Give me one good reason to do biglaw Forum

[zot1]

Actually, most honors programs hire in the fall - I think the USPS hires in the spring, but I don't think most of the other programs do (maybe DOT?). They almost never hire during bar prep, though. And there are just a lot fewer honors positions than biglaw - for instance, the last few years, DOL has had 1000+ applicants for ~10 positions. What they select for can be a little different from what biglaw selects for, but it's probably easier for your average decent student at a T14 to get into biglaw than into an honors program.

I know the Pathways program exists, but I've never heard of anyone getting an attorney position through it. It seems a little bit more like the PMF program, which people do out of law school but often involves non-legal positions.

With budget constraints most of the hiring has been pushed to the spring more and more. I also remember reading through the past government honors programs threads that some people don't hear until bar prep. I don't think that's the norm at all though but it seems like it does happen.

I'm not saying it's easy, just not impossible. People do get hired for those positions.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Actually, most honors programs hire in the fall - I think the USPS hires in the spring, but I don't think most of the other programs do (maybe DOT?). They almost never hire during bar prep, though. And there are just a lot fewer honors positions than biglaw - for instance, the last few years, DOL has had 1000+ applicants for ~10 positions. What they select for can be a little different from what biglaw selects for, but it's probably easier for your average decent student at a T14 to get into biglaw than into an honors program.

I know the Pathways program exists, but I've never heard of anyone getting an attorney position through it. It seems a little bit more like the PMF program, which people do out of law school but often involves non-legal positions.

With budget constraints most of the hiring has been pushed to the spring more and more. I also remember reading through the past government honors programs threads that some people don't hear until bar prep. I don't think that's the norm at all though but it seems like it does happen.

I'm not saying it's easy, just not impossible. People do get hired for those positions.

I think it might depend on the size/history of the program - the bigger, more established ones generally follow the same schedule every year. (Sometimes rejections don't go out till the spring, of course!)

[UnicornHunter]

People do get hired for those positions.

Some years. Hiring freezes are a very real thing though, and can be very unpredictable. Much safer to wrap up a BigLaw jerb early and keep your ears open for opportunities.

[zot1]

People do get hired for those positions.

Some years. Hiring freezes are a very real thing though, and can be very unpredictable. Much safer to wrap up a BigLaw jerb early and keep your ears open for opportunities.

I mean, from the beginning I agree biglaw is the easier path. That's not at issue. I agree with y'all on this.

[Big Shrimpin]

Stack cash for a couple of years. Exit to something you'd like to do.

Eta Scooped

cosigned

[whats an updog]

So if you accept an offer, you can't scope those gov't positions on the low low? Super unethical and have to get permission from firm?

[zot1]

Actually, most honors programs hire in the fall - I think the USPS hires in the spring, but I don't think most of the other programs do (maybe DOT?). They almost never hire during bar prep, though. And there are just a lot fewer honors positions than biglaw - for instance, the last few years, DOL has had 1000+ applicants for ~10 positions. What they select for can be a little different from what biglaw selects for, but it's probably easier for your average decent student at a T14 to get into biglaw than into an honors program.

I know the Pathways program exists, but I've never heard of anyone getting an attorney position through it. It seems a little bit more like the PMF program, which people do out of law school but often involves non-legal positions.

With budget constraints most of the hiring has been pushed to the spring more and more. I also remember reading through the past government honors programs threads that some people don't hear until bar prep. I don't think that's the norm at all though but it seems like it does happen.

I'm not saying it's easy, just not impossible. People do get hired for those positions.

I think it might depend on the size/history of the program - the bigger, more established ones generally follow the same schedule every year. (Sometimes rejections don't go out till the spring, of course!)

I mean, DOL has been hiring early spring during the past two cycles. I'd say they're pretty established.

But rejections can definitely trickle as late as August haha! (This was more like a nervous laughter because rejections are the worst thing to mankind... Or you know, law students).

[A. Nony Mouse]

Early spring semester, as in January/Feb? If you mean spring semester (rather than the season) we probably don't really disagree. I was thinking season. (My sense is for most, apps are in the fall, they try to hire before the holidays, but some spill over into January or so.)

[Purplebook]

Some people do end up loving it. You could be one of them, and there is only one way to find out.

[thesealocust]

A lot of cool jobs recruit from those exiting large law firms and nowhere else. If you don't want to do biglaw and can land the job you want instead, cool! But a realistic view of the legal hiring market has to concede that a tour of duty at a major firm is nearly mandatory for many opportunities.

[zot1]

Early spring semester, as in January/Feb? If you mean spring semester (rather than the season) we probably don't really disagree. I was thinking season. (My sense is for most, apps are in the fall, they try to hire before the holidays, but some spill over into January or so.)

Oh yeah, sorry. I was saying spring as in the school semester. My bad.

But yeah, OP there are definitely good reasons to go biglaw. Maybe you could get an SA position, offer, then try to get a government job. Although after the offer, you'll be so excited about the money that you won't give it up.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Early spring semester, as in January/Feb? If you mean spring semester (rather than the season) we probably don't really disagree. I was thinking season. (My sense is for most, apps are in the fall, they try to hire before the holidays, but some spill over into January or so.)

Oh yeah, sorry. I was saying spring as in the school semester. My bad.

But yeah, OP there are definitely good reasons to go biglaw. Maybe you could get an SA position, offer, then try to get a government job. Although after the offer, you'll be so excited about the money that you won't give it up.

No, sorry, that was my RC fail. I was thinking season and also thinking about when you apply more than when someone beats back.

To be more on-topic, it is true that BL hiring tends toward the path of least resistance - especially at some schools.