Michigan OCI 2015 Forum

[Anonymous User]

For someone at a 3.0 (an awful GPA), getting callbacks is a success. For someone at median, you would expect them to have callbacks, and the number would vary a lot depending on the market the person was looking at and whether they had a background in finance/science/paralegal experience or had a diversity play. Also, personality--it's a huge issue.

Someone at median with a science degree and work experience in finance or a technical field, who is interested in IP, super personable and bidding conservatively might end up with 10 or 15 callbacks.
Someone at median who is K-JD, an anthropology major, and who comes off as just being really weird is going to have a hard time.

[UnamSanctam]

For someone at a 3.0 (an awful GPA), getting callbacks is a success. For someone at median, you would expect them to have callbacks, and the number would vary a lot depending on the market the person was looking at and whether they had a background in finance/science/paralegal experience or had a diversity play. Also, personality--it's a huge issue.

Someone at median with a science degree and work experience in finance or a technical field, who is interested in IP, super personable and bidding conservatively might end up with 10 or 15 callbacks.
Someone at median who is K-JD, an anthropology major, and who comes off as just being really weird is going to have a hard time.

Pretty much all of this.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard from Chadbourne or Hughes Hubbard NY? CBs, dings, offers?

[Anonymous User]

I've only heard from 7 of the 19 firms I interviewed with...I'm assuming the remainders must be dings or I'm on the second wave if the first round of CBs don't go as well as they hope? This is Chicago so I'd think most of them move at the same pace.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone with a Schiff Hardin offer? And how long after cb did you hear?

Yes, from a non-HQ office. Took a couple of days.

[Anonymous User]

Any notes on Schiff Hardin callback?

[Anonymous User]

Has MB actually dinged anyone yet?

[Anonymous User]

Any notes on Schiff Hardin callback?

It was the toughest of the five CBs I did last week, simply because of its structure. The panel interview was over an hour of behavioral questions, and it was the only CB I've done that included a writing exercise. That said, the attorneys all seemed relatively relaxed, friendly, and willing to work with new associates.

[umichman]

Any notes on Schiff Hardin callback?

It was the toughest of the five CBs I did last week, simply because of its structure. The panel interview was over an hour of behavioral questions, and it was the only CB I've done that included a writing exercise. That said, the attorneys all seemed relatively relaxed, friendly, and willing to work with new associates.

This cb style seems insane

[Anonymous User]

Any notes on Schiff Hardin callback?

It was the toughest of the five CBs I did last week, simply because of its structure. The panel interview was over an hour of behavioral questions, and it was the only CB I've done that included a writing exercise. That said, the attorneys all seemed relatively relaxed, friendly, and willing to work with new associates.

It was very exhausting but everyone really was very friendly

[Anonymous User]

Just got an Allen & Overy cb, so we might be into the second round of cbs.

[Anonymous User]

median

I personally am significantly below median with 7 callbacks. I have a friend at median with 2, and a friend around 3.4 with none. I have another friend at 3.5 with 12. I have a friend even more below median than me with 0. So it really just depends.

[Anonymous User]

median

I personally am significantly below median with 7 callbacks. I have a friend at median with 2, and a friend around 3.4 with none. I have another friend at 3.5 with 12. I have a friend even more below median than me with 0. So it really just depends.

What do you mean when you say "significantly" and are you ip or something?

[Anonymous User]

Median with 0 CBs. Feels pretty awful.

[Anonymous User]

I know peopel with 3.4 with 14 and people with 3.6 with 3. I think it has so much to do with stuff besides grades. It also has a lot to do with bidding well etc.

[Anonymous User]

Most of the firms had a soft cut off around 3.3 or 3.5. As long as you had a 3.3 you were in the running for about 75% of the employers there. Once you hit the cut off it's about things beyond your grades. I hate to be the person who references the LSAT but it's back to that necessary/sufficient distinction.

[Anonymous User]

Just got an Allen & Overy cb, so we might be into the second round of cbs.

This is good to hear. Not relevant to me in particular, but nice to know that not everyone shot their wad first day.

[Anonymous User]

median

I personally am significantly below median with 7 callbacks. I have a friend at median with 2, and a friend around 3.4 with none. I have another friend at 3.5 with 12. I have a friend even more below median than me with 0. So it really just depends.

I also know a 3.5 with double digits (not IP) and a 3.5 with 3 or 4 who is very personable. OCI is just weird.

[Anonymous User]

Median with 0 CBs. Feels pretty awful.

what firms were you targeting and bidding on?

[Anonymous User]

I bid on the regional market I'm from, Chicago, and a few NY firms who hire a lot of people in my GPA range. Got 20 interviews, thought most of them went fairly well, especially the one's from the regional market. I thought for sure I would get at least a few CB's from there. I must be a terrible interviewer. I did a mock interview over the summer and did a decent amount of prep to improve the areas I lacked in. Not really sure what happened.

[UnamSanctam]

median

I personally am significantly below median with 7 callbacks. I have a friend at median with 2, and a friend around 3.4 with none. I have another friend at 3.5 with 12. I have a friend even more below median than me with 0. So it really just depends.

Sure, there's definitely some noise that goes on. But I'm not sure what "significantly" means, and I'd probably like to know the K-JD/work exp of those people.

[Anonymous User]

All the interviews are a crapshoot at the end of the day

[Anonymous User]

Stay positive; stay at it.

This can be a long process. Some people end up with their first cb (rare cases) and their first offer well into September. If you were at median and you don't have CBs, it's time to reach out it career services and ask for help (useless as you may perceive them), mass mail, use connections, and figure out why firms passed over you and whether big law is actually what you want: Does your resume shout public interest? Can you hold a straight face saying you want to work a ton of hours for large corporate clients? Do you have an odd nervous laugh (seriously)? What can you do to fix the problems? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the beholder here is a partnership that knows little right now about who you are. Your job is to teach them that you're what they need.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear from Skadden DC, Sidley DC, Jones Day DC, or Arnold & Porter DC? Total silence here, not sure if that means good news, bad news, or nothing at all.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear from Skadden DC, Sidley DC, Jones Day DC, or Arnold & Porter DC? Total silence here, not sure if that means good news, bad news, or nothing at all.

For what it's worth:

Email rejection from Skadden DC,
Silence from Sidley DC
Had a cb with Jones Day DC
Scheduled a cb with Arnold & Porter DC