A few questions from a 0L for 1L OCI/1L Summer SA Forum

[rli66]

Hello,

I have several questions for those of you more knowledgeable than myself. I am hoping to secure a 1L SA spot pretty much anywhere. I will be attending The University of Alabama and it is my understanding that Birmingham (and smaller AL market) firms still bring in 1L classes and recruit heavily from Alabama. My goal post graduation is to end up in Atlanta or Dallas. I have strong ties to both areas.

1 - Alabama will not (yet) disclose 1L OCI participants as 1L OCI is in the spring. How do I go about making cover letters when I don't even know which firms will be at OCI? Just make them for everyone and delete the ones that will be there?

2 - What, typically, should I send along with my cover letter and resume as there will be no law school grades? Writing sample? Of what? Anything?

3 - How do I find firms which aren't on the NALP directory on the NLJ 250? Google?

4 - Anything else I should know about this process? What kind of grades do I need to pull a 1L paid internship?

5 -Anything else I should be doing?

[09042014]

1) 1L OCI is a joke.

2) Resume and Cover letter, theyll request more if they want it.

3) Google, chambers and partners.

4) No grades are sufficient to get something 1L OCI. Aim for other things, like Fed Gov as soon as you can. You have to come to terms taht you aren't getting a firm 1L, so look for other stuff.

[xyzbca]

5) Why Bama if your goal is Atlanta or Dallas? (Be prepared to answer this question although I'm guessing Atlanta isn't that much of a stretch)

On a personal level, looking at your LSN profile, I'm curious as to why you chose Alabama over some of the other schools you were accepted at if you want to get to Atlanta or Dallas.

[Grizz]

1) 1L OCI is a joke.

Not in Bham, Huntsville, and other Bama markets. The firms there actually take a decent # of 1Ls, esp. if you have ties to Alabama or got to Bama.

But for ATL and Dallas, should have gone to UVA, bro.

[Grizz]

Also, as to 1, make some generic letters now, fill them in later.

[sarahlawg]

do you send out all the applications without grades and then update them when grades come in? Or should you wait until you have them so you have a complete package to send them?

[Aston2412]

I believe Bradley Arant is the leading firm in Birmingham, if I'm not mistaken. If you want the biggest in Bama, start with them.

[Anonymous User]

I believe Bradley Arant is the leading firm in Birmingham, if I'm not mistaken. If you want the biggest in Bama, start with them.

Yes it is. They have a summer class of over 50 in their birmingham office this summer.

OP: you will not be getting a job in ATL or Dallas from Alabama unless you have top 1% grades.