Need OCI advice at Fordham- should I stay part time? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Technically made arrangements to switch already, but my school will let students "return" to the class of 2013 to delay OCI by a year. $64k question: is it likely to make an appreciable difference if I do so? Tuition costs the same, but I would have to borrow most or all of an extra year's cost of living expenses in NYC, which could run north of $20k.

My background: one year WE in a a nonlegal field. Worked part time this year. Would not work more than 20 hours per week during the school year if I stayed part time, in order to give myself ample time to study. I know it can be done, but I don't want to regret not focusing on school. Open to biglaw or other pursuits, but my goal is to graduate with some sort of offer in hand. I would rather be in New York, but am open to working in other east coast cities (Boston, Philly, DC, etc.)

No estimated rank from Fordham yet, but math was done based upon last year's rank cutoffs, and I am likely between top quarter and top 20%. In ye olde days (not just referring to 2006-08 boom times) this would have been a decent place to be for a firm job if I had wanted one. ITE, I realize no one knows.

Will it look odd to employers if I stay part time without a full time job, given that most people in this situation transfer to day? I suppose it boils down to whether next year's OCI is expected to vastly improve upon the one coming up this August.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

[rayiner]

The question is do you want a firm job or not? If so, I'd try to crank it up next year and get your grades a bit higher than do OCI. It's a win on two fronts. Otherwise, since PI/govt hires mostly after 2L I'd switch to FT.

[Anonymous User]

This is the OP: you are saying I should stay PT if I do want a firm job? Is this mainly because I can attempt to raise my grades, or because you think the market will be vastly better next year? Will it be worth an extra year and $20k? I think my present grades are probably fine for PI/local government work, where commitment matters far more than class rank (assuming one is not at the very bottom of the class.)

[rayiner]

This is the OP: you are saying I should stay PT if I do want a firm job? Is this mainly because I can attempt to raise my grades, or because you think the market will be vastly better next year? Will it be worth an extra year and $20k? I think my present grades are probably fine for PI/local government work, where commitment matters far more than class rank (assuming one is not at the very bottom of the class.)

To the first part, both. To the second, yes absolutely.

[Anonymous User]

This is the OP. General question for the class of 2012: would you pay an additional $20k for a chance (not a guarantee) to raise your grades and do OCI next summer instead of this August? That is essentially what my situation boils down to. I agree that OCI will probably be far better next year, but $20k is a lot of money to gamble with.

[Renzo]

This is the OP. General question for the class of 2012: would you pay an additional $20k for a chance (not a guarantee) to raise your grades and do OCI next summer instead of this August? That is essentially what my situation boils down to. I agree that OCI will probably be far better next year, but $20k is a lot of money to gamble with.

I wouldn't be so ready to assume that next year will be better. I think we'll see pretty flat job growth across the economy, including law, for the next year. I think the worst of the job massacres are over, but now is the new normal.

[Anonymous User]

This is the OP. General question for the class of 2012: would you pay an additional $20k for a chance (not a guarantee) to raise your grades and do OCI next summer instead of this August? That is essentially what my situation boils down to. I agree that OCI will probably be far better next year, but $20k is a lot of money to gamble with.

I wouldn't be so ready to assume that next year will be better. I think we'll see pretty flat job growth across the economy, including law, for the next year. I think the worst of the job massacres are over, but now is the new normal.

Scary stuff, but thank you.

[Renzo]

This is the OP. General question for the class of 2012: would you pay an additional $20k for a chance (not a guarantee) to raise your grades and do OCI next summer instead of this August? That is essentially what my situation boils down to. I agree that OCI will probably be far better next year, but $20k is a lot of money to gamble with.

I wouldn't be so ready to assume that next year will be better. I think we'll see pretty flat job growth across the economy, including law, for the next year. I think the worst of the job massacres are over, but now is the new normal.

Scary stuff, but thank you.

It's scary for all of us, but I say switch to FT. It's not going to be $20k and a year's worth of lost income better next year.

[hiro86]

This is the OP. General question for the class of 2012: would you pay an additional $20k for a chance (not a guarantee) to raise your grades and do OCI next summer instead of this August? That is essentially what my situation boils down to. I agree that OCI will probably be far better next year, but $20k is a lot of money to gamble with.

I wouldn't be so ready to assume that next year will be better. I think we'll see pretty flat job growth across the economy, including law, for the next year. I think the worst of the job massacres are over, but now is the new normal.

Even if overall demand is the same, there should be fewer deferred associates that firms have to worry about getting started for 2013. So, I would think 2013 should be at least a little better. Of course, the economy could go to crap again and it could be worse than 2012.

[Renzo]

This is the OP. General question for the class of 2012: would you pay an additional $20k for a chance (not a guarantee) to raise your grades and do OCI next summer instead of this August? That is essentially what my situation boils down to. I agree that OCI will probably be far better next year, but $20k is a lot of money to gamble with.

I wouldn't be so ready to assume that next year will be better. I think we'll see pretty flat job growth across the economy, including law, for the next year. I think the worst of the job massacres are over, but now is the new normal.

Even if overall demand is the same, there should be fewer deferred associates that firms have to worry about getting started for 2013. So, I would think 2013 should be at least a little better. Of course, the economy could go to crap again and it could be worse than 2012.

True, but what's better, -$20k in costs for a slightly better shot at a firm gig the OP only sort of wants, or a slightly decreased shot at a firm gig with a fallback position of $0 in costs +a year of experience/earnings (even if modest) towards a job they really want.