Loyola PLIP 2014 Thread - Strategies? Forum

[Anonymous User]

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?

From the firm perspective, I suspect it has to do with higher billing rates for people with JDs, but I honestly have no idea.

From your perspective, if the firm is hiring JDs with STEMs to write patents, then I don't think you have to worry. But this is outside of my expertise, so I'm only speculating.

ETA: What's the deal with hospitality suites?

I don't know. But I've seen law students use them effectively. Inevitably somebody will say "oh I met so and so in the hospitality suite and she was really great and interested", and either that will bolster her chance for a callback/offer or it will at least get her a screening interview if she didn't already get one.

Feasibly, there are two uses: 1) go to the suite of a firm you couldn't land a screener with and see if they have gaps or if you can convince an attorney in there to screen you; or 2) go at some point after your interview, say that you're really interested in the firm after meeting (your screener attorney) and claim to be picking up more information about the firm. Or 3) just be honest about the fact that you're taking our coffee and sweets.

[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.

Could you give us a typical breakdown for the amount of people you interview at plip => number of these people you give a callback ==> amount of these people you give offer? No exact numbers needed, just a ballpark. Just wondering about the odds coming into these interviews.

[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.

Could you give us a typical breakdown for the amount of people you interview at plip => number of these people you give a callback ==> amount of these people you give offer? No exact numbers needed, just a ballpark. Just wondering about the odds coming into these interviews.

This depends on too many variables to ballpark. The firm, its projected hiring needs for 2-3 years out, the quality of candidates coming through.

Odds is a bad way to look at it. If you're EECS, at a T14 law school, and in the top 1/3rd of your class, your odds are very strong for converting at least half of your interviews into callbacks. If you are actually charismatic/cool/clever/interesting or have a good work history, you're looking at a very strong chance of converting all your interviews into callbacks.

But most of you aren't. And that's just fine. If you're hurting on grades or caliber of law school, your odds are lower. It's inevitable. Figure out how to highlight and sell your strong points -- how your work experience gives you a leg up on the typical junior associate, how much fun you would be to have on a team, anything. Instead of thinking of it like odds, think of it as in "how do I maximize my odds?" You do that by making sure we see front and center the good stuff we would need if we wanted to justify our decision to a committee.

[Spartan_Alum_12]

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

3 of my 5 screeners have interviewer names now.

[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.

How serious are firms regarding 3L hiring?

[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.

How serious are firms regarding 3L hiring?

I don't know what this means. If we are spending time interviewing 3ls, we are open to it and have a more immediate need to fill. That said, at my firm, we are going to be more sensitive to figuring out if you were dinged for substantive reasons from your last shop or if you are making a decision based on fit.

Some firms enjoy bypassing 2l recruiting to save money on paying summer associates and holding lavish events, though.

[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 taking questions! How do I show ties to an area that's strong with CS/EE technology work, but I have NO geographic ties to. If I can't just show ties, what would be some of the good reasons that candidates could give that show that they actually want to work there?

[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.

For patent lit position, how much does having a technical background help in getting a job at your firm?

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for taking the questions.
Q1: my day 1 interview schedule is packed so most of them are back to back. Should I mention to the interviwer at the beginning of the interview that I have another interview right after this one?
Q2:(you don't really need to answer this if don't feel comfortable) Do firms these days still prefer/require female candidats to wear panty hose under skirt on the interview day , or bare legs is ok?
Thanks!

[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 taking questions! How do I show ties to an area that's strong with CS/EE technology work, but I have NO geographic ties to. If I can't just show ties, what would be some of the good reasons that candidates could give that show that they actually want to work there?

Good question. I think if the geographic area you're looking at is historically strong with CS/EE, I think that's fine to lead. (Q: Why do you want to live here? A: Because I'm a geek and this is Silicon Valley.) But try to learn enough about the area to show that you've researched it and have a legitimate interest -- you like the hiking, skiing, beaches, restaurants, wine, whatever it is where you're going that will help cement your interest in the 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.

For patent lit position, how much does having a technical background help in getting a job at your firm?

It helps. A lot. If you don't have one, that's fine, but be prepared to demonstrate that you aren't going to be scared of the technology.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for taking the questions.
Q1: my day 1 interview schedule is packed so most of them are back to back. Should I mention to the interviwer at the beginning of the interview that I have another interview right after this one?
Q2:(you don't really need to answer this if don't feel comfortable) Do firms these days still prefer/require female candidats to wear panty hose under skirt on the interview day , or bare legs is ok?
Thanks!

