten Chi 42
5. Jenner & Block Chi 63
6. Reed Smith Chi 21
7. Shearman & Sterling NY 21
8. Sidley Austin NY 21
9. Hughes Hubbard NY 21
10. Mayer Brown NY 21
11. McGuire Woods Chi 21
12. Foley & Lardner Chi 42
13. Calwalader NY 21
14. Fried Frank NY 21
15. Dykema Gossett Chi 21
16. Vedder Price Chi 21
17. White & Case NY 21
18. Drinker Biddle Chi 21
19. Dentons Chi 21
20. Davis Polk NY 42
21. Bryan Cave Chi 21
22. Curtis Mallet NY 21
23. Chapman Cutler Chi 21
24. Edleson Chi 21
25. DLA Piper Chi 21

[20141023]

.

[Xifeng]

Good luck guys! Remember that if you're planning on reaching out to people on the Who Worked Where list (which is a good idea), don't do it the night or day before your interview. I'd start sending emails as soon as you start to figure out your bid list so you give the person plenty of time to respond before OCI. PM me with any questions you have, but fair warning I blocked out almost everything about bidding.

[Anonymous User]

Throwin out the first bid list. Mostly interested in Chicago transactional. Also gonna bid NYC. All bids are Chicago unless otherwise noted. 178.1-178.4, no urm. A few years unrelated WE.

This anon from above. Here's a refurbished list with more NYC. I'm keeping Jenner/Schiff high because I would take Jenner/Schiff lit over NY anything. Not really sure what I'm doing with NY so if those are too aggresive let me know.

1. Skadden (Chi)
2. Jenner (Chi)
3. Kirkland (Chi)
4. Sidley (Chi)
5. Latham (Chi)
6. McDermott (Chi)
7. Schiff (Chi)
8. Jones Day (Chi)
9. Cleary (NY)
10. Paul Weiss (NY)
11. STB (NY)
12. DPW (NY)
13. Shearman (NY)
14. Fried Frank (NY)
15. Pircher (Chi)
16. Debevoise (NY)
17. Fried Frank (NY)
18. Boies Corp (NY)
19. Cravath (NY)
20. Weil (NY)
21. Wilkie (NY)

[WhiteyCakes]

How do you people have bid lists put together already???

[2014]

Taking a shot at making a bidlist and would greatly appreciate feedback/advice. GPA is 176.2, 3 years WE, assume median interviewing skills. Also did writing comp so maybe a journal. Looking at Chicago and NY, strong Chicago ties, lesser NY ties. Interested in litigation, though some interest in certain corp/trans practice areas. Does this list look realistic? Any firms I should move around or get rid of b/c my grades are too low? Thanks in advance

1. Jones Day Chi 21
2. Baker & Mackenzie Chi 21
3. Winston Strawn Chi 42
4. Katten Chi 42
5. Jenner & Block Chi 63
6. Reed Smith Chi 21
7. Shearman & Sterling NY 21
8. Sidley Austin NY 21
9. Hughes Hubbard NY 21
10. Mayer Brown NY 21
11. McGuire Woods Chi 21
12. Foley & Lardner Chi 42
13. Calwalader NY 21
14. Fried Frank NY 21
15. Dykema Gossett Chi 21
16. Vedder Price Chi 21
17. White & Case NY 21
18. Drinker Biddle Chi 21
19. Dentons Chi 21
20. Davis Polk NY 42
21. Bryan Cave Chi 21
22. Curtis Mallet NY 21
23. Chapman Cutler Chi 21
24. Edleson Chi 21
25. DLA Piper Chi 21

Jenner is very unlikely for you, I feel like it's worth bumping up another Chi firm in its place. I respect your lit interest though so maybe it's worth the shot. You aren't going to get most of the 21 slot Chi firms from Dykema down, so definitely consider your priorities above there. Biggest concern should be bidding firms with bigger class sizes and low CB minimums.

