Law firm recruiter answering questions for a bit Forum

[lawfirmrecruiter]

How does it look if a candidate tells you during a callback that she would accept an offer if one was made? Does this look desperate?

I currently only have one callback and am considering this.

There really is a fine line on this one. While it is great to know while considering candidates who will accept and it does actually help in decision making sometimes, you don't want to sound desperate. If you do say you would accept, don't press with it to hard, just mention it casually towards the end if it has not already come up. Something like, "I really enjoyed meeting with you and learning about your firm. If given the opportunity, I would love to join such a dynamic group." Gets the point across without sounding too pushy or needy.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

Does a status check email after an extended post-screener silence ever accomplish anything?

I am also curious about this. I added a screener at OCI and it was with an associate in the hospitality suite. I have not heard back from the firm. The interview went very well and my stats are certainly on par with the firm. I really want to call and check if they got the paperwork and everything.

It can certainly help keep you top of mind, but you don't want to press to hard. The volume of candidates can get a little overwhelming this time of year and it really does take a long time to go through. That said, a short e-mail to the recruiter asking about time frame or if they need anything else from you while they are making their decisions would be appropriate. Just don't send it every day.

[Anonymous User]

I'm not sure what firm you are with or what market you are in, so perhaps things work differently where you are, but I had a Q about callbacks. My school is in a major city, and many firms seem to send out calls very quickly. What is the firm or recruiter's mindset/approach with regard to callbacks? Is it just a quick filter of yes/no and then calls are made? Or do the sure-thing candidates get calls quickly, while there is some sort of "hold" pile for candidates on the fence? I ask because there are a number of firms that I have no CB from, yet I have not gotten a rejection despite the fact that others have gotten rejections.

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on emailing your screening interviewer a few days before your CB saying that you hope to stop by their office to say hello?

Had a good interview, but no magical connection. Can this help or not?

[lawfirmrecruiter]

I'm not sure what firm you are with or what market you are in, so perhaps things work differently where you are, but I had a Q about callbacks. My school is in a major city, and many firms seem to send out calls very quickly. What is the firm or recruiter's mindset/approach with regard to callbacks? Is it just a quick filter of yes/no and then calls are made? Or do the sure-thing candidates get calls quickly, while there is some sort of "hold" pile for candidates on the fence? I ask because there are a number of firms that I have no CB from, yet I have not gotten a rejection despite the fact that others have gotten rejections.

CB Process really varies from firm to firm and market to market. Some firms have rolling callbacks after meeting with candidates during OCI. Others hold all CB decisions until all screens are done at all schools so they can consider the entire pool of candidates. It depends on so many factors including the projected size of the summer class, number of schools visited, etc.

[Anonymous User]

Received a callback the other day and went ahead and setup a date for interview -- just not a time. The attorney said that he would have someone go ahead and setup a time and get back with me. It's been about a week, and I haven't heard anything. Is it ok to email the attorney and check in to make sure that everything's still moving forward?

[Anonymous User]

I am going for a 3L callback in early sept. I didn't get an offer back from the firm I interned with this summer. They told me they were only authorized to take a very small percentage of our summer class and that I was not selected.

How should I approach the situation?

[005618502]

I posted this in another, similiar, forum. Would love to hear your position as well. Thanks for taking time to do this!

This may have already been answered, although I looked through most and did not see it. On here we always talk about the T14 schools and the different groupings HYS--> CCN--> MVPB--> DCNG

Do you see it that way? Is Michigan and UVA (or any two in that group) really looked upon as equal? or is there a different thought at your firm? Going by what you remember the rankings as, or looking up the rankings each year and taking that into consideration.

I picked UVA over Michigan and Penn, now Michigan jumped to 7 and UVA is 9, does that make any difference?

Thanks again for taking questions, not very often we get this opportunity.

[Anonymous User]

I am wondering what your view is on following up after not hearing anything from the firm for 2 weeks?
And if I should follow up should I do it via email to the recruiter or my interviewer or call my interviewer (she gave her phone number) or call the recruiter?

[Anonymous User]

CB Process really varies from firm to firm and market to market. Some firms have rolling callbacks after meeting with candidates during OCI. Others hold all CB decisions until all screens are done at all schools so they can consider the entire pool of candidates. It depends on so many factors including the projected size of the summer class, number of schools visited, etc.

I'd imagine this is the same for callbacks as well, that some firms hold all their offer decisions till after their CBs are done. Screener or CB, I wonder to what extend recruiters and the hiring committee can match faces to names. At this time of year, you see hundreds of resumes and meet dozens of applicants weekly. Resumes don't come with pictures. Thus, do you ever look at the resume of someone you've met during a screener or CB, and can't recall their face? In that case, your evaluation would rest entirely on what you jutted down while meeting or the moment they step out? Is it fair to say then that applicants that you can remember have a huge leg up over the others?

[lawfirmrecruiter]

Received a callback the other day and went ahead and setup a date for interview -- just not a time. The attorney said that he would have someone go ahead and setup a time and get back with me. It's been about a week, and I haven't heard anything. Is it ok to email the attorney and check in to make sure that everything's still moving forward?

If you have not heard back yet, it would be appropriate to follow up to get specifics.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

I am going for a 3L callback in early sept. I didn't get an offer back from the firm I interned with this summer. They told me they were only authorized to take a very small percentage of our summer class and that I was not selected.

How should I approach the situation?

