Pre-OCI 2020 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Any other movement? Been hearing that firms are starting to accept apps but unsure if actually true.

Have heard of movement in Texas. Haven't heard anything about other major markets. Maybe 1 or 2 offers in NYC but hard to verify...

There's a good number of firms that have been accepting apps for awhile now. A lot of them say that while they're accepting them now, they won't start recruiting until later this year. Also can confirm that one of the major TX firms is doing callbacks and that some DC firms have given out some offers. I've also heard of NYC firms that have already given offers, but from what I've heard (secondhand) they reached out to people they had previously been interested in.

[Anonymous User]

Multiple large Houston offices have been reaching out and a few are doing interviews. I have not heard of any offers given though.

[MovingForward212]

Any other movement? Been hearing that firms are starting to accept apps but unsure if actually true.

Have heard of movement in Texas. Haven't heard anything about other major markets. Maybe 1 or 2 offers in NYC but hard to verify...

There's a good number of firms that have been accepting apps for awhile now. A lot of them say that while they're accepting them now, they won't start recruiting until later this year. Also can confirm that one of the major TX firms is doing callbacks and that some DC firms have given out some offers. I've also heard of NYC firms that have already given offers, but from what I've heard (secondhand) they reached out to people they had previously been interested in.

If you don’t mind me asking, what vault ranking for the NYC/DC? (Happy with a range)

[Anonymous User]

Any other movement? Been hearing that firms are starting to accept apps but unsure if actually true.

Have heard of movement in Texas. Haven't heard anything about other major markets. Maybe 1 or 2 offers in NYC but hard to verify...

There's a good number of firms that have been accepting apps for awhile now. A lot of them say that while they're accepting them now, they won't start recruiting until later this year. Also can confirm that one of the major TX firms is doing callbacks and that some DC firms have given out some offers. I've also heard of NYC firms that have already given offers, but from what I've heard (secondhand) they reached out to people they had previously been interested in.

If you don’t mind me asking, what vault ranking for the NYC/DC? (Happy with a range)

V20-40 range for NYC and V50-80 for DC

[Anonymous User]

Invitation to interview pre-oci, V50 NYC firm. My stats would be considered relatively strong.

Just putting this out there as a datapoint

[basketofbread]

Invitation to interview pre-oci, V50 NYC firm. My stats would be considered relatively strong.

Just putting this out there as a datapoint

Thats an incredibly unhelpful “datapoint,” thank you. you’re already on anonymous, you can’t even mention your gpa and the firm?

[Anonymous User]

Anon b/c I just received an email and don’t want to put myself to recruiters. Been receiving a lot of response like “competitive app! We’ll see you in January for Your schools OCI and we hope you remain interested...” relatively strong numbers (just above median) at CCN

[Anonymous User]

Anon b/c I just received an email and don’t want to put myself to recruiters. Been receiving a lot of response like “competitive app! We’ll see you in January for Your schools OCI and we hope you remain interested...” relatively strong numbers (just above median) at CCN

Do you mind me asking if you emailed the directors directly for this? It seems like there aren't many firms that opened their applications on the website.

[TortiousTrotsky]

Not a pre-OCI question per se, but it's in the same ballpark and I figure this is the right crowd (2Ls) to ask...

What should I be getting out of law firms' info sessions that have recently begun? In my experience so far, these Zoom events have been complete duds — a combo of boring cliches and painfully awkward breakout sessions. I'm not sure what the objective is: just to sit through these things and get the checkmark for showing up, or should I be pushing to make genuine connections and then following up aggressively to stay on these firms' radars?

[MarkmanPapers]

Not a pre-OCI question per se, but it's in the same ballpark and I figure this is the right crowd (2Ls) to ask...

What should I be getting out of law firms' info sessions that have recently begun? In my experience so far, these Zoom events have been complete duds — a combo of boring cliches and painfully awkward breakout sessions. I'm not sure what the objective is: just to sit through these things and get the checkmark for showing up, or should I be pushing to make genuine connections and then following up aggressively to stay on these firms' radars?