As for your NY bids, it kind of seems like you chose some of the lower vault NY firms probably under the idea they are less selective and I would consider revisiting that. Again, the biggest priority is to find the firms with the largest class size and lowest CB minimums and I doubt that Sidley, Mayer, and Hughes Hubbard are that. All of your NY firms have a hint of arbitrariness to them so I'm just curious what your train of thought was because I can either validate or refute it for you if I knew it (For example White and Case, Davis Polk, and Curtis Mallet all have firms that are largely fungible to them showing up to OCI so I'm curious why you chose them and only them for those slots).

[2014]

Throwin out the first bid list. Mostly interested in Chicago transactional. Also gonna bid NYC. All bids are Chicago unless otherwise noted. 178.1-178.4, no urm. A few years unrelated WE.

This anon from above. Here's a refurbished list with more NYC. I'm keeping Jenner/Schiff high because I would take Jenner/Schiff lit over NY anything. Not really sure what I'm doing with NY so if those are too aggresive let me know.

1. Skadden (Chi)
2. Jenner (Chi)
3. Kirkland (Chi)
4. Sidley (Chi)
5. Latham (Chi)
6. McDermott (Chi)
7. Schiff (Chi)
8. Jones Day (Chi)
9. Cleary (NY)
10. Paul Weiss (NY)
11. STB (NY)
12. DPW (NY)
13. Shearman (NY)
14. Fried Frank (NY)
15. Pircher (Chi)
16. Debevoise (NY)
17. Fried Frank (NY)
18. Boies Corp (NY)
19. Cravath (NY)
20. Weil (NY)
21. Wilkie (NY)

This looks a lot better and you will get most of those. Weil is likely a wasted bid given that it's a V10 w/ 21 slots (or at least it was last year). Do you have a reason for not including S&C? They hire more of us than both STB and DPW and so to the extent you are just fishing for a security offer, I can't see why you would leave it off.

[Anonymous User]

Throwin out the first bid list. Mostly interested in Chicago transactional. Also gonna bid NYC. All bids are Chicago unless otherwise noted. 178.1-178.4, no urm. A few years unrelated WE.

This anon from above. Here's a refurbished list with more NYC. I'm keeping Jenner/Schiff high because I would take Jenner/Schiff lit over NY anything. Not really sure what I'm doing with NY so if those are too aggresive let me know.

1. Skadden (Chi)
2. Jenner (Chi)
3. Kirkland (Chi)
4. Sidley (Chi)
5. Latham (Chi)
6. McDermott (Chi)
7. Schiff (Chi)
8. Jones Day (Chi)
9. Cleary (NY)
10. Paul Weiss (NY)
11. STB (NY)
12. DPW (NY)
13. Shearman (NY)
14. Fried Frank (NY)
15. Pircher (Chi)
16. Debevoise (NY)
17. S&C (NY)
18. Boies Corp (NY)
19. Cravath (NY)
20. Weil (NY)
21. Wilkie (NY)

This looks a lot better and you will get most of those. Weil is likely a wasted bid given that it's a V10 w/ 21 slots (or at least it was last year). Do you have a reason for not including S&C? They hire more of us than both STB and DPW and so to the extent you are just fishing for a security offer, I can't see why you would leave it off.

Whoops. Meant to include it. I had FF twice. Thanks for the help. Are these reasonable firms to expect? I don't want to be bidding too crazily in NYC as I might be stretching myself in Chicago.

[Anonymous User]

Taking a shot at making a bidlist and would greatly appreciate feedback/advice. GPA is 176.2, 3 years WE, assume median interviewing skills. Also did writing comp so maybe a journal. Looking at Chicago and NY, strong Chicago ties, lesser NY ties. Interested in litigation, though some interest in certain corp/trans practice areas. Does this list look realistic? Any firms I should move around or get rid of b/c my grades are too low? Thanks in advance

