Loyola PLIP 2014 Thread - Strategies? Forum

[Genthree]

I had one V20 that I was alternate (6) for turn into an interview. As for the hospitality suites, how many firms typically have them and is there a list of what specific firms will? I'm an alternate at one of my top choices and would really like to pay them a visit if they have one.

https://law-patent-csm.symplicity.com/a ... Suites.pdf

What is the best way to utilize the hospitality suites? Do you literally just show up, give an elevator speech and hand them a resume or do you strike up a general conversation and then slip your resume in at the end?

[lhanvt13]

I had one V20 that I was alternate (6) for turn into an interview. As for the hospitality suites, how many firms typically have them and is there a list of what specific firms will? I'm an alternate at one of my top choices and would really like to pay them a visit if they have one.

https://law-patent-csm.symplicity.com/a ... Suites.pdf

What is the best way to utilize the hospitality suites? Do you literally just show up, give an elevator speech and hand them a resume or do you strike up a general conversation and then slip your resume in at the end?

Step 1: grab the swag.

[lhanvt13]

that sfipla email actually made me laugh

[bulinus]

I had one V20 that I was alternate (6) for turn into an interview. As for the hospitality suites, how many firms typically have them and is there a list of what specific firms will? I'm an alternate at one of my top choices and would really like to pay them a visit if they have one.

https://law-patent-csm.symplicity.com/a ... Suites.pdf

What is the best way to utilize the hospitality suites? Do you literally just show up, give an elevator speech and hand them a resume or do you strike up a general conversation and then slip your resume in at the end?

It's a job fair, so they know why you are there. I think having a normal person conversation is the way do go. Yes, have resumes.

[Genthree]

that sfipla email actually made me laugh

I didn't get a SFIPLA email. Did it say anything important?

[lhanvt13]

that sfipla email actually made me laugh

I didn't get a SFIPLA email. Did it say anything important?

nope, some reception thing? something about cronuts

[Spartan_Alum_12]

Is it safe to just bring the requested materials listed by each employer to the interview? For example, if they don't say to bring a cover letter, should we not worry about it or write one just in case? Same with undergrad transcripts, writing samples, ext...

[Yardbird]

Is it safe to just bring the requested materials listed by each employer to the interview? For example, if they don't say to bring a cover letter, should we not worry about it or write one just in case? Same with undergrad transcripts, writing samples, ext...

Asking for a CL when they didn't request one is a little strange for firms. I would have extras of your resume, law school transcript, and undergrad/grad transcripts - this is still a patent job fair that stresses pre-law school majors/performance and worst case you wasted some paper (that you can likely recycle at on campus interviews).

[Edit] Also maybe a copy of your references on the off chance they ask for it. A cover letter would be a bit much, but if you have time to prepare one then why not?

[Spartan_Alum_12]

Is it safe to just bring the requested materials listed by each employer to the interview? For example, if they don't say to bring a cover letter, should we not worry about it or write one just in case? Same with undergrad transcripts, writing samples, ext...

Asking for a CL when they didn't request one is a little strange for firms. I would have extras of your resume, law school transcript, and undergrad/grad transcripts - this is still a patent job fair that stresses pre-law school majors/performance and worst case you wasted some paper (that you can likely recycle at on campus interviews).

[Edit] Also maybe a copy of your references on the off chance they ask for it. A cover letter would be a bit much, but if you have time to prepare one then why not?

Thanks for the response. Yeah, I'll definitely error on the safe side and bring extras.

[Genthree]

Does SFIPLA tell us who our interviewers are? If so, how and when?

[Anonymous User]

What are the chances of actually getting off the alternate list for a place like Sidley Chicago? There was no alternate movement after pre-selects came out. My guess is that anyone who got a pre-select there received enough to justify going to PLIP and is not likely to turn down the interview. Any thoughts?

Yeah, none of my V25 alts turned into an interview. I think the two options you have left are to hope for cancelled flights the day before and hitting up the hospitality suites.

That's incredibly frustrating. I went from below median after first semester to top 1/3 after second semester. But, of course, PLIP only allows first semester grades.

I am with you completely. Too bad we didn't figure out the whole law school test thing beforehand

[bulinus]

Anyone know any good hotel recs? Not familiar with Chicago, so not sure what might be solid choices that are 20-30 minutes away by train.

[Spartan_Alum_12]

How do you sell you want to work in a location where you've never been and have no ties?

