1L Summer Job Search Forum

[bk1]

Are diversity fellowships geared towards URMs or students of color in general? There isn't exactly a dearth of South Asians in the legal communities I'm targeting, lol.

They are broader than URMs, often including straight up plain ol' women.

[echooo23]

Has anyone heard from USAO Norcal or CA DOJ?

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer yesterday for a summer associate position. 10 weeks and paid. Feels good. Still have two interviews next week but my stress levels are way down now.

Do you mind saying region or state?

Midwest

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone interviewed at/heard back from DLA Piper in Palo Alto?

1L OCI interview with them tomorrow.

Good luck! Any idea how many 1L openings they have?

No specific info, though you can see the previous year's hires on NALP -- they projected 6 1L's in 2012.

Any one has any update information on dla piper's interview? Are they looking for people in specific area?

[Anonymous User]

1L OCI interview with them tomorrow.

Good luck! Any idea how many 1L openings they have?

No specific info, though you can see the previous year's hires on NALP -- they projected 6 1L's in 2012.

Any one has any update information on DLA Piper's interview? Are they looking for people in specific area?

Scheduled a callback. Not sure if they were looking at specific areas, but I said I wanted corporate.

[BlueLotus]

Anyone doing PI this summer applying for outside funding? (i.e. EJW, EJA, Peggy Browning, etc.)

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone that had oci with bradley arant Birmingham heard anything yet?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know anything about the Federal Reserve process for 1Ls? Can't find anything through search.

[Anonymous User]

I am just trying to figure out how strong of a 1L summer position a summer position (unpaid) with a USAO in a large metropolitan (Boston/Atlanta) area where I am planning to look for a 2L SA. My grades are top 15% at a local T30 (BU/BC/Emory).

I got the offer without interviewing so I am afraid that taking it would be not good enough for recruiters at OCI, and I should wait it out and push for something paid.

[BlueLotus]

I am just trying to figure out how strong of a 1L summer position a summer position (unpaid) with a USAO in a large metropolitan (Boston/Atlanta) area where I am planning to look for a 2L SA. My grades are top 15% at a local T30 (BU/BC/Emory).

I got the offer without interviewing so I am afraid that taking it would be not good enough for recruiters at OCI, and I should wait it out and push for something paid.

Plenty of folks at BC who ended up doing a BigLaw SA their 2L summer did indigent legal aid, DA/PD, worked in judges chambers, etc.--all for free. It doesn't matter where you work as long as its in a legal capacity. What's important is that you get a solid writing sample, positive references, and interesting experiences to discuss at OCI.

[rjfried]

I am just trying to figure out how strong of a 1L summer position a summer position (unpaid) with a USAO in a large metropolitan (Boston/Atlanta) area where I am planning to look for a 2L SA. My grades are top 15% at a local T30 (BU/BC/Emory).

I got the offer without interviewing so I am afraid that taking it would be not good enough for recruiters at OCI, and I should wait it out and push for something paid.

I tend to think it's pretty strong. I worked at one of the USAO's you mentioned as a 2L. However, there were several 1Ls with me, most of whom are doing a 2L SA in that particular market. I think you're working at the one I worked at because they did not interview me before making an offer either.

[bk1]

I am just trying to figure out how strong of a 1L summer position a summer position (unpaid) with a USAO in a large metropolitan (Boston/Atlanta) area where I am planning to look for a 2L SA. My grades are top 15% at a local T30 (BU/BC/Emory).

I got the offer without interviewing so I am afraid that taking it would be not good enough for recruiters at OCI, and I should wait it out and push for something paid.

Employers. Don't. Care. Honestly, as long as you do something legal they don't give a fuck. They aren't impressed by 1L SAs nor are they impressed by the fact that you made min wage RAing for a professor. As long as you did something legal, that's all they care about it.

I don't know why you got the offer without interviewing (probably because some internships don't care to waste time when they are just hiring for unpaid positions), but if you don't have a realistic shot right now at something paid (not because it's better but because you might as well make money) and you want to work at the USAO you should take it. The only other reason I could see for turning it down is if it wasn't in the area you wanted to be after graduation.