1. Jones Day Chi 21
2. Baker & Mackenzie Chi 21
3. Winston Strawn Chi 42
4. Katten Chi 42
5. Jenner & Block Chi 63
6. Reed Smith Chi 21
7. Shearman & Sterling NY 21
8. Sidley Austin NY 21
9. Hughes Hubbard NY 21
10. Mayer Brown NY 21
11. McGuire Woods Chi 21
12. Foley & Lardner Chi 42
13. Calwalader NY 21
14. Fried Frank NY 21
15. Dykema Gossett Chi 21
16. Vedder Price Chi 21
17. White & Case NY 21
18. Drinker Biddle Chi 21
19. Dentons Chi 21
20. Davis Polk NY 42
21. Bryan Cave Chi 21
22. Curtis Mallet NY 21
23. Chapman Cutler Chi 21
24. Edleson Chi 21
25. DLA Piper Chi 21

Jenner is very unlikely for you, I feel like it's worth bumping up another Chi firm in its place. I respect your lit interest though so maybe it's worth the shot. You aren't going to get most of the 21 slot Chi firms from Dykema down, so definitely consider your priorities above there. Biggest concern should be bidding firms with bigger class sizes and low CB minimums.

As for your NY bids, it kind of seems like you chose some of the lower vault NY firms probably under the idea they are less selective and I would consider revisiting that. Again, the biggest priority is to find the firms with the largest class size and lowest CB minimums and I doubt that Sidley, Mayer, and Hughes Hubbard are that. All of your NY firms have a hint of arbitrariness to them so I'm just curious what your train of thought was because I can either validate or refute it for you if I knew it (For example White and Case, Davis Polk, and Curtis Mallet all have firms that are largely fungible to them showing up to OCI so I'm curious why you chose them and only them for those slots).

Anon from above. Really appreciate the advice 2014. Would Vedder be a less selective Chicago firm? Thinking of moving them up and dropping Jenner.

As for the New York firms, I can't say I know too much about them, I was pretty much putting down firms that had callbacks below my GPA and we're ranked by Chambers in litigation. It was my understanding Sidley NY and Mayer Brown NY are less grade selective than their Chicago offices, but I could be completely wrong about that. If you have any advice on which NY firms would be better to focus on, given my grades and interest in litigation, that would be awesome

[gchatbrah]

Throwin out the first bid list. Mostly interested in Chicago transactional. Also gonna bid NYC. All bids are Chicago unless otherwise noted. 178.1-178.4, no urm. A few years unrelated WE.

This anon from above. Here's a refurbished list with more NYC. I'm keeping Jenner/Schiff high because I would take Jenner/Schiff lit over NY anything. Not really sure what I'm doing with NY so if those are too aggresive let me know.

1. Skadden (Chi)
2. Jenner (Chi)
3. Kirkland (Chi)
4. Sidley (Chi)
5. Latham (Chi)
6. McDermott (Chi)
7. Schiff (Chi)
8. Jones Day (Chi)
9. Cleary (NY)
10. Paul Weiss (NY)
11. STB (NY)
12. DPW (NY)
13. Shearman (NY)
14. Fried Frank (NY)
15. Pircher (Chi)
16. Debevoise (NY)
17. S&C (NY)
18. Boies Corp (NY)
19. Cravath (NY)
20. Weil (NY)
21. Wilkie (NY)

This looks a lot better and you will get most of those. Weil is likely a wasted bid given that it's a V10 w/ 21 slots (or at least it was last year). Do you have a reason for not including S&C? They hire more of us than both STB and DPW and so to the extent you are just fishing for a security offer, I can't see why you would leave it off.

Whoops. Meant to include it. I had FF twice. Thanks for the help. Are these reasonable firms to expect? I don't want to be bidding too crazily in NYC as I might be stretching myself in Chicago.

To answer your reasonableness question, I honestly can't think of a NYC 20 besides Wachtell and Boies, and maybe Cleary, that did not hire down to median-ish last year. You're above the cutoffs everywhere else -- since those cutoffs are pretty low all things considered (half our class), interviewing, WE, and personality will carry the day.

I'd ditch Boies corp -- I don't think it's in the cards for your grades, and it's also a very specialized brand of corp work they do there (lots of special situations work). Kirkland NY should be on this list.

[20141023]

.

[WhiteyCakes]

How do you people have bid lists put together already???