Q1: Your call. But we also have back to back interviews, so it isn't like we're looking to fall behind either.

Q2: I have no idea. I don't care and won't notice.

[Anonymous User]

.

[Anonymous User]

previous 3L poster here. (redacted) Please dont quote, I'm deleting this soon.

If you're worried about your firm knowing you're at PLIP, I don't think that's a huge deal. Some firms don't give offers to their summers early enough to preclude 3L interviewing, and I think that's their fault if you have to go interview. And if you have an offer in hand, not many firms will revoke it just because you are looking at other places.

But in terms of long term thinking, it may hurt you. If any of the PLIP attorneys see you there when you already have an offer, it will probably bother them and make them question your loyalty.

[Genthree]

Is anyone going to SFIPLA interested in meeting up for dinner tomorrow night? If so, pm me and we'll set something up.

[whsy]

Do they want official transcripts at the interview? Also anyone using a different writing sample than the one submitted?

[bulinus]

Do they want official transcripts at the interview? Also anyone using a different writing sample than the one submitted?

I've been specifically told by a few firms who wanted spring grades that unofficial is OK. My ugrad charges $10 a pop for them, so they can expense that if they want.

[Yardbird]

Do they want official transcripts at the interview? Also anyone using a different writing sample than the one submitted?

I've been specifically told by a few firms who wanted spring grades that unofficial is OK. My ugrad charges $10 a pop for them, so they can expense that if they want.

This. Most firms that have been asking me for updated transcripts (at PLIP and other job fairs) have said unofficial is OK. Just hand them the unofficial and if necessary, tell them you can send an official copy if needed. For undergrad transcripts, my "unofficial" copy I have been using is a photocopy of my official copy (I ordered a few preemptively). I plan on handing the photocopy describing it as such and again explaining I can send them an official copy if necessary. They probably will only need an official if you (1) get an offer, or (2) before an offer for full-time employment after your SA.

[Anonymous User]

Do they want official transcripts at the interview? Also anyone using a different writing sample than the one submitted?

I've been specifically told by a few firms who wanted spring grades that unofficial is OK. My ugrad charges $10 a pop for them, so they can expense that if they want.

This. Most firms that have been asking me for updated transcripts (at PLIP and other job fairs) have said unofficial is OK. Just hand them the unofficial and if necessary, tell them you can send an official copy if needed. For undergrad transcripts, my "unofficial" copy I have been using is a photocopy of my official copy (I ordered a few preemptively). I plan on handing the photocopy describing it as such and again explaining I can send them an official copy if necessary. They probably will only need an official if you (1) get an offer, or (2) before an offer for full-time employment after your SA.

As an interviewer, unofficial is fine with me. Particularly if it is more complete than the official. The most important thing is that we want to see spring grades.

[Anonymous User]

In a moment of nonsensical thinking, I ordered a very large number of official transcripts. Should I provide these official transcripts to interviewers at the screening interview or the callback stage (if I get that far)?

[Anonymous User]

In a moment of nonsensical thinking, I ordered a very large number of official transcripts. Should I provide these official transcripts to interviewers at the screening interview or the callback stage (if I get that far)?

Either to the screening attorney or to the HR contact during your callback.

[Anonymous User]

For the interviewers in this thread: Do you find that the PLIP CB-->Offer rate is less than the OCI CB--> Offer rate?

[Anonymous User]

Interviewers: do you really ask which markets we bid?

[Anonymous User]

For the interviewers in this thread: Do you find that the PLIP CB-->Offer rate is less than the OCI CB--> Offer rate?

It depends on the pool. There are reasons why it would go either way. At PLIP we get to prescreen candidates meaning they have close to the right GPA, they're primarily all technical/patent-focused, etc. However, many candidates are from schools we may not usually hire from. At OCI we target schools we historically hire from, but sometimes we don't get to prescreen for GPA or patent relevance.

In sum: stop worrying about this. See my other post. This isn't an odds game, this is a be-the-best-you-can-be game. We rarely have a "hard limit" of folks to bring back, and we definitely don't have a quota. If you nail your interview, we'll bring you back for a CB.

[Anonymous User]

Interviewers: do you really ask which markets we bid?

Possibly. What's wrong with asking that?