Columbia EIP 2016 Forum

[Anonymous User]

I get that you're trying to play it safe, but I think you might be a little *too* safe here and you're leaving off some firms that you could definitely get offers from that might have better opportunities in new york than what you have here. Specifically, I might try to include Sidley, Paul Hastings, Jones Day, Perkins Coie, and Weil Gotschal. How to make room for them? I might kick Kaye Scholer and K&L Gates. See if you can squeeze a few of those guys in. Worst case, you bid them at the bottom and miss them and resume drop them saying you bid them and didn't get an interview.

Awesome advice. I was actually considering swapping out Kaye just because I wasn't comfortable with only having a 2 bid buffer. Here's the new list:

1: (3) Proskauer Rose
2: (5) Hogan Lovels
3: (6) Weil
4: (8) Milbank
5: (9) Ropes & Gray
6: (11) Willkie
7: (12) Schulte
8: (12) Cahill Gordon
9: (14) Cadwalader
10: (14) Akin Gump
11: (16) Fried Frank
12: (18) Kramer Levin
13: (*) Shearman Sterling
14: (19) Orrick
15: (21) Hughs Hubbard
16: (21) Pilsbury
17: (23) Dechert
18: (23) Vinson Elkins
19: (24) Seward
20: (24) Jones Day
21: (25) Stroock
22: (27) Hunton
23: (27) Simpson Thatcher
24: (27) Winston Strawn
25:
26: (*) McDermott
27: (29) Sheppard Mullen
28: (28) Haynes
29: (*) Bryan Cave
30: (2) Sidley

Are you sure this isn't too risky though? I'm a little uncomfortable putting a firm as selective as Weil that far up top. I don't have any work experience and I'm not on law review (although I was on a moot court for whatever that's worth). I just really don't want to strike out.

Swap Kramer and Cadwalader. One is on way up (Kramer) the other is on the way down (Cad). I've been told this on good authority. Plus Kramer class sizes are really small so its more competitive.

[Anonymous User]

Deadline passed so no need to provide more advice .

[pinkiepie]

Anyone know when we should be getting our interview schedules?

Tuesday, July 26, at noon.

https://web.law.columbia.edu/career-ser ... g-calendar

[TheoO]

Just as a heads up to people: Do read over your resume and your writing sample and have other read them. There were tons of people are EIP who only too late discovered that they had errors on either or both. Firms that ask for a writing sample don't really read yours cover to cover, but they do scan through it. In fact, PH really did rely on how clean your sample was when making callbacks. You'll have another go at edits in the next week or so before everything is finalized. Do make sure everything is spot on.

[smaug]

Just as a heads up to people: Do read over your resume and your writing sample and have other read them. There were tons of people are EIP who only too late discovered that they had errors on either or both. Firms that ask for a writing sample don't really read yours cover to cover, but they do scan through it. In fact, PH really did rely on how clean your sample was when making callbacks. You'll have another go at edits in the next week or so before everything is finalized. Do make sure everything is spot on.

This is good advice. Career Services is supposed to help with this but they miss things.

[TheoO]

Just as a heads up to people: Do read over your resume and your writing sample and have other read them. There were tons of people are EIP who only too late discovered that they had errors on either or both. Firms that ask for a writing sample don't really read yours cover to cover, but they do scan through it. In fact, PH really did rely on how clean your sample was when making callbacks. You'll have another go at edits in the next week or so before everything is finalized. Do make sure everything is spot on.

This is good advice. Career Services is supposed to help with this but they miss things.

They missed a lot in my resume last year.

[Anonymous User]

The cover list e-mail was really short and only listed one firm I bid. Does that mean I don't need to do cover letters for firms not on the list?

[jbagelboy]

The cover list e-mail was really short and only listed one firm I bid. Does that mean I don't need to do cover letters for firms not on the list?

there are very very few firms that require a cover letter IIRC

[Anonymous User]

Is there a list of firms that require writing samples?

[Anonymous User]

Is TCR to print our resumes on nicer bond paper (like 24 lbs, but no watermark) for EIP?

