DePaul OCI Forum

[ITEGodknows]

As the title hints, I'm at DePaul right now, top 5% + LR and a summer job as an RA with a well-respected professor. As you might guess, our OCI turnout is pretty abysmal with only 10 or so firms showing up (plus a bunch of resume collects). Obviously, I'm just gonna go ahead and do OCI no matter what. I figure I'll probably get a few interviews but I'm doubtful I'll get any offers. The economy is obviously terrible and firms are hiring very few SA's compared to previous years. My question is really whether I have a shot at all. Is it possible that some of these firms are just showing up to play nice with DePaul and have no intention of making any offers?

Thanks in advance.

[Person]

As the title hints, I'm at DePaul right now, top 5% + LR and a summer job as an RA with a well-respected professor. As you might guess, our OCI turnout is pretty abysmal with only 10 or so firms showing up (plus a bunch of resume collects). Obviously, I'm just gonna go ahead and do OCI no matter what. I figure I'll probably get a few interviews but I'm doubtful I'll get any offers. The economy is obviously terrible and firms are hiring very few SA's compared to previous years. My question is really whether I have a shot at all. Is it possible that some of these firms are just showing up to play nice with DePaul and have no intention of making any offers?

Thanks in advance.

My guess is that they are turning up to get the best DePaul students. All of the top Chicago firms have DePaul grads, and I doubt that ITE is stop that in its tracks.

[stinger35]

While I agree with that for the most part, last year, I've been told, there were zero offers given out at "ferp" or whatever weird name they give it

[ITEGodknows]

ZERO?!? That's exactly what I was afraid of.

[Person]

While I agree with that for the most part, last year, I've been told, there were zero offers given out at "ferp" or whatever weird name they give it

Wow. I stand corrected. At least about the stopping it in its tracks. Still, my guess is that they would not turn up if they were not at least open to the idea of hiring the top students.

[XxSpyKEx]

While I agree with that for the most part, last year, I've been told, there were zero offers given out at "ferp" or whatever weird name they give it

Wow. I stand corrected. At least about the stopping it in its tracks. Still, my guess is that they would not turn up if they were not at least open to the idea of hiring the top students.

They are just showing up because they are trying to show good faith and don't want to burn any bridges with Depaul because they might in the future want to hire some Depaul grads again via OCI. A lot of firms do this, even at top schools. Also, with Depaul, it's not like they are wasting a ton of time, money, or effort doing OCI there. It's literally down the street from all the law firms.

Major markets really are terrible to be at right now because everyone thinks they have a shot at them, every wants to be there; yet, the law firms barely need to hire anyone at all. Even smaller firms in Chicago are getting bombed with 300+ resumes for their 1-2 summer positions available. Even volunteer work is incredibly competitive in Chicago.

Good luck.

[Person]

Even smaller firms in Chicago are getting bombed with 300+ resumes for their 1-2 summer positions available. Even volunteer work is incredibly competitive in Chicago.

Wondering how you know this?

[ITEGodknows]

To be honest, it seems strange to me that the most important determinant of your legal career is set before you ever enter a law school.

Anyway, you'd think that employers would be open to the possibility that there are a few students at DePaul/Kent/Loyola who are as talented as a top 25% from U of C. The problem, of course, is how to figure out who those people are from a resume and an interview.

[chicagolaw2013]

Nervous for next year (0L, starting at DePaul in a few weeks). I'm just glad I have a set (paid) job for 1L summer lined up already. One less thing I have to worry about. Classes will be my full focus until May.

[swester]

I didn't even know there was OCI at DePaul anymore.

Well, turns out it's all but non-existent anyway.

[ITEGodknows]

Why is that anonymous? Should be outed...

[03121202698008]

It's anonymous because he is a JDU troll. He posted a link to that post on JDU and started a thread about TLS.

[spanktheduck]

In all fairness to OP, one shouldn't enter a school like DePaul and expect to get a job from OCI. I realize it is tough out there, but I am sure that even in a good economy, most students there did not get employment through OCI.

[ITEGodknows]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that advice would have been more helpful a year and a half ago.

[XxSpyKEx]

Even smaller firms in Chicago are getting bombed with 300+ resumes for their 1-2 summer positions available. Even volunteer work is incredibly competitive in Chicago.

Wondering how you know this?

PM'd

[Action Jackson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that advice would have been more helpful a year and a half ago.

Don't mean to pile on here, but why didn't you know this going into it? It's not like this was a secret. And if you're top 5%, why don't you just transfer up to Chicago or Northwestern?

[ITEGodknows]

I tried to transfer into both but I was rejected.

[Action Jackson]

I tried to transfer into both but I was rejected.

Shit. Sorry to hear that.