The Official 1L Summer Employment Thread - 2012 Edition Forum

[shoeshine]

I've gotten a surprising amount of quick responses to my letters. Probably 10 already. Most have been rejections, but a few interested. All interest has been from state court judges so far. Wasn't expecting to have to deal with this prior to finals.

another great reason not to apply to jobs on 12/1. it likely will lead to more work in following up prior to finals. what are you gonna say, sorry I can't get back to you until after finals?

seriously 1L bros, chill on the apps until after finals. it doesn't matter. theres no job you have to get as a 1L, but there are grades you have to get.

I actually really agree with this but part of me would like to believe that if I get a 1L job at big firm now that my grades wont matter. Think about it. If I get a 1L summer job then they are probably going to offer me at least a half summer the next year and then an offer after that.

[Anonymous User]

I just got an interview with a X Circuit Court of Appeals Judge - so excited!

[headandshoulderos]

I've gotten a surprising amount of quick responses to my letters. Probably 10 already. Most have been rejections, but a few interested. All interest has been from state court judges so far. Wasn't expecting to have to deal with this prior to finals.

another great reason not to apply to jobs on 12/1. it likely will lead to more work in following up prior to finals. what are you gonna say, sorry I can't get back to you until after finals?

seriously 1L bros, chill on the apps until after finals. it doesn't matter. theres no job you have to get as a 1L, but there are grades you have to get.

I actually really agree with this but part of me would like to believe that if I get a 1L job at big firm now that my grades wont matter. Think about it. If I get a 1L summer job then they are probably going to offer me at least a half summer the next year and then an offer after that.

oh man you are so wrong.

[BEAST_mode]

I just got an interview with a X Circuit Court of Appeals Judge - so excited!

Great news! Mind sharing whether it's a major circuit (2,7,9,DC)? I applied to a handful of COA judges, but I have no clue what my chances are being non-T14.

[r6_philly]

oh man you are so wrong.

Why? I know several people who didn't go through OCI because they secured a permanent offer through 1L summer SA. Rare yes, but not impossible depending on circumstances.

[adonai]

oh man you are so wrong.

Why? I know several people who didn't go through OCI because they secured a permanent offer through 1L summer SA. Rare yes, but not impossible depending on circumstances.

You should ignore him. He was outed to be a 0L alt troll and banned.

But yeah, the experiences of many 1L SAs here shows that 1L SAs are asked to typically return for a few weeks as a 2L.

[Anonymous User]

I just got an interview with a X Circuit Court of Appeals Judge - so excited!

Great news! Mind sharing whether it's a major circuit (2,7,9,DC)? I applied to a handful of COA judges, but I have no clue what my chances are being non-T14.

Would prefer to not disclose yet, but I go to a T14 (idk if that helps or not)

[thelaststraw05]

Got a reply from a small firm (combo crim defense/family law/personal injury) outside DC asking about ties. Hopefully this is a positive development.

[Puttanesca]

Has anyone applied/thinking about applying to a 1L diversity summer associate position? Most of the diversity positions I've found out about through my school say they are looking for ethnic minorities, LGBT, low SES background. While the firms do list other categories besides ethnic minorities, I'm assuming that they are pretty much focusing on URM's. Is it a complete waste of time for non-URM's to try? By this, I mean, would a white or Asian person from a disadvantaged background stand a chance?

[thelaststraw05]

Has anyone applied/thinking about applying to a 1L diversity summer associate position? Most of the diversity positions I've found out about through my school say they are looking for ethnic minorities, LGBT, low SES background. While the firms do list other categories besides ethnic minorities, I'm assuming that they are pretty much focusing on URM's. Is it a complete waste of time for non-URM's to try? By this, I mean, would a white or Asian person from a disadvantaged background stand a chance?

I haven't even considered them, but that is because I am the most non-minority person I know. Straight white male from a well-off family. Not sure I could find anyway to squeeze into a diversity position.

[NYC Law]

Low SES background counts??? ...

[Puttanesca]

Low SES background counts??? ...

Well, I don't know if low SES really counts in practice, but in theory, it does. A lot of the firms that have diversity positions specify low SES as a category of diversity or will say something general like, "students from diverse backgrounds."

Anyone know of a non-URM who has gotten a 1L diversity summer associate position?

[cowgirl_bebop]

Has anyone applied/thinking about applying to a 1L diversity summer associate position? Most of the diversity positions I've found out about through my school say they are looking for ethnic minorities, LGBT, low SES background. While the firms do list other categories besides ethnic minorities, I'm assuming that they are pretty much focusing on URM's. Is it a complete waste of time for non-URM's to try? By this, I mean, would a white or Asian person from a disadvantaged background stand a chance?

I definitely am, but then again I am a URM from a low SES background. IDK how much chance each person would stand, but worst case scenario you waste an hour or two and the price of a stamp on the application. I say apply and see what happens.

[Puttanesca]

Has anyone applied/thinking about applying to a 1L diversity summer associate position? Most of the diversity positions I've found out about through my school say they are looking for ethnic minorities, LGBT, low SES background. While the firms do list other categories besides ethnic minorities, I'm assuming that they are pretty much focusing on URM's. Is it a complete waste of time for non-URM's to try? By this, I mean, would a white or Asian person from a disadvantaged background stand a chance?