If the sessions you're referring to are basically the replacement for in-person winter 1L receptions from law firms, I'm not sure if there is any special advice. Just show up, don't be memorable (in the sense that most of the ways you could be memorable at this stage are bad) and see if anything anyone says is notable enough to create some vague impressions about the type of people the firm selects for (adjusting for practice area preferences if you have any idea of that yet). That's all you need to do, the rest is unnecessary stress in an already stressful time.

[LBJ's Hair]

Not a pre-OCI question per se, but it's in the same ballpark and I figure this is the right crowd (2Ls) to ask...

What should I be getting out of law firms' info sessions that have recently begun? In my experience so far, these Zoom events have been complete duds — a combo of boring cliches and painfully awkward breakout sessions. I'm not sure what the objective is: just to sit through these things and get the checkmark for showing up, or should I be pushing to make genuine connections and then following up aggressively to stay on these firms' radars?

honestly almost all firms are gonna seem the same to a 2L just attending info-sessions. you're not missing anything. so I would just write down one or two things that someone at the firm said about the culture or firm dynamics or whatever, and maybe the name of someone who spoke/you talked to for a few min. that way you can reference it at OCI when they ask you "Why XYZ?" (if you don't write it down, approximately 0% chance you'll remember it a week from now, let alone 3 mos)

"Oh I really liked the information session you did in Zoom. I remember XYZ, a corporate associate, said that Firm & Firm has a staffer but people can also pick their own assignments. That sounds like a nice balance between rotation and pure free market."

no one would "expect" you to say something like that at OCI, but if you're going to spend 40 minutes or w/e on one of these calls, may as well get something out of it.

[purplegoldtornado]

Not a pre-OCI question per se, but it's in the same ballpark and I figure this is the right crowd (2Ls) to ask...

What should I be getting out of law firms' info sessions that have recently begun? In my experience so far, these Zoom events have been complete duds — a combo of boring cliches and painfully awkward breakout sessions. I'm not sure what the objective is: just to sit through these things and get the checkmark for showing up, or should I be pushing to make genuine connections and then following up aggressively to stay on these firms' radars?

honestly almost all firms are gonna seem the same to a 2L just attending info-sessions. you're not missing anything. so I would just write down one or two things that someone at the firm said about the culture or firm dynamics or whatever, and maybe the name of someone who spoke/you talked to for a few min. that way you can reference it at OCI when they ask you "Why XYZ?" (if you don't write it down, approximately 0% chance you'll remember it a week from now, let alone 3 mos)

"Oh I really liked the information session you did in Zoom. I remember XYZ, a corporate associate, said that Firm & Firm has a staffer but people can also pick their own assignments. That sounds like a nice balance between rotation and pure free market."

no one would "expect" you to say something like that at OCI, but if you're going to spend 40 minutes or w/e on one of these calls, may as well get something out of it.

Are thank you notes + one thing particular to their comments custom?

[Anonymous User]

2L here ... a recruiting person from a NY V10, recently sent me a form email inviting me to send in application materials for consideration so long as my school's policies permit pre-OCI recruiting.

As a matter of fact, my school's policies do NOT permit pre-OCI recruiting. However, my school is very lax about enforcing its policy — what I'm actually worried about is whether the firm would have a negative reaction to me as a candidate going behind my school's back when the firm explicitly asked us to take into consideration our school's policy? Do I plow ahead or sit on my hands until OCI?

[the lsat failure]

2L here ... a recruiting person from a NY V10, recently sent me a form email inviting me to send in application materials for consideration so long as my school's policies permit pre-OCI recruiting.

As a matter of fact, my school's policies do NOT permit pre-OCI recruiting. However, my school is very lax about enforcing its policy — what I'm actually worried about is whether the firm would have a negative reaction to me as a candidate going behind my school's back when the firm explicitly asked us to take into consideration our school's policy? Do I plow ahead or sit on my hands until OCI?