Everyone I've talked to already has theirs put together and has done most of their informational interviews too. If you haven't started already, you're in trouble.
Just kidding I haven't done anything yet either.

AND we know to wear suits to our interviews thanks to OCS!

[beepboopbeep]

How do you people have bid lists put together already???

Everyone I've talked to already has theirs put together and has done most of their informational interviews too. If you haven't started already, you're in trouble.
Just kidding I haven't done anything yet either.

AND we know to wear suits to our interviews thanks to OCS!

Just remember: wear exactly what you would wear when meeting a client.

Because we've all done so much of that as rising 2Ls.

edit: sorry for shitting up the thread

[Anonymous User]

Alright, I'm a bit confused about the red triangles. I thought this meant the officers were all grouped together, but some of them have different numbers of slots available? Some only have TWO?

[Neal Patrick Harris]

Alright, I'm a bit confused about the red triangles. I thought this meant the officers were all grouped together, but some of them have different numbers of slots available? Some only have TWO?

"s" means "schedules share some estimated slots"

[Anonymous User]

Hey all, any input on this bidlist would be greatly appreciated. Would also be thankful if you didn't quote this post. Not really sure what I'm doing, but did get some helpful advice, so thank you to those of you who helped out. 180.325, no journal. Honestly would prefer to avoid NY and Chicago altogether, but I'm worried about not landing a job in my preferred markets. Below median interviewing skills.

1. Paul Hastings SF (7)
2. Kirkland & Ellis (Chi) (84)
3. Schiff Hardin (Chi) (84)
4. Goodwin Procter (SF) (6)
5. Perkins Coie (21)
6. Gibson Dunn SF (12)
7. Faegre Baker Daniels Chi (10)
8. Jones Day SF (21)
9. Clery Gottleib NY (42)
10. Boies (21)
11. Cravath NY (38)
12. Skadden NY (42)
13. Morrison & Forrester SF (21)
14. Irell (LA-want SF, can I interview with them for SF?) (?)
15. Latham & Watkins (SF) (22)
16. Greenberg Traurig (21)
17. Holland & Knight (11)
18. Arnold & Porter DC (21)
19. Norton Rose Fullbright (21)
20. Akerman (21)
21. Cooley (42)
22. Baker Hostetler NY (16)
23. Paul Weiss NY (42)
24. Debevoise NY (63)
25. WLRK NY (42)

[Neal Patrick Harris]

Taking a shot at making a bidlist and would greatly appreciate feedback/advice. GPA is 176.2, 3 years WE, assume median interviewing skills. Also did writing comp so maybe a journal. Looking at Chicago and NY, strong Chicago ties, lesser NY ties. Interested in litigation, though some interest in certain corp/trans practice areas. Does this list look realistic? Any firms I should move around or get rid of b/c my grades are too low? Thanks in advance

1. Jones Day Chi 21
2. Baker & Mackenzie Chi 21
3. Winston Strawn Chi 42
4. Katten Chi 42
5. Jenner & Block Chi 63
6. Reed Smith Chi 21
7. Shearman & Sterling NY 21
8. Sidley Austin NY 21
9. Hughes Hubbard NY 21
10. Mayer Brown NY 21
11. McGuire Woods Chi 21
12. Foley & Lardner Chi 42
13. Calwalader NY 21
14. Fried Frank NY 21
15. Dykema Gossett Chi 21
16. Vedder Price Chi 21
17. White & Case NY 21
18. Drinker Biddle Chi 21
19. Dentons Chi 21
20. Davis Polk NY 42
21. Bryan Cave Chi 21
22. Curtis Mallet NY 21
23. Chapman Cutler Chi 21
24. Edleson Chi 21
25. DLA Piper Chi 21

Jenner is very unlikely for you, I feel like it's worth bumping up another Chi firm in its place. I respect your lit interest though so maybe it's worth the shot. You aren't going to get most of the 21 slot Chi firms from Dykema down, so definitely consider your priorities above there. Biggest concern should be bidding firms with bigger class sizes and low CB minimums.

