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Regarding OCI for this summer - Does anyone know if firms have begun projecting the numbers of SA positions they're hoping to fill (or general impressions for this summer's recruiting season)? It seems like most people have opinions on this, but without much info to back it up.

Many firms are just now finalizing how many they'll have this summer.

No firm knows how many they're going to have for summer 2011, yet. We're pretty far off.

JSUVA2012 wrote:Many firms are just now finalizing how many they'll have this summer.

No firm knows how many they're going to have for summer 2011, yet. We're pretty far off.

That's what I figured. Funny how the firms don't have a clue yet, but some kids on here act like they know how it'll be. I guess students just love to speculate.

jchoggan wrote:

JSUVA2012 wrote:Many firms are just now finalizing how many they'll have this summer.

No firm knows how many they're going to have for summer 2011, yet. We're pretty far off.

That's what I figured. Funny how the firms don't have a clue yet, but some kids on here act like they know how it'll be. I guess students just love to speculate.

There is a difference between knowing "how it will be" and knowing exact numbers. I've spoken with many hiring partners and managers at various biglaw firms, and have developed a good sense of what the OCI for next fall will look like in historic terms. I would never ask about the exact number to be hired, so I can't tell you that, but I do have a general sense of "how it'll be."

According to our admissions office, projections are that my class (graduating '11, OCI last summer) is supposed to be the worst. My guess is that they got that info from career services who in turn got that from their market consultants. I have no idea where THEY got that from though.

If hiring tracks the broad economy and there are expectations that general employment will get better (see the recent Fed rate move), I believe it. I also believe it when you consider some firms (such as some Sidley offices) are actually getting some people who were deferred to come sooner.

Obviously none of this is concrete, but if I were to put money on it, I would say that graduating class of '12 (that does OCI this upcoming summer) does better overall than '11.

Yes, I think it's generally accepted that 2012 will have it better than 2011 at OCI. But probably not as good as 2010, though fortunately 2012 probably won't have to worry about deferrals and no-offers.

Renzo wrote:

jchoggan wrote:

JSUVA2012 wrote:Many firms are just now finalizing how many they'll have this summer.

No firm knows how many they're going to have for summer 2011, yet. We're pretty far off.

That's what I figured. Funny how the firms don't have a clue yet, but some kids on here act like they know how it'll be. I guess students just love to speculate.

There is a difference between knowing "how it will be" and knowing exact numbers. I've spoken with many hiring partners and managers at various biglaw firms, and have developed a good sense of what the OCI for next fall will look like in historic terms. I would never ask about the exact number to be hired, so I can't tell you that, but I do have a general sense of "how it'll be."

So... how will it be?

Unless the financial system actually goes under entirely, I can say with mathematical certainty that class of 2012 SA hiring will be better than 2011.

When this question was posed to a few partners who came into speak as a part of a panel discussion, they gave their opinion that they thought a modest uptick, at best, over the c/o 2011.

freeflowfox wrote:

Renzo wrote:

jchoggan wrote:

JSUVA2012 wrote:Many firms are just now finalizing how many they'll have this summer.

No firm knows how many they're going to have for summer 2011, yet. We're pretty far off.

That's what I figured. Funny how the firms don't have a clue yet, but some kids on here act like they know how it'll be. I guess students just love to speculate.

There is a difference between knowing "how it will be" and knowing exact numbers. I've spoken with many hiring partners and managers at various biglaw firms, and have developed a good sense of what the OCI for next fall will look like in historic terms. I would never ask about the exact number to be hired, so I can't tell you that, but I do have a general sense of "how it'll be."

So... how will it be?

AwesomePossum and Chadwick have it right. The general consensus is that business is slowly picking up, so things will be slightly better than last year, but still not great. Expect less rescinded offers/no-offerd summers, etc., but things are still going to be tough for us.