I have a couple interviews for firms on the the east coast and PNW. I've never been there and have no ties but I'll take a job in any location.

[Anonymous User]

SFIPLA people - does it say who our interviewers are anywhere??? I can't find anything...

[lhanvt13]

SFIPLA people - does it say who our interviewers are anywhere??? I can't find anything...

Nope couldn't find anything

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate interviewing at PLIP this year (and have done so for a couple years). I'll try to answer questions you have about the program from a law firm perspective, although I have no idea how bidding works or how the administrative side of things go.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate interviewing at PLIP this year (and have done so for a couple years). I'll try to answer questions you have about the program from a law firm perspective, although I have no idea how bidding works or how the administrative side of things go.

Thank you for taking questions. What type of questions do you tend to ask on the technical side of things? Since I haven't done much tech stuff in 2 years, I'm a little rusty with it to be honest.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate interviewing at PLIP this year (and have done so for a couple years). I'll try to answer questions you have about the program from a law firm perspective, although I have no idea how bidding works or how the administrative side of things go.

Thanks for this. How do you view people who come into an interview and tell you they are interested in both patent litigation and prosecution? If your firm is looking for patent prosecution only or litigation only, will an openness to both be a red flag?

How long does the preselect-->callback-->offer take at your firm, and how does your recruiting at PLIP affect your recruiting at individual schools OCIs?

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate interviewing at PLIP this year (and have done so for a couple years). I'll try to answer questions you have about the program from a law firm perspective, although I have no idea how bidding works or how the administrative side of things go.

Thank you for taking questions. What type of questions do you tend to ask on the technical side of things? Since I haven't done much tech stuff in 2 years, I'm a little rusty with it to be honest.

Rarely will I ever bother with technical questions. In very rare circumstances, I may pop quiz somebody if there's some reason I don't trust them. But more likely is that I will just engage in casual, surface-level discussion about a relevant technical area.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate interviewing at PLIP this year (and have done so for a couple years). I'll try to answer questions you have about the program from a law firm perspective, although I have no idea how bidding works or how the administrative side of things go.

Thank you for taking questions. What type of questions do you tend to ask on the technical side of things? Since I haven't done much tech stuff in 2 years, I'm a little rusty with it to be honest.

Rarely will I ever bother with technical questions. In very rare circumstances, I may pop quiz somebody if there's some reason I don't trust them. But more likely is that I will just engage in casual, surface-level discussion about a relevant technical area.

Is this the majority of the interview?
What do you or similar firms look for in a candidate (I'm guessing it's different based on pros, lit, or tech trans)?

Thanks for doing this

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate interviewing at PLIP this year (and have done so for a couple years). I'll try to answer questions you have about the program from a law firm perspective, although I have no idea how bidding works or how the administrative side of things go.

Thanks for this. How do you view people who come into an interview and tell you they are interested in both patent litigation and prosecution? If your firm is looking for patent prosecution only or litigation only, will an openness to both be a red flag?

You guys are all so polite with your thank yous.

They're different areas and you'll get different responses. Generally speaking, we understand indecision (you're just 1Ls) based on your lack of experience. But play it smart: what I wonder from your question is why you would disclose this to a firm you know to only practice in one of these areas.

How long does the preselect-->callback-->offer take at your firm, and how does your recruiting at PLIP affect your recruiting at individual schools OCIs?

I have no idea how preselect worked. (There is such a thing.) But screening->callback takes anywhere from a day to a week; usually the person who did the screeners sends an email out that night with who she wants to call back. Sometimes there is a longer/more bureaucratic process. Callback->offer takes about one or two weeks. Obviously the whole timeline is dependent on when you come in for a callback-- that's usually the biggest gap.

I don't really understand the "affect" question. They're too close in proximity for us to make any changes if, e.g., we love everybody we met at PLIP and decided we didn't need to do any more recruiting. Even if we get offers out in two weeks from the screener, you guys have a boatload of time to accept your offers, so we couldn't rely on it.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate interviewing at PLIP this year (and have done so for a couple years). I'll try to answer questions you have about the program from a law firm perspective, although I have no idea how bidding works or how the administrative side of things go.

Thank you for taking questions. What type of questions do you tend to ask on the technical side of things? Since I haven't done much tech stuff in 2 years, I'm a little rusty with it to be honest.

