OCI and employment for prospective two-year JD candidate Forum

[Npret]

I don’t think you have a kitten brain, I thought I didn’t explain it well.

You seem determined to find a way to make the system work outside of its design. I am obviously baffled by this, but that’s because I’ve lived with this system.

You would be foolish to not do OCI the summer before you start. That’s your single best time to do OCI regardless of qualifications and your easiest shot at a job. You should go in prepared as best you can. I think firms will understand how to evaluate you.

I don’t know if taking an extra semester means you get a second shot at “2L OCI.” As far as I know that is based on the law schools policy. Don’t forget they have other students to place and the policy may not be forgiving. I don’t know.

I have seen posts here from students who decide to do a joint JD-MBA degree and get a second shot at OCI. I don’t know if extending your degree somehow will give you a second chance.

All that aside, what is your plan for getting a job in the summer between your two years if you don’t do OCI? How will you find work outside the typical hiring patterns?
Edit to add - I just want to reiterate that law firm practice is lock step. Classes move up together at the same time and the same pace. People extremely rarely surge ahead. This is partly why hiring happens in this set manner with classes entering at the same time.

[NAMLEX]

I don’t think you have a kitten brain, I thought I didn’t explain it well.

You seem determined to find a way to make the system work outside of its design. I am obviously baffled by this, but that’s because I’ve lived with this system.

You would be foolish to not do OCI the summer before you start. That’s your single best time to do OCI regardless of qualifications and your easiest shot at a job. You should go in prepared as best you can. I think firms will understand how to evaluate you.

I don’t know if taking an extra semester means you get a second shot at “2L OCI.” As far as I know that is based on the law schools policy. Don’t forget they have other students to place and the policy may not be forgiving. I don’t know.

I have seen posts here from students who decide to do a joint JD-MBA degree and get a second shot at OCI. I don’t know if extending your degree somehow will give you a second chance.

All that aside, what is your plan for getting a job in the summer between your two years if you don’t do OCI? How will you find work outside the typical hiring patterns?
Edit to add - I just want to reiterate that law firm practice is lock step. Classes move up together at the same time and the same pace. People extremely rarely surge ahead. This is partly why hiring happens in this set manner with classes entering at the same time.

Thanks again.

I've written to some schools today so hopefully I will get some clarification from their standpoint - (I'm not even sure if all of the schools would permit me to OCI in the summer before I start).

A joint degree is another option I have considered. To be clear though, these measures (taking an extra semester/quarter or doing a joint degree) wouldn't give me a "second shot" at OCI, they would just enable me to have the same shot that every other JD candidate has.

[Npret]

I don’t think you have a kitten brain, I thought I didn’t explain it well.

You seem determined to find a way to make the system work outside of its design. I am obviously baffled by this, but that’s because I’ve lived with this system.

You would be foolish to not do OCI the summer before you start. That’s your single best time to do OCI regardless of qualifications and your easiest shot at a job. You should go in prepared as best you can. I think firms will understand how to evaluate you.

I don’t know if taking an extra semester means you get a second shot at “2L OCI.” As far as I know that is based on the law schools policy. Don’t forget they have other students to place and the policy may not be forgiving. I don’t know.

I have seen posts here from students who decide to do a joint JD-MBA degree and get a second shot at OCI. I don’t know if extending your degree somehow will give you a second chance.

All that aside, what is your plan for getting a job in the summer between your two years if you don’t do OCI? How will you find work outside the typical hiring patterns?
Edit to add - I just want to reiterate that law firm practice is lock step. Classes move up together at the same time and the same pace. People extremely rarely surge ahead. This is partly why hiring happens in this set manner with classes entering at the same time.

Thanks again.

I've written to some schools today so hopefully I will get some clarification from their standpoint - (I'm not even sure if all of the schools would permit me to OCI in the summer before I start).

A joint degree is another option I have considered. To be clear though, these measures (taking an extra semester/quarter or doing a joint degree) wouldn't give me a "second shot" at OCI, they would just enable me to have the same shot that every other JD candidate has.

It is a definitely a second shot and most schools would agree with me. Your first shot is the summer before you begin. I know you have good reasons to discount it, but you can take advantage of it should you chose.

[Npret]

I forgot to add “good luck.” I think you are smart for investigating this carefully now. I hope it all works out for you.

[NAMLEX]

I forgot to add “good luck.” I think you are smart for investigating this carefully now. I hope it all works out for you.

Thanks for that, and again for all your input - you've helped me clarify the questions I need to be asking.