I definitely am, but then again I am a URM from a low SES background. IDK how much chance each person would stand, but worst case scenario you waste an hour or two and the price of a stamp on the application. I say apply and see what happens.

True, I guess it won't hurt to apply. It's just that some of the firms require a 500-word statement explaining interest in the firm and the applicant's contribution to diversity, and I don't want to end up spending hours on 10-15 letters specifically tailored to each firm when I won't even be considered due to being a non-URM.

[Anonymous User]

I've gotten a surprising amount of quick responses to my letters. Probably 10 already. Most have been rejections, but a few interested. All interest has been from state court judges so far. Wasn't expecting to have to deal with this prior to finals.

another great reason not to apply to jobs on 12/1. it likely will lead to more work in following up prior to finals. what are you gonna say, sorry I can't get back to you until after finals?

seriously 1L bros, chill on the apps until after finals. it doesn't matter. theres no job you have to get as a 1L, but there are grades you have to get.

Grades part is definitely true. But I'd bet most people that advise 'wait until after finals' are giving such advice out of a self-centered place more than a helpful one--if you wait until after finals like them, then there's a better chance the slots they apply to won't be already filled.

If you're serious about working for a judge or 1L summer, you need to have planned well in advance to make sure grades are being PWN3D, and if not, be willing to sacrifice sleep. I doubt an afternoon and evening of work is going to cost you a half a letter grade in one class much less across the board, but you can bet waiting 3 week to apply for jobs will land you SOL.

[c3pO4]

I've gotten a surprising amount of quick responses to my letters. Probably 10 already. Most have been rejections, but a few interested. All interest has been from state court judges so far. Wasn't expecting to have to deal with this prior to finals.

another great reason not to apply to jobs on 12/1. it likely will lead to more work in following up prior to finals. what are you gonna say, sorry I can't get back to you until after finals?

seriously 1L bros, chill on the apps until after finals. it doesn't matter. theres no job you have to get as a 1L, but there are grades you have to get.

Grades part is definitely true. But I'd bet most people that advise 'wait until after finals' are giving such advice out of a self-centered place more than a helpful one--if you wait until after finals like them, then there's a better chance the slots they apply to won't be already filled.

If you're serious about working for a judge or 1L summer, you need to have planned well in advance to make sure grades are being PWN3D, and if not, be willing to sacrifice sleep. I doubt an afternoon and evening of work is going to cost you a half a letter grade in one class much less across the board, but you can bet waiting 3 week to apply for jobs will land you SOL.

i think the wait advisers are 2L's who speak from experience. nobody actually tries to troll TLS to get people not to apply to things so spots are opened up...

[chasgoose]

Most 2L's I've spoken to at NYU have basically said two things:

1. If you do want the uber-competitive USAO/Judge 1L jobs you absolutely MUST apply early (like now is too late for a lot of them). If you are gunning for a PI career, these jobs are more beneficial so it's in your interest to do it.

2. EIW interviewers didn't really seem to care how "prestigious" their 1L jobs were, mostly that they had them and that these jobs fostered conversation that kept the interview flowing. Grades and pre-law school work experience were FAR more determinative of success at EIW than specific 1L jobs. The only time 1L jobs seemed to be an issue is when someone who had a pre-law resume that screamed government or PI and then they did a government or PI 1L job because it made them look like a flight risk, even when those jobs were more "prestigious" than other student's jobs. Also, most 1L firm jobs required grades/diversity/connections anyways and those who applied closer to when the grades came out weren't at anymore of a disadvantage than anyone else.

Essentially, if you want biglaw it's far more beneficial to be spending your time on finals right now than it is on applying for 1L summer jobs. Maybe get a resume read over by OCS before you go home, but your time and energy could be far better spent studying. If you want PI, it might be important to get those fancy PI/Government jobs, but otherwise don't bother. Granted OCS/PILC all but ensures that we will all have SOME kind of job, even if it has to come from us begging some PI organization to let us work for them for free and getting paid by the PILC grant.

[BEAST_mode]

Any movement today? I caught a couple more biglaw rejection emails, but still nothing from any judges.

[ilovesf]

One respOnse asking for grades. I guess he didn't read on my app that my grades would be available in mid-late jan

[Anonymous User]

Absolutely ecstatic. Got an interview with a Fed. COA judge!

[Anonymous User]

Had a partner instruct me to call when I start looking for jobs. Called & left a message. Now I wait.

[Puttanesca]

Any movement today? I caught a couple more biglaw rejection emails, but still nothing from any judges.

One response from a firm asking for undergrad transcript and a writing sample. Haven't applied to any judges yet.

[shoeshine]

Got a couple rejections here but I no longer care. I am in full test taking mode.

[theavrock]

I got some rejections from judges today and a few from firms. Also got a few apply to our websites and requests for undergrad transcripts.

I actually got a mailed rejection letter from a firm to my email. Interesting haha.

[NYC Law]

Just got a receipt of my judicial application in the mail. 165 Applications and still no rejections, so far so good.