Rarely will I ever bother with technical questions. In very rare circumstances, I may pop quiz somebody if there's some reason I don't trust them. But more likely is that I will just engage in casual, surface-level discussion about a relevant technical area.

Is this the majority of the interview?
What do you or similar firms look for in a candidate (I'm guessing it's different based on pros, lit, or tech trans)?

Thanks for doing this

No. If you have a technical degree, my time is going to be spent on the law side of things -- how you're doing in law school, why patent litigation or pros, and generally just trying to evaluate if I think you're the right fit for our shop.

The personality and skills we seek vary, but for litigation (my area), we're looking for smart, good at both the tech and the law, good on your feet, good personality, not completely awkward. The whole OCI thing is sort of a shitshow anyways though, so we are forgiving of those last two even if you come off stilted.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate interviewing at PLIP this year (and have done so for a couple years). I'll try to answer questions you have about the program from a law firm perspective, although I have no idea how bidding works or how the administrative side of things go.

Thanks for this. How do you view people who come into an interview and tell you they are interested in both patent litigation and prosecution? If your firm is looking for patent prosecution only or litigation only, will an openness to both be a red flag?

You guys are all so polite with your thank yous.

They're different areas and you'll get different responses. Generally speaking, we understand indecision (you're just 1Ls) based on your lack of experience. But play it smart: what I wonder from your question is why you would disclose this to a firm you know to only practice in one of these areas.

How long does the preselect-->callback-->offer take at your firm, and how does your recruiting at PLIP affect your recruiting at individual schools OCIs?

I have no idea how preselect worked. (There is such a thing.) But screening->callback takes anywhere from a day to a week; usually the person who did the screeners sends an email out that night with who she wants to call back. Sometimes there is a longer/more bureaucratic process. Callback->offer takes about one or two weeks. Obviously the whole timeline is dependent on when you come in for a callback-- that's usually the biggest gap.

I don't really understand the "affect" question. They're too close in proximity for us to make any changes if, e.g., we love everybody we met at PLIP and decided we didn't need to do any more recruiting. Even if we get offers out in two weeks from the screener, you guys have a boatload of time to accept your offers, so we couldn't rely on it.

OP here who asked these questions. Thank you for responding. With regard to the first question I asked, there are many firms who do both prosecution and litigation, but who may only be looking for one or the other at the moment. It is these firms to whom my question was addressing.

[bulinus]

If someone says they are only interested in pros, but they are going to LS, and not just doing the patent agent thing, what are some good reasons to justify that. I guess, asked another way, why don't firms rely more heavily on people with STEM grad degrees to draft and prosecute the patents, and then leave the lit and trans stuff for the barred people?

ETA: What's the deal with hospitality suites?

[Anonymous User]

I'm a senior associate interviewing at PLIP this year (and have done so for a couple years). I'll try to answer questions you have about the program from a law firm perspective, although I have no idea how bidding works or how the administrative side of things go.

Thanks for this. How do you view people who come into an interview and tell you they are interested in both patent litigation and prosecution? If your firm is looking for patent prosecution only or litigation only, will an openness to both be a red flag?

You guys are all so polite with your thank yous.

They're different areas and you'll get different responses. Generally speaking, we understand indecision (you're just 1Ls) based on your lack of experience. But play it smart: what I wonder from your question is why you would disclose this to a firm you know to only practice in one of these areas.

How long does the preselect-->callback-->offer take at your firm, and how does your recruiting at PLIP affect your recruiting at individual schools OCIs?

I have no idea how preselect worked. (There is such a thing.) But screening->callback takes anywhere from a day to a week; usually the person who did the screeners sends an email out that night with who she wants to call back. Sometimes there is a longer/more bureaucratic process. Callback->offer takes about one or two weeks. Obviously the whole timeline is dependent on when you come in for a callback-- that's usually the biggest gap.

I don't really understand the "affect" question. They're too close in proximity for us to make any changes if, e.g., we love everybody we met at PLIP and decided we didn't need to do any more recruiting. Even if we get offers out in two weeks from the screener, you guys have a boatload of time to accept your offers, so we couldn't rely on it.

OP here who asked these questions. Thank you for responding. With regard to the first question I asked, there are many firms who do both prosecution and litigation, but who may only be looking for one or the other at the moment. It is these firms to whom my question was addressing.

Ah. In that case, I think you should be honest and ask (as long as the office you're interviewing with has both).