The Vale of Tears (3L Job Hunting) (No advice for 0/1/2Ls) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Should I be mass mailing at a crazy pace like 2Ls would be doing at this time of the year?

Try to clerk at a firm during your 3L. It'll expand your network and you'll gain more substantive experience to put on your resume.

I think internships/jobs of any legal sort are really important during 3L if you don't have a position lined up.

My 2L summer position was never intended to last beyond the summer but I stayed there in the fall and then the spring, and now I'm still there after graduation.

"Worst" case scenario you get experience and network, and best case scenario it converts into full time employment.

I agree w/ Jen and mirage... I am a current valer and have been blanketing the legal market near my school with application materials seeking a part-time law clerk position during the school year... I figure that I need to beef up my résumé to become more competitive for post-LS positions and to be in a position to expand my network...

That said, I just learned that I'm still under consideration for one of the law clerk positions. Fingers crossed... Kinda nervous now.

[Anonymous User]

when should you put the gpa on your resume? i have above a 3.0 but i am still below median.

[zozin]

when should you put the gpa on your resume? i have above a 3.0 but i am still below median.

I think TLS consensus is > 3.0 gets put on resume.

[TheFutureLawyer]

when should you put the gpa on your resume? i have above a 3.0 but i am still below median.

We just said a few pages back; put it if 3.0 or above. That's what someone else here said, and I read that a few days ago too (that if you don't put gpa, the assumption is it's below 3.0).

eta; scooped

[minnbills]

when should you put the gpa on your resume? i have above a 3.0 but i am still below median.

I think TLS consensus is > 3.0 gets put on resume.

Yeah this is credited.

[Anonymous User]

when should you put the gpa on your resume? i have above a 3.0 but i am still below median.

I think TLS consensus is > 3.0 gets put on resume.

Yeah this is credited.

interesting...i have a lowly 3.006. not sure if that is gonna impress anyone, lol. I know that that is above median at most TTT/TTTTs, but it is considered a bad gpa by solid school standards.

[minnbills]

interesting...i have a lowly 3.006. not sure if that is gonna impress anyone, lol. I know that that is above median at most TTT/TTTTs, but it is considered a bad gpa by solid school standards.

This is part of why class rank is so important, there is no consistency between schools. At my school a 3.5 by graduation is below median.

[sundontshine]

This is part of why class rank is so important, there is no consistency between schools. At my school a 3.5 by graduation is below median.

Grade inflation to that extent is TTTT

[crumpetsandtea]

interesting...i have a lowly 3.006. not sure if that is gonna impress anyone, lol. I know that that is above median at most TTT/TTTTs, but it is considered a bad gpa by solid school standards.

This is part of why class rank is so important, there is no consistency between schools. At my school a 3.5 by graduation is below median.

Ditto. IME it's the TTTs that set stricter curves (aka lower curves). At least at NU, the curve is like 3.6 3.7 for 2L/3L.

[minnbills]

Yeah I'll take the higher GPA for sure.

[Anonymous User]

I struck out in finding a fellowship sponsor. So no EJW or Skadden for me.

[BlueLotus]

when you send out your resume, writing sample, references, etc. should it be in Word or PDF? Or does it not matter?

[Chuck59]

Interview with mid-size NYC tomorrow. Any advice on how to answer the no-offer question? My answer from the firm was a "personality fit" with some partners.

[BlueLotus]

Is anyone else here going to the MassConsortium Gov/PI fair?

[BVest]

when you send out your resume, writing sample, references, etc. should it be in Word or PDF? Or does it not matter?

PDF.

[baal hadad]

Interview with mid-size NYC tomorrow. Any advice on how to answer the no-offer question? My answer from the firm was a "personality fit" with some partners.

I'd be cautious ab saying that

What are the details of this misfit?

[BearState]

Interview with mid-size NYC tomorrow. Any advice on how to answer the no-offer question? My answer from the firm was a "personality fit" with some partners.

I'd be cautious ab saying that

What are the details of this misfit?

I think most hiring partners will hear "personality fit" and think "problem associate," no matter how unfair and how much a jerk the people you worked for are. I think an answer where you can show you learned to correct something might be stronger.

[Anonymous User]

Is it best to email an alum who is an associate at a firm, or to email an alum who is a shareholder/partner?

This is for networking.

[baal hadad]

Interview with mid-size NYC tomorrow. Any advice on how to answer the no-offer question? My answer from the firm was a "personality fit" with some partners.

I'd be cautious ab saying that

What are the details of this misfit?

I think most hiring partners will hear "personality fit" and think "problem associate," no matter how unfair and how much a jerk the people you worked for are. I think an answer where you can show you learned to correct something might be stronger.

If u can plausibly blame money then say money

Helps if the firm no offers others or has done so in the past

[Anonymous User]

Re: earlier poster/Ropes & Gray Career Associate position....I also interviewed and have not heard anything...have a couple of friends in same boat. Not sure what is going on-whether there has been a freeze in the hiring process?

[minnbills]

Is it best to email an alum who is an associate at a firm, or to email an alum who is a shareholder/partner?

This is for networking.

shareholder/partner. Probably harder to build a relationship but at the end of the day the higher up = the more influence.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 2014 grad awaiting bar results. Any advice on how to secure interviews right now?

How are you guys even aware of who's hiring? I feel totally out of the loop right now. I've pretty much just been checking on my school's Symplicity...

[BlueLotus]

I know that worldtraveler said that 2 page resumes are OK for PI fellowships. Does the same ring true for cover letters for PI fellowships?

What's the best writing sample to use--an advocacy memo/motion from Advanced Legal Writing or an objective research memo from my 1L summer jerb? Unfortunately my 2L summer jerb did not give me a good opportunity to craft a solid writing sample (I drafted mostly form pleadings).

[BVest]

I know that worldtraveler said that 2 page resumes are OK for PI fellowships. Does the same ring true for cover letters for PI fellowships?

I don't think 2 page cover letters are ever OK. If there's something you feel you need to cover, it sounds like you need to include a personal statement. Probably double-spaced and single page will cover whatever it was you were trying to say in your cover letter (and then you can pare your cover letter down to more of a transmittal letter in its style -- Dear X, Enclose please find Y. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Z). My $0.02.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Yeah, I agree that a cover letter should never go to 2 pp.