As for your NY bids, it kind of seems like you chose some of the lower vault NY firms probably under the idea they are less selective and I would consider revisiting that. Again, the biggest priority is to find the firms with the largest class size and lowest CB minimums and I doubt that Sidley, Mayer, and Hughes Hubbard are that. All of your NY firms have a hint of arbitrariness to them so I'm just curious what your train of thought was because I can either validate or refute it for you if I knew it (For example White and Case, Davis Polk, and Curtis Mallet all have firms that are largely fungible to them showing up to OCI so I'm curious why you chose them and only them for those slots).

Anon from above. Really appreciate the advice 2014. Would Vedder be a less selective Chicago firm? Thinking of moving them up and dropping Jenner.

As for the New York firms, I can't say I know too much about them, I was pretty much putting down firms that had callbacks below my GPA and we're ranked by Chambers in litigation. It was my understanding Sidley NY and Mayer Brown NY are less grade selective than their Chicago offices, but I could be completely wrong about that. If you have any advice on which NY firms would be better to focus on, given my grades and interest in litigation, that would be awesome

NY:
I think Sidley NY isn't worth that high of a bid (there's generally more competition there because it's a recognized firm, lots of people with much better grades missed it last year)--I'd swap it for Willkie unless you're shooting for some sort of "switch offices to chicago" plan--similar culture to sidley while being stronger in lit and corporate.

Consider WilmerHale, Milbank, Fried Frank, Proskauer and Cadwalader for NY (all strong in lit NY)

DPW is kind of a strange reach and I think they went higher last year, but if you're just shooting for the moon for an NY lit firm I can't say you'll get anything in band 1 that low (aside from CSM/S&C/WLRK). I'm torn. Maybe bump it up a little if you really want it but realize that it's kind of a long shot.

http://www.chambersandpartners.com/1280 ... torial/5/1

Chicago:
I generally like your selection of less-selective Chicago firms, but I feel like Baker is a bit high (generally not known for lit).

Bryan Cave was IP only last year but maybe that has changed.

Is there a reason McDermott is missing? Is goldberg kohn coming this year?

http://www.chambersandpartners.com/1247 ... torial/5/1

[Neal Patrick Harris]

Hey all, any input on this bidlist would be greatly appreciated. Would also be thankful if you didn't quote this post. Not really sure what I'm doing, but did get some helpful advice, so thank you to those of you who helped out. 180.325, no journal. Honestly would prefer to avoid NY and Chicago altogether, but I'm worried about not landing a job in my preferred markets. Below median interviewing skills.

1. Paul Hastings SF (7)
2. Kirkland & Ellis (Chi) (84)
3. Schiff Hardin (Chi) (84)
4. Goodwin Procter (SF) (6)
5. Perkins Coie (21)
6. Gibson Dunn SF (12)
7. Faegre Baker Daniels Chi (10)
8. Jones Day SF (21)
9. Clery Gottleib NY (42)
10. Boies (21)
11. Cravath NY (38)
12. Skadden NY (42)
13. Morrison & Forrester SF (21)
14. Irell (LA-want SF, can I interview with them for SF?) (?)
15. Latham & Watkins (SF) (22)
16. Greenberg Traurig (21)
17. Holland & Knight (11)
18. Arnold & Porter DC (21)
19. Norton Rose Fullbright (21)
20. Akerman (21)
21. Cooley (42)
22. Baker Hostetler NY (16)
23. Paul Weiss NY (42)
24. Debevoise NY (63)
25. WLRK NY (42)

Lit/Trans?

Not familiar with Cali but I'll give my two cents w/r/t NY.

Interviewing means that S&C needs to be on this list and you should Debevoise higher (though they went later than that last year, you would be a good fit). The random DC firm seems weird.

You absolutely will not get PW that far down (people missed in the early teens last year I believe--check last year's thread). CSM doesn't need to be that high (they went in the 40s last year).

16-22 can be deleted and replaced with better firms with your grades (yes, even with bad interviewing skills--shoot for firms with more summer spots in NY or maybe even Skadden Chi--when you bid both Chi + NY they will let you split if you get one callback).