Plow ahead and let them say no. It’s a “don’t ask don’t tell policy” for a lot of the V10 who don’t want to lose out on competitive candidates. The form language also helps to shield them from backlash if the school somehow finds out.

However, do keep in mind that they might know of your school’s policy and tell you to sit tight until OCI. Whether this will reflect negatively on you is hard to say. They may also just outright reject you, which pretty much means your bid during OCI is moot.

[Anonymous User]

Offered at major market V40.

[Anonymous User]

Offered at major market V40.

What market? Does the offer explode before OCI? What tier school/GPA range are you in? Did you network? Cold app?

Not trying to be too hostile, but this is whole thread will be utterly useless if people *just* share "major market VX offer."

[Anonymous User]

Offered at major market V40.

What market? Does the offer explode before OCI? What tier school/GPA range are you in? Did you network? Cold app?

Not trying to be too hostile, but this is whole thread will be utterly useless if people *just* share "major market VX offer."

That's a lot of questions. If you reply to this, I'll DM you. (Not sure why you used anon.)

[Anonymous User]

Offer (or no offer) at V100 (major or secondary market), 2L-3L, HYSCCN - T2, from mass mailing or on-campus event. I can’t give any more info away or this will blow my chances at the firm (or boutique?) where I have (or may not have) an offer. Hope this is helpful.

[important_applicant]

Offer (or no offer) at V100 (major or secondary market), 2L-3L, HYSCCN - T2, from mass mailing or on-campus event. I can’t give any more info away or this will blow my chances at the firm (or boutique?) where I have (or may not have) an offer. Hope this is helpful.

+1.

Also, I have similar stats and just got offered from an NLJ 250 in one of: NY, CA, IL, TX, MA, WA. But they're letting me split with a V100 in a major market. I don't want to out myself but both firms do transactional work. DM me and I can give a couple more details. Hope this helps.

Fuck this entire thread and this garbage-ass website.

[Anonymous User]

NLJ 250 offer in one of NY, CA, MA, IL, DC, TX. Feel free to DM.

[Anonymous User]

I go to a T30. Multiple people in my class have begun interviewing at V20s in Chicago, NYC, and DC. Offers have also already gone out (some have posted on LinkedIn that they've accepted an offer).

[basketofbread]

Managing partner at V20 here. I just want to say that if I were to catch even a whiff that someone who received an offer at my firm had revealed that information on this website, I would immediately rescind the offer. Unfortunately for me, your op-sec is impenetrable. But just know that I’m watching and waiting. If you slip up, by say, identifying my firm within a range of 50 Vault placements, I will find you and render you unemployable in either a major or secondary market.

[lawapplicant2022]

Managing partner at V20 here. I just want to say that if I were to catch even a whiff that someone who received an offer at my firm had revealed that information on this website, I would immediately rescind the offer. Unfortunately for me, your op-sec is impenetrable. But just know that I’m watching and waiting. If you slip up, by say, identifying my firm within a range of 50 Vault placements, I will find you and render you unemployable in either a major or secondary market.

Your recent posts say you’re a recent grad and just took the MBE. Hmmmm

[basketofbread]

Managing partner at V20 here. I just want to say that if I were to catch even a whiff that someone who received an offer at my firm had revealed that information on this website, I would immediately rescind the offer. Unfortunately for me, your op-sec is impenetrable. But just know that I’m watching and waiting. If you slip up, by say, identifying my firm within a range of 50 Vault placements, I will find you and render you unemployable in either a major or secondary market.

Your recent posts say you’re a recent grad and just took the MBE. Hmmmm

Yeah it was a joke about the absurd level of secrecy on these posts. I’m not a managing partner lol

[Anonymous User]

Have folks been emailing recruiters directly or applying online?