Top Law Schools

I basically sent an app to every Vault firm and am now starting to target firms on NALP and Martindale (so far, i've sent about 130 apps). How many firms are you guys applying to?

Wow, that's a lot. I am trying to target my cover letters so I've only managed to get about 30 out. I'd like to do another 20-30.

I have a little over 20 sent, and I have about 5-10 to go. Each one I sent was targeted, and they were all sent to NY firms. I already have 14 interviews lined-up, so whatever I can get through these mailings will help.

a little over 80 so far

are you doing this in addition to OCI or do your schools have limited OCI?

Yeah, what are we talking about here? Is this for 1L? Or are you guys just trying to a reach around you OCI structures?

Last year I sent more than 100 applications (resume, cover letter, recommendations, writing sample) to firms in eight states.

I didn't want to depend on an OCI where 90 percent of the firms were from the small city where my LS was located.

I ended up with about six callbacks through OCI and 12 from my packages, went to about 10, and ended up with one of my top choices in my top geographical location.

Stats? Top 15 percent with law review and a couple of book awards at a TTT without much of a rep. I think being a little older and having had a previous career was looked upon favorably by employers.

But I have to say I sent out applications in late July and I think that was some part of my success. I had recruiting coordinators looking at my stuff before they were bogged down in OCI. I had three callbacks by the first week of August. If you're thinking of sending out packages now, I think you need to get them in the mail yesterday.

How much success have you guys had so far? I'm trying to send out apps to smaller firms but most don't even respond.

I am guessing there is a deluge this year. And knowing that most people are just throwing out tons of apps must make it hard for firms. Unless you have stellar grades and come from a top school (in which case, OCI is for you anyway) I think there is probably more reason than ever to make apps targeted.

Have an offer from 1L summer. Only applied to one other firm, have a callback scheduled there. In some ways geographic constraints make the job search much easier.

Person wrote:I am guessing there is a deluge this year. And knowing that most people are just throwing out tons of apps must make it hard for firms. Unless you have stellar grades and come from a top school (in which case, OCI is for you anyway) I think there is probably more reason than ever to make apps targeted.

How often do biglaw firms respond to emails? I've only gotten a couple responses asking for further documentation. And that's about it. My friend landed a biglaw job (we both go to top 10 law schools) prior to OCI, but this person has had prior work experience at a v10 and used the connections to land interviews.

I have no idea how OCI is going to turn out, which is why I want to mail other firms, but the lack of responses is frustrating. (Grades are around top 35% at a top 10, so not stellar, but not horrendous either.)

Anonymous User wrote:

Person wrote:I am guessing there is a deluge this year. And knowing that most people are just throwing out tons of apps must make it hard for firms. Unless you have stellar grades and come from a top school (in which case, OCI is for you anyway) I think there is probably more reason than ever to make apps targeted.

How often do biglaw firms respond to emails? I've only gotten a couple responses asking for further documentation. And that's about it. My friend landed a biglaw job (we both go to top 10 law schools) prior to OCI, but this person has had prior work experience at a v10 and used the connections to land interviews.

I have no idea how OCI is going to turn out, which is why I want to mail other firms, but the lack of responses is frustrating. (Grades are around top 35% at a top 10, so not stellar, but not horrendous either.)

If you go to a Top 10 school odds are those firms are coming for OCI so they will either ignore your requests or respond to bid on them for OCI. Only after you don't get an interview through OCI can you contact them and show interest. Still it's an uphill battle. I emailed a firm that doesn't go to my old school's OCI and they called me a week later and invited me for a callback which was pretty cool. The other four I emailed didn't respond and I have top grades from a T30.

I bid on 28 firms at OCI, but I am not counting on OCI to land me a job (top third in my class at middling T1), so I have sent cover letters and resumes directly to about 65 other firms via NALPDirectory. My goal is to get to 150 cold applications by 9/1. I might strike out and not get a firm job for next summer, but it sure as hell won't be due to lack of effort on my part.

ZXCVBNM wrote:If you go to a Top 10 school odds are those firms are coming for OCI so they will either ignore your requests or respond to bid on them for OCI. Only after you don't get an interview through OCI can you contact them and show interest. Still it's an uphill battle. I emailed a firm that doesn't go to my old school's OCI and they called me a week later and invited me for a callback which was pretty cool. The other four I emailed didn't respond and I have top grades from a T30.

This may be the norm. However, if you have a specific reason to interview with the firm outside OCI, you should call and speak to someone in recruiting about the possibility of setting something up separately. In my case, I was only interested in one specific office that was located very close to my summer location and it was much more efficient for me to interview with the firm during the summer in that location, rather than waste time interviewing at OCI and traveling separately for a callback.