[Anonymous User]

Most paper like that will come with a watermark - it's REALLY important to ensure it faces the right way. Can't emphasize that enough. Only like 1 in 10 partners care but the ones who do really care to an almost unimaginable degree.

[TheoO]

Is there a list of firms that require writing samples?

Check the EIP page on simplicity. Each firm lists what it wants. Most don't ask for writing sample or cover letter, but a few do. Some even ask for UG transcripts, so make sure to order a few of those, just to have.

[Anonymous User]

Is there a list of firms that require writing samples?

Check the EIP page on simplicity. Each firm lists what it wants. Most don't ask for writing sample or cover letter, but a few do. Some even ask for UG transcripts, so make sure to order a few of those, just to have.

They pulled it down after bidding closed, hence all the questions I think. I assume it'll come back up after schedules come out? But unsure if they're that smart

[TheoO]

Is there a list of firms that require writing samples?

Check the EIP page on simplicity. Each firm lists what it wants. Most don't ask for writing sample or cover letter, but a few do. Some even ask for UG transcripts, so make sure to order a few of those, just to have.

They pulled it down after bidding closed, hence all the questions I think. I assume it'll come back up after schedules come out? But unsure if they're that smart

Yea, they open up again for the add/drop and they will be available after they are finalized.

[Anonymous User]

Is there a list of firms that require writing samples?

Check the EIP page on simplicity. Each firm lists what it wants. Most don't ask for writing sample or cover letter, but a few do. Some even ask for UG transcripts, so make sure to order a few of those, just to have.

They pulled it down after bidding closed, hence all the questions I think. I assume it'll come back up after schedules come out? But unsure if they're that smart

The July 15th email sent out by OCS has a link to a list of firms that request cover letters.

[Anonymous User]

if you're deadset on working in LA would it be advised to rank all the LA offices at the top?

[pinkiepie]

if you're deadset on working in LA would it be advised to rank all the LA offices at the top?

If you're 5 spots ahead of FFB you're pretty safely going to get an interview, and you gain nothing from ranking a firm higher. Use your top bids for competitive firms with low FFB, even if their not your top choices. The main competitive firms are in NY.

If you're not going to bid anything except LA, it doesn't really matter, but I would suggest that everyone bid on at least a couple of NY firms that have large SA classes. You never know if you're less competitive than you think.

But bids were due last week, so why are you asking now?

[kingpin101]

if you're deadset on working in LA would it be advised to rank all the LA offices at the top?

If you're 5 spots ahead of FFB you're pretty safely going to get an interview, and you gain nothing from ranking a firm higher. Use your top bids for competitive firms with low FFB, even if their not your top choices. The main competitive firms are in NY.

If you're not going to bid anything except LA, it doesn't really matter, but I would suggest that everyone bid on at least a couple of NY firms that have large SA classes. You never know if you're less competitive than you think.

But bids were due last week, so why are you asking now?

Probably wondering if he fucked up.

[scubasteve1208]

if you're deadset on working in LA would it be advised to rank all the LA offices at the top?

If you're 5 spots ahead of FFB you're pretty safely going to get an interview, and you gain nothing from ranking a firm higher. Use your top bids for competitive firms with low FFB, even if their not your top choices. The main competitive firms are in NY.

If you're not going to bid anything except LA, it doesn't really matter, but I would suggest that everyone bid on at least a couple of NY firms that have large SA classes. You never know if you're less competitive than you think.

But bids were due last week, so why are you asking now?

The bid deadline for transfers is the 22nd

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know how transfers fair at EIP? Kind of concerned since the bidding deadline for current students has passed...

[Anonymous User]

So EIP is August 4, 5, 8, 9. What's the earliest that callbacks would conceivably happen? Do they ever happen on the Wednesday - Friday immediately following the last day of EIP screeners (i.e. August 10-12)? Trying to see if I need to tell my 1L summer job that I will be out on those days as well.

[Anonymous User]

So EIP is August 4, 5, 8, 9. What's the earliest that callbacks would conceivably happen? Do they ever happen on the Wednesday - Friday immediately following the last day of EIP screeners (i.e. August 10-12)? Trying to see if I need to tell my 1L summer job that I will be out on those days as well.

