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What's the secret code on this? Just bring my body (in "business casual")?

I don't remember anyone ever bringing resumes to firm receptions, I'm not sure how you would hold them + food + drink lol

Try to make a connection with a person or two, get business cards, follow up within a few days to reinforce the connection and take it from there.

I feel like it's a situation where everyone knows exactly what you're there for, but they'll probably still think it's a little tacky if you're too forceful about it

JSUVA2012 wrote:What's the secret code on this? Just bring my body (in "business casual")?

Don't bring your resume....don't be a douchebag.

If you really connect with someone, they'll give you a card or you can ask for one. Then you can send a resume later.

Georgiana wrote:I don't remember anyone ever bringing resumes to firm receptions, I'm not sure how you would hold them + food + drink lol

Try to make a connection with a person or two, get business cards, follow up within a few days to reinforce the connection and take it from there.

This is the best advice your going to get (see above) Ask for business cards. Tell them you enjoyed the conversation, and would like the opportunity to continue it at some point. Get the business card, send them a letter asking for advice on how to proceed in attaining employment in general, not just at their firm especially in this market, send the letter attached with your resume, and a business card. I had to do a lot of this coming out of business school.

mhernton wrote:Get the business card, send them a letter asking for advice on how to proceed in attaining employment in general, not just at their firm especially in this market, send the letter attached with your resume, and a business card. I had to do a lot of this coming out of business school.

Really? I always thought it was a better idea to email with specific questions about the firm/whatever type business with a resume attached and simply say that you would appreciate any advice the person had time to give. The other way seems a bit aggressive/desperate.

I also think most people prefer emails. Letters will go through the secretaries, who will often file them in places the attorneys might be unlikely to check for awhile.

mhernton wrote:

Georgiana wrote:I don't remember anyone ever bringing resumes to firm receptions, I'm not sure how you would hold them + food + drink lol

Try to make a connection with a person or two, get business cards, follow up within a few days to reinforce the connection and take it from there.

This is the best advice your going to get (see above) Ask for business cards. Tell them you enjoyed the conversation, and would like the opportunity to continue it at some point. Get the business card, send them a letter asking for advice on how to proceed in attaining employment in general, not just at their firm especially in this market, send the letter attached with your resume, and a business card. I had to do a lot of this coming out of business school.

I know that it's part of business school culture to have business cards but it's rather silly for law students.

awesomepossum wrote: I know that it's part of business school culture to have business cards but it's rather silly for law students.

Yeah, and this.

In my experience:

Don't bring/send a resume unless you're asked to do so (and you will be asked).

1L receptions rarely mean anything. When 2L OCI comes around, your fate will depend on your grades and your interview. Beyond that, making a connection during some winter semester will help in terms of providing mentoring, and it may even secure you a screening interview when recruiting season happens, but nothing else, really.

Summer receptions tend to mean more. I attended four last summer, was asked to bring resumes to all, and I secured interviews from two of the receptions.

Also, entirely unnecessary to try to make connections with partners... in the sense of trying to get a job. It's always great to network (and I think receptions are good practice), but being forward and asking for employment in an email is silly and futile.

I'm not entirely sure what you could gain from a partner at a firm regarding employment in general, either. Most of them don't have a better sense of how things will be for OCI right now, most aren't even involved in recruiting, and even if they did have that sense and knowledge, you can bet they won't tell anything to you (from what I gathered during OCI, recruiting numbers and such were kept in strict confidence, depending on the firm).

Thanks for confirming, guys.