I'd like to see DPW, STB, Boies (if corporate--no LR may hurt).

Any reason you like Schiff?

Maybe Sidley Chi--but Sidley and K&E have LOTS of interviews so bad interviewing will hurt you more than it would at other firms, just something to be weary of--perhaps your grades will carry you or you will hit it off with someone.

Perkins Chi I'm guessing? If so that's fine.

Would you prefer NY/Chi over LA?

[Neal Patrick Harris]

Form that would be helpful for future questions (you don't have to use it, but it'll help the people trying to help you).

Under Misc put other info you think may be helpful for us--any idiosyncratic preference you may have. Next to each firm on bidlist provide city of office / # of interview spots / expected incoming SAs (ex for New York/ 42 interviews / 30 incoming SAs: NY/42/30)


Grades:
URM/Female:
Work Exp:
Preferred Market:
Practice Area:
Misc:
Bid list:

[WheninLaw]

Hey all, any input on this bidlist would be greatly appreciated. Would also be thankful if you didn't quote this post. Not really sure what I'm doing, but did get some helpful advice, so thank you to those of you who helped out. 180.325, no journal. Honestly would prefer to avoid NY and Chicago altogether, but I'm worried about not landing a job in my preferred markets. Below median interviewing skills.

1. Paul Hastings SF (7)
2. Kirkland & Ellis (Chi) (84)
3. Schiff Hardin (Chi) (84)
4. Goodwin Procter (SF) (6)
5. Perkins Coie (21)
6. Gibson Dunn SF (12)
7. Faegre Baker Daniels Chi (10)
8. Jones Day SF (21)
9. Clery Gottleib NY (42)
10. Boies (21)
11. Cravath NY (38)
12. Skadden NY (42)
13. Morrison & Forrester SF (21)
14. Irell (LA-want SF, can I interview with them for SF?) (?)
15. Latham & Watkins (SF) (22)
16. Greenberg Traurig (21)
17. Holland & Knight (11)
18. Arnold & Porter DC (21)
19. Norton Rose Fullbright (21)
20. Akerman (21)
21. Cooley (42)
22. Baker Hostetler NY (16)
23. Paul Weiss NY (42)
24. Debevoise NY (63)
25. WLRK NY (42)

Congratulations on the excellent grades. I had similar grades and wanted CA. That being said, I really dislike your list. It's all over the place. More importantly, where are you from? If you're not from Chi/SF and have below-average interviewing skills, there is a real danger that you don't score a lot of CBs, even with great grades. Both those markets care significantly about ties (SF more than anyone). Further, why no LA? It doesn't make sense to want SF, not want Chi/NY, but not bid LA at all. It's also an easier market to break into than SF. I also cannot tell if you want Corporate, Litigation, etc.

Things that confuse me:

1. You don't want to be in Chicago, but are putting a firm that might take 1-2 SAs (Faegre) in your top 10? Why? The same goes for WLRK - you don't want to be in NY, but think that's somewhere you want to work?
2. Irell doesn't have a SF office, only Newport/LA.
3. Not getting MOFO at 13; same probably goes for Latham
4. Why do you have a random DC firm on there? I'd understand Williams & Connolly, but A&P?
5. Unless OCI firms changed, there should be many more SF firms on your list. And why are you avoiding SV all-together?

Sorry if this came off as harsh - but you definitely need to focus yourself. PM and we can work this out.

[Neal Patrick Harris]

I think it's fine to have wlrk at the bottom of your list just to take the interview. But it doesn't need to be at 25

[2014]

Your guys' info sheet that just went out is waaayyyy more helpful than last years.

e- makes NY seem more brutal than it was last year but data is data.

e2 - CB percentages explains part of it. NY just gives a lot more CBs so there are a lot of median people in the 0-25% range.

[Anonymous User]

Well now I'm a lot more worried.

[Anonymous User]

LA seems a lot less grade selective than I had come to believe. Even Gibson Dunn calls people back at median.

[Anonymous User]

poof