Yes, they do, for August 4-5 firms. The week after that is absolutely jam-packed with CBs as well.

[GoneSouth]

What does the add/drop situation end up looking like? Are there opportunities to pick up interviews with competitive firms or is it pretty slim pickings?

[Anonymous User]

Hey all, I am submitting my bids today as a transfer student (last day to submit) and was hoping for some last-minute feedback on my bid list.

Practice Area: I am not one of those folks that clearly has a preference of lit vs. transactional/corporate, although I do find lit extremely enjoyable (1L SA experience in small boutique firm). Patent bar eligible but would ideally not want to do IP this summer so I can have the opportunity to try other practice areas and see if I enjoy them more (tried IP this summer). Right now I'm thinking that I would really enjoy regulatory/gov't work, tax, international trade or antitrust, white collar crime, etc. I really loved Contracts so I'm on board with transactional too just to experience it.

Location: As for location, I am a little more interested in DC than NY, but not enough to skip large NYC players and miss out on some tremendous and likely rewarding SA opportunities. I have strong ties to DE area, so kind of a midway point between both cities and a little closer to DC, but not sure if that would weigh in my favor at all with the DC firms. I also have fairly strong international ties and speak a a couple of foreign languages, though my ties are not in cities where most offices are usually located. I am very open to moving to west coast as well provided the work is exciting and intellectually fulfilling.

Grades/Qualifications: My GPA at my previous school (low T1) was 3.8/4.0 (top 10%), with several "highest/best exam" awards (2 A+) and recognitions for outstanding contribution to classroom discussion in majority of my classes. I would consider myself to be a fairly good interviewer (trying to be modest), and have 3.5 years of professional experience prior to law school, although not exactly in finance or anything related to the practice areas the firms below are known for. Made law review at old school but did not try out at CLS and will likely be applying to secondary journal.

Am I reaching too high with my bids? Are there firms that I should definitely remove? I obviously know that WLRK is not particularly keen on transfers but since its so low on my list I figured the interview experience was worth the spot.

Also, should I consider adding S&C? Don't know how they assess GPA for transfers (unless they're coming from a T14 I suppose).

I do have interviews with several of the below firms for IP through LPP that I must cancel b/c it conflicts with EIP, but was going to reach out to them and see if I can interview during EIP instead, which hopefully shouldn't be a problem b/c I was preselected. Also have ~6 interviews in secondary market with the main biglaw players in that market, primarily as a safety/backup.

I would appreciate any suggestions on what I should change and if there are other firms I should consider that may be in line with my interests and that I would have a good shot at given my grades, WE, pretty solid interview skills, etc.

Bid # Firm Name Office Location First Failed Bid (2015)
1 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom New York, NY 3
2 Debevoise & Plimpton LLP New York, NY 4
3 Kirkland & Ellis LLP New York, NY 1
4 Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP New York, NY 6
5 Ropes & Gray New York, NY 9
6 Clifford Chance New York, NY 6
7 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP New York, NY 11
8 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton New York, NY 14
9 Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP New York, NY 15
10 Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP New York, NY 12
11 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP New York, NY 14
12 Latham & Watkins LLP New York, NY 17
13 Covington & Burling LLP Washington DC 20
14 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Palo Alto, CA 14
15 freshfields bruckhaus deringer LLP New York, NY 17
16 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP New York, NY 23
17 Shearman & Sterling LLP New York, NY *
18 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom Washington DC 20
19 Arnold & Porter LLP Washington DC 19
20 Steptoe & Johnson LLP Washington DC 25
21 Simpson Thacher & bartlett llp New York, NY 27
22 Jones Day New York, NY 24
23 Kirkland & Ellis LLP Washington DC 24
24 White & Case LLP Washington, DC 29
25 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (New York, NY) New York, NY 24
26 Wilmerhale LLP Washington DC 27
27 O'Melveny & Myers LLP Washington DC *
28 Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP Washington DC *
29 Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP New York, NY 30
30 Irell & Manella Los Angeles, CA *

[Anonymous User]

Also, should I consider adding S&C? Don't know how they assess GPA for transfers (unless they're coming from a T14 I suppose).

S&C actually weighs grades more than school, IIRC. So you should probably add them.