Top Law Schools

http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/files/q4-pmi-report.pdf

Finally

Interesting data points, but +3 is something, good to hear some positive news after so much doom and gloom

Yes, the report says that associate hiring is neutral with basically replacing spots vacated by people retiring, laid-off or other reasons. That is an improvement over a negative level of hiring.

But will this actually translate into increased hiring right away? Or are firms going to be more cautionary still, and watch OCIs meander around for a couple more years.

Mickey Quicknumbers wrote:But will this actually translate into increased hiring right away? Or are firms going to be more cautionary still, and watch OCIs meander around for a couple more years.

recovery takes time, there won't be a flush of openings but a gradual influx of growth over the next couple of years. OCI should follow this uptick, but who knows

It has to make you wonder, assuming this growth continues, what will become of highly qualified applicants who got boned in the last few classes (a.k.a. people who did SAs but weren't offered, the mass of deferred associates, high ranked strike-outs, etc.). Will they be absorbed alongside the fresher faces or are they (as I heard them called) "The Lost Generation?"

Not trying to be pessimistic (and I'm not even interested in pursuing BigLaw, anyway) but I'm genuinely curious.

Biglaw seems to like SA programs because it gives them some chance to evaluate those they bring in. I don't see why they have any incentive to chance this, especially given that those of the "lost generation" still have basically no experience and now have been out of law school for two years or so. Even considering changing the model offers little benefit to them.

Fark-o-vision wrote:Biglaw seems to like SA programs because it gives them some chance to evaluate those they bring in. I don't see why they have any incentive to chance this, especially given that those of the "lost generation" still have basically no experience and now have been out of law school for two years or so. Even considering changing the model offers little benefit to them.

3L OCI? *hopeful puppy-dog eyes*

A'nold wrote:

Fark-o-vision wrote:Biglaw seems to like SA programs because it gives them some chance to evaluate those they bring in. I don't see why they have any incentive to chance this, especially given that those of the "lost generation" still have basically no experience and now have been out of law school for two years or so. Even considering changing the model offers little benefit to them.

3L OCI? *hopeful puppy-dog eyes*

Weren't you a PI dood?

Good to see a positive trend associated with the phrase "Law Firm."

Lawquacious wrote:Good to see a positive trend associated with the phrase "Law Firm."

Yea but law school has always been a bad choice for most law students. Even in the boom times.

The people who stand to gain are people in the top third of T1's, and people below median at lower t14.

Desert Fox wrote:

Lawquacious wrote:Good to see a positive trend associated with the phrase "Law Firm."

Yea but law school has always been a bad choice for most law students. Even in the boom times.

The people who stand to gain are people in the top third of T1's, and people below median at lower t14.

The benefit should run all the way down the chain, take the pressure of PI jobs, etc. just less so than in the area you mentioned.

Desert Fox wrote:

A'nold wrote:

Fark-o-vision wrote:Biglaw seems to like SA programs because it gives them some chance to evaluate those they bring in. I don't see why they have any incentive to chance this, especially given that those of the "lost generation" still have basically no experience and now have been out of law school for two years or so. Even considering changing the model offers little benefit to them.

3L OCI? *hopeful puppy-dog eyes*

Weren't you a PI dood?

Yeah but (and I know this sounds freaking weird) I would like to have a backup plan to a "sure job" with my high grades and rank in case the PI market is still so barren.

A'nold wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

A'nold wrote:

Fark-o-vision wrote:Biglaw seems to like SA programs because it gives them some chance to evaluate those they bring in. I don't see why they have any incentive to chance this, especially given that those of the "lost generation" still have basically no experience and now have been out of law school for two years or so. Even considering changing the model offers little benefit to them.

3L OCI? *hopeful puppy-dog eyes*

Weren't you a PI dood?

Yeah but (and I know this sounds freaking weird) I would like to have a backup plan to a "sure job" with my high grades and rank in case the PI market is still so barren.

People at my school talk about this but I don't understand it. Don't PI hire after graduation pretty much no matter what? You'd have to accept a firm offer before that.

Desert Fox wrote:
People at my school talk about this but I don't understand it. Don't PI hire after graduation pretty much no matter what? You'd have to accept a firm offer before that.

+1

What gives PI junkies?

Aqualibrium wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:
People at my school talk about this but I don't understand it. Don't PI hire after graduation pretty much no matter what? You'd have to accept a firm offer before that.

+1

What gives PI junkies?

I think it's why so many people who come to school looking to do PI end up doing big law anyway.

For some PI routes though, Biglaw for three years -> PI is actually the credited career route.

Desert Fox wrote:

Aqualibrium wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:
People at my school talk about this but I don't understand it. Don't PI hire after graduation pretty much no matter what? You'd have to accept a firm offer before that.

+1

What gives PI junkies?

I think it's why so many people who come to school looking to do PI end up doing big law anyway.

For some PI routes though, Biglaw for three years -> PI is actually the credited career route.

Yeah that's true. But I'm actually the opposite. The more time I spend in law school the more I've begun to shift my interest from firm to PI. I'll admit some of it isn't for altruistic reasons (getting all my loans paid off for me via LRAP is a huge motivating factor) but some of us do end up making the opposite choice.

BruceWayne wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

Aqualibrium wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:
People at my school talk about this but I don't understand it. Don't PI hire after graduation pretty much no matter what? You'd have to accept a firm offer before that.

+1

What gives PI junkies?

I think it's why so many people who come to school looking to do PI end up doing big law anyway.

For some PI routes though, Biglaw for three years -> PI is actually the credited career route.

Yeah that's true. But I'm actually the opposite. The more time I spend in law school the more I've begun to shift my interest from firm to PI. I'll admit some of it isn't for altruistic reasons (getting all my loans paid off for me via LRAP is a huge motivating factor) but some of us do end up making the opposite choice.

If by PI you mean Fed Gov, I'm with you 100%. Fed Gov seems like TCR.

Aqualibrium wrote:
What gives PI junkies?

For the record, PI in the legal world means Personal Injury. NOT Public Interest.

Lokomani wrote:

Aqualibrium wrote:
What gives PI junkies?

For the record, PI in the legal world means Personal Injury. NOT Public Interest.

For the record, PI as used on TLS signifies public interest; shitlaw, shiTTTlaw, shiTTTTlaw, and ambulance chaser law are used to signify Personal Injury.

I do like personal injury, but I could not afford to do it after school due to loans. I would need gov./PI or biglaw. Those are my two options. I've never been keen on biglaw and I've been told that even with my grades the odds of 3L OCI panning out is slim. I'm focusing my attention on prosecution right now with a smattering of business law courses. One biglaw route I would actually enjoy would be bankruptcy but that seems even harder b/c it is a specialty inside of biglaw....