[BlueLotus]

Anyone else realllly nervous about their very first legal job? Scared of messing up. I feel like I don't enough to make a substantial contribution, lol. What should I do to prepare myself in the span of time between finishing the writing comp and the first day of work? Sorry, this sounds really silly and insecure.

[Scotusnerd]

Anyone else realllly nervous about their very first legal job? Scared of messing up. I feel like I don't enough to make a substantial contribution, lol. What should I do to prepare myself in the span of time between finishing the writing comp and the first day of work? Sorry, this sounds really silly and insecure.

You are going to mess up. I am going to mess up. The issue is what you do with that mess-up, not that it happens. Relax and figure out your alibis.

[Anonymous User]

I've applied to 20 jobs thus far. I've only snagged one interview (and it won't be until mid-March, when I'm back in my home state over spring break). Should I be worried yet?

[dingbat]

Anyone else realllly nervous about their very first legal job? Scared of messing up. I feel like I don't enough to make a substantial contribution, lol. What should I do to prepare myself in the span of time between finishing the writing comp and the first day of work? Sorry, this sounds really silly and insecure.

You'll be fine.
If you don't know something, ask
If you make a mistake, tell them right away
Do not drive up a lexis/westlaw bill into 5 figures (as an SA did last summer)

[northwood]

Anyone else realllly nervous about their very first legal job? Scared of messing up. I feel like I don't enough to make a substantial contribution, lol. What should I do to prepare myself in the span of time between finishing the writing comp and the first day of work? Sorry, this sounds really silly and insecure.

expect to mess up. As a 1L, it was expected that you messed up, although they wont tell you that( at least in the beginning). Be professional( dont cry, dont make excuses, etc) and take their critiques as what they are, an alternative teaching model/tool. I remember that although I did well in LRW, one of my submissions came back with a ton of ink on it- not because I was wrong, but because i didnt write how they were used to someone writing.

just meet those deadlines, and when you ve a question, no matter how big or small ( especially in the beginning), ask it. Even if you get the response and you go " I shoulda known that, geez" to yourself, its better to be sure, than to guess.

and for those who dont have anything lined up yet- a lot of ppl dont hear until march or april. its nervewracking, but its common.


and use your student acount for lexis/ westlaw

[dingbat]

use your student acount for lexis/ westlaw

Apparently these get shuttered over summer

[UnamSanctam]

and use your student acount for lexis/ westlaw

Ethics violation.

[cinephile]

use your student acount for lexis/ westlaw

Apparently these get shuttered over summer

Not really. Mine was fine.

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer in the midwest for a 1L SA. Paid and all that. Got it because its a pretty insular market and I had ties.

While SUPER fortunate for this offer, I was curious if anyone here knew if it would hurt my chances for the west coast come 2L OCI.

[bk1]

Got an offer in the midwest for a 1L SA. Paid and all that. Got it because its a pretty insular market and I had ties.

While SUPER fortunate for this offer, I was curious if anyone here knew if it would hurt my chances for the west coast come 2L OCI.

What are your ties like?

[BlueLotus]

and use your student acount for lexis/ westlaw

Ethics violation.

I think u can use your student Westlaw/Lexis for PI positions. I'll be doing indigent civil legal aid this summer.

Org. is immigration/asylum focused. Should I check out an immigration law treatise or something before I start?

[BlueLotus]

I've applied to 20 jobs thus far. I've only snagged one interview (and it won't be until mid-March, when I'm back in my home state over spring break). Should I be worried yet?

No, it's not too late for gov/PI. Some places won't even make decisions until as late as April for 1Ls (i.e. Philly DA).

[BlueLotus]

Are diversity fellowships geared towards URMs or students of color in general? There isn't exactly a dearth of South Asians in the legal communities I'm targeting, lol.

They are broader than URMs, often including straight up plain ol' women.

Are non-URMS and URMs viewed differently, though, as in admissions? I mean, isn't the point of these is to bring in folks who are not adequately represented in the legal profession?