T14-bound OL paralegals, quick question Forum

[D Brooks]

Do you think if you graduate at/slightly above median at your school your firm will hire you for 2L SA and then give you an offer? Have you had any such conversation with your boss/practice group.

Just curious.

[LiveFree]

I have and the answer is an unfortunate no. It can't hurt and it might be the push if they are deciding between two equal candidates, but your law school and the accompanying grades will be the deciding factor. No grades = No job.

[The Pen Is Mightier]

I've seen instances where grades were completely irrelevant. You gotta have a partner who is very very willing to go to bat for you though.

[avacado111]

no. it won't givie you a bump.

[windycity]

.

[Anonymous User]

I've already been told that I could go back to my firm, and they are amazing people who I love working with, but unfortunately that's not the type of law I want to pursue. I just don't want to be a litigator.

[Hitachi]

Yeah, that was why I became a paralegal at Williams & Connolly in the first place, didn't want to have to stress about grades.

[avacado111]

Yeah, that was why I became a paralegal at Williams & Connolly in the first place, didn't want to have to stress about grades.

it doesn't make a difference. Especially at w&c if you don't have the grades... your not going to be hired either way.

[Unemployed]

I heard from 2L's that it matters if you are on the cusp of being employable (e.g. median at T14 ITE). Not only at your previous firm, but all the other ones as well. This is because you are 1. (at least) a little bit ahead of the curve when you start, and 2. less likely to burn out or get disillusioned.

[Kohinoor]

Yes.

[Hitachi]

Yeah, that was why I became a paralegal at Williams & Connolly in the first place, didn't want to have to stress about grades.

it doesn't make a difference. Especially at w&c if you don't have the grades... your not going to be hired either way.

My point was more that the selectivity of the firm matters a lot in whether median at T14 will even be on the radar for the networking boost to matter. Maybe if you are a paralegal at Cadwalader.

[ReelectClayDavis]

no. it won't givie you a bump.

What is your evidence that this is true at all or even at most firms?

Anecdotally, I can state that a partner at my V100 firm told us paras that we would be looked upon favorably if we decided to summer with the firm.

The partner went out of his way to explain to us why a former para did not get a summer offer. He said that this former para (who was not even at a T-14) would have gotten an offer had he not been splitting his summer, indicating to the firm that we were not his top choice.

Granted, the partner did say that grades would still be considered. But, the meeting made it seem that at the very least, us paras would have a leg up on applicants with comparable GPAs.

[letsdoit1982]

For those of you that have worked in Biglaw, what was your experience like? Are the hours and the work as bad as people say they are?

Yes, I realize this is off topic, but it's hard to find reliable information on TLS when most of the people that talk about biglaw are 22 years olds that have no idea what they're talking about

[Kohinoor]

Are the hours and the work as bad as people say they are?

It's worse because words cannot convey the experience of having a piece of paper break your spirit at 4 in the morning.

[nice&slow]

Wow, what a perfect topic for my first post!

Though I have not explicitly had this conversation with the partners at my firm who would make this sort of decision, I know that I would be eagerly welcomed back for an SA position. I do not plan to do so, as I currently work in litigation and am planning to prosecute, so I won't be looking for firm work during my summers, and the partners know this. However, I work at a small to medium-size boutique firm, so I can't necessarily say that this would be the same at a larger firm. I do believe that this sort of a boost would have nearly everything to do with the positive impression that you leave with the attorneys, as if they have confidence that you would consistently produce the sort of quality work as a SA that you had as a paralegal they're more likely to re-hire you than take a chance on someone new.

I also don't think it's so much the selectivity of the firm which matters so much as the chance you get to work directly with the partners, thus impressing them and giving them an incentive to hire you as their summer over some unknown.

[cornell1L]

I think the general wisdom is that if you were well liked you will get some sort of modest GPA discount. That being said, I know someone with absolute horrid grades (and I mean AWFUL) who will be working at an extremely picky biglaw firm simply because he/she used to work there and had a good relationship with an important partner.

[ughOSU]

I am sure that if I manage to graduate I would be offered a position at my firm if I wanted it... However I am sure that I wouldn't want it bc it's small law in an area I don't find particularly interesting.

[oneforship]

I've been told that it can be a big help in returning the the firm if that's what you want to do. Not that grades won't matter--they will--but in terms of having your resume separated from the rest of the pile. I'd equate it to having a strong network connection at a firm; no guarantees, but definitely gives you an edge.

[bceagles182]

If you already have grades that are competitive at the firm, I imagine getting recommendations from people (particularly partners) who work at said firm and who you worked with as a paralegal would absolutely help.

With that said, Big Law is terrible and I can't imagine working in this atmosphere for more than two years and only if I am so riddled with debt that I can't help it.

[Anonymous User]

I have been working for a NYC v10 law firm for over a year and will be attending CCN in the fall. I am a bit surprised by the pessimistic responses here, but I guess every relationship is different within the workplace. For me I think my work here will be a huge boost to getting a 2L summer position, not just because a few partners happen to know my name/face (I agree that they have a lot on their plates and won't remember me too well) but because I've become very close with the director of associate recruiting (our offices just happened to be across the hall), and, through her, have been introduced to the partners that matter in hiring.

Also, I've made an effort to meet and speak to the first/second year associates and the partners who graduated from my future law school.. I plan to periodically email them throughout my 1L year to let them know how I am doing. Finally, there's the firm's holiday party and other events throughout the year that, although I no longer work here, I will be welcomed to attend as an alumnus. If you think about it, are many little opportunities to stay connected once you have left your firm for law school.