I would be very positive about your experience at your summer firm and talk about the work you did there and how much you learned. If asked about whether you will be going there, just be honest. It would also help a great deal if you have a letter of recommendation or can have someone from that firm say you did really well and the numbers just did not play in your favor.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

I posted this in another, similiar, forum. Would love to hear your position as well. Thanks for taking time to do this!

This may have already been answered, although I looked through most and did not see it. On here we always talk about the T14 schools and the different groupings HYS--> CCN--> MVPB--> DCNG

Do you see it that way? Is Michigan and UVA (or any two in that group) really looked upon as equal? or is there a different thought at your firm? Going by what you remember the rankings as, or looking up the rankings each year and taking that into consideration.

I picked UVA over Michigan and Penn, now Michigan jumped to 7 and UVA is 9, does that make any difference?

Thanks again for taking questions, not very often we get this opportunity.

When thinking about school rankings, I generally think in buckets not individual rankings. Especially when they are all so close. Yes, a #4 would be different than a #45. But a #9 vs. #7 is so close that it is really a wash. Especially since the rankings do move around a little each year.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

I am wondering what your view is on following up after not hearing anything from the firm for 2 weeks?
And if I should follow up should I do it via email to the recruiter or my interviewer or call my interviewer (she gave her phone number) or call the recruiter?

THis process takes a really long time so from the firm perspective, 2 weeks is not that long. I know from the student side, though, that it seems like an eternity. I would reach out to the recruiter and see where they are in the process.

[Anonymous User]

Hi LFR, I just sent you a pm for a personal question. Thanks.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

CB Process really varies from firm to firm and market to market. Some firms have rolling callbacks after meeting with candidates during OCI. Others hold all CB decisions until all screens are done at all schools so they can consider the entire pool of candidates. It depends on so many factors including the projected size of the summer class, number of schools visited, etc.

I'd imagine this is the same for callbacks as well, that some firms hold all their offer decisions till after their CBs are done. Screener or CB, I wonder to what extend recruiters and the hiring committee can match faces to names. At this time of year, you see hundreds of resumes and meet dozens of applicants weekly. Resumes don't come with pictures. Thus, do you ever look at the resume of someone you've met during a screener or CB, and can't recall their face? In that case, your evaluation would rest entirely on what you jutted down while meeting or the moment they step out? Is it fair to say then that applicants that you can remember have a huge leg up over the others?

Probably depends on why we remember them! HA! Okay, seriously though. Our recall from callbacks is pretty good and we try to meet with the team after the week of interviews to review and discuss candidates. The ones that made a connection, though, always bubble to the top.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

Hi LFR, I just sent you a pm for a personal question. Thanks.

Check your inbox . . .

[Coolgrnmen]

Is it too late to be submitting applications? I've submitted targeted mailings to over 100 firms with little luck. I'm afraid time may be running short.

[missinglink]

Is it too late to be submitting applications? I've submitted targeted mailings to over 100 firms with little luck. I'm afraid time may be running short.

Not LFR, but if you just sent them out, yes, it is rather late.

I sent stuff out 3 weeks ago and even that was on the late side.

[Anonymous User]

Would you re-imburse a $80 dinner for someone if they didn't spend money on the rest of the meals during the trip? So for example, the total amount that would be reasonable for the day would be $100, but they only spent $80 of it, except they just used it on a nice dinner. Would it make any difference as to if this person received an offer already?

[lawfirmrecruiter]

Is it too late to be submitting applications? I've submitted targeted mailings to over 100 firms with little luck. I'm afraid time may be running short.

It probably depends on what firms you are sending them to. Some smaller markets and smaller firms will wait until later in the cycle to talk to candidates and are completely outside OCI. You might try to focus on smaller firms in your school's market or firms in cities/towns that you may have a networking relationship. While the window for BigLaw is quickly closing, it does not mean you have no further options. You just really need to be strategic in your approach.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

Would you re-imburse a $80 dinner for someone if they didn't spend money on the rest of the meals during the trip? So for example, the total amount that would be reasonable for the day would be $100, but they only spent $80 of it, except they just used it on a nice dinner. Would it make any difference as to if this person received an offer already?

Yes, we would probably reimburse that and it would not make a difference - unless the food was $5 and the liquor was $75 . . .

[Anonymous User]

I had a firm contact me yesterday asking me to come in for an interview. After I said yes, and scheduled for tomorrow (wednesday), I got an offer from a firm that I saw last week. There isn't a chance of me picking tomorrow's firm over last week's firm, but I feel rude canceling just a day before the interview now. I also feel rude about wasting the firm's time and money by going in for interviews with partners when I am not going to work there.

Is there a preference here? And if so, how do I handle this? I feel like a d-bag either way.

Thank you.

[lawfirmrecruiter]

I had a firm contact me yesterday asking me to come in for an interview. After I said yes, and scheduled for tomorrow (wednesday), I got an offer from a firm that I saw last week. There isn't a chance of me picking tomorrow's firm over last week's firm, but I feel rude canceling just a day before the interview now. I also feel rude about wasting the firm's time and money by going in for interviews with partners when I am not going to work there.

Is there a preference here? And if so, how do I handle this? I feel like a d-bag either way.

Thank you.

Go ahead and go on the interview. Even if you don't think you would want to work there, you will be able to make a favorable impression and continue to build your network of attorneys. You do not have to mention the offer you have already received. Also, ITE, it is always a good idea to have options.

[smeezy04]

When is it ok to contact the law firm in regards to an update on one's status? It's been over 2 weeks of silence from some firms, even 3 after a screen interview...