University of Texas 2015 OCI Forum

[mister logical]

I'm trying to upload cover letters to symplicity but it won't let me upload more than 10 documents, could someone help me out? I'm not sure what to do.

You gotta submit the whole application (including cover letter), then delete the old cover letters before uploading new ones. It's annoying as shit though, so dumb that they limit it to 10.

Thank you. How insanely annoying. Not sure why that last one posted as anon lol

[mister logical]

What's the consensus on bidding a firm in different locations? Like their Dallas firm and then using a separate bid for their Houston firm?

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

which journals have announced who's in?

[Anonymous User]

LR, TROL, and TJOGEL for sure.

[Anonymous User]

Would it be pointless to join TROL if you want to do big law transactional work? Or does anything other than TLR not matter to employers?

[Anonymous User]

Would it be pointless to join TROL if you want to do big law transactional work? Or does anything other than TLR not matter to employers?

I recommend doing a journal even if you are interested in transactional- but NOT TROL. Too much work, other secondaries require less.

[Traynor Brah]

Would it be pointless to join TROL if you want to do big law transactional work? Or does anything other than TLR not matter to employers?

As the other anon just mentioned I've heard from a fair number of people that TROL, in particular, requires too much work for the benefit it provides (i.e. you are able to check the journal box and do significantly less work by joining a different secondary).

[Anonymous User]

Similar question. Weighing a few secondary journals, two that I'm more personally interested in and another that "looks good" for what I want to do. For Big Law, do employers really care what secondary journal you're on, or is it enough that you just have some journal experience?

[BigZuck]

I tried to choose a secondary journal based on what field I was interested in working in (so not the TROL->transactional thing). But I know people who just took whatever journal was offered to them or most interested them personally. I honestly don't think it really matters, once you're not on TLR I think employers view them all the same.

I don't think anyone should be faulted for choosing what interests them the most. Or you can do whatever is the least work. I think either way you approach it is fine.

[timmyd]

I've heard that TROL was the second best or something but it honestly does not matter if you didn't make TLR. I actually know people as well that made TLR and declined in order to join journals that interested them more, but I wouldn't recommend that. The bottom line is that for biglaw, perhaps excluding some lit boutiques, grades matter much more. TLR is more useful as a proxy for grades. After TLR, its just a box to check off so employers don't think you're lazy. However, if you are trying to break into something specialized, like IP or oil and gas, it might look a little bit better to join that journal.

[Anonymous User]

So some but not all journals have made their decision, is that correct? Haven't heard anything and wondering if I somehow just didn't get into any.

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

So some but not all journals have made their decision, is that correct? Haven't heard anything and wondering if I somehow just didn't get into any.

I know that TLR, TROL, TILJ, and the environmental law journal all have sent out offers.

[Anonymous User]

TJOGEL has as well. Haven't heard yes/no on any other journals.

[Anonymous User]

IP Journal also sent out their offers.

[Anonymous User]

TRESL offers went out this morning.

[Anonymous User]

'

[Anonymous User]

What's the procedure (if there is one) for picking up additional interviews for firms you missed out on? Show up and talk to the recruiter on the interview day? Email the recruiter as soon as interviews are awarded?

[BVest]

Both (or, alternately to showing up on day of interviews is emailing recruiter to follow up on the day before interviews). The day interviews come out, reaching out to the recruiter gets you back on her radar, but on that day she has a completely full schedule. On the day that/day before the firm is interviewing is when the recruiter is most likely to have an open slot, but you want to have laid the groundwork ahead of time rather than just looking like someone begging any scraps; plus, if the recruiter responds to your first email, she's likely to tell you when to check back with her.

[Neff]

Is there any consensus on which texas firms care least about fit/personality and are more prone to hire solely on gpa/tlr?

Of the native Texas firms, Baker Botts is probably the most grade-conscious, and they heavily target hire UT students. V&E is also grade-conscious but hire less people from UT and more from higher ranked schools. Anyone median or above at UT has a shot at Fulbright and Andrews Kurth, provided they are blessed with that really awesome personality. The other firms (Strasburger, Gardere, Locke Lord) will hire pretty much anyone. Or maybe not.

-- recently graduated 3L. PM me if you have questions.

[Anonymous User]

URM top 33% + Secondary LR at T60 out of state. Strong ties to Texas. Chances/advice? Looking primarily at Houston, but also Dallas.

[Anonymous User]

URM top 33% + Secondary LR at T60 out of state. Strong ties to Texas. Chances/advice? Looking primarily at Houston, but also Dallas.

Biglaw is probably out if you aren't in top 10-15% at a T60, especially out of state and not on primary LR. Mid-small sized firms could happen, but you need to NETWORK now, that's where you offers are going to happen. Must start emailing any alumni in Texas for advice/times to talk, they can end up passing your resume on to recruiters with their weight added to it or ask you to come in and interview you themselves if things pan out well enough.

Not going to be a cake walk, you'll need to work ass off. Besides UT, there is SMU, Baylor, and UHLC all vying for any mid-sized spots in Dallas/Houston (Austin is pretty much out for everyone except top, top of classes).

[Anonymous User]

which secondary journal is the least work?

[StylinNProfilin]

Entertainment and sports is pretty much no work