Thesealocust's Guide to Whether or Not You Should Do OCI Forum

[thesealocust]

Yes, you should.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Somebody sticky this, pronto!

[gwuorbust]

worthless threads are worthless

[OperaSoprano]

I'm going to second this. It's a worthwhile experience even if you're fairly sure you want to do public interest, or some other non-biglaw job. At most schools, OCI =/= exclusively firms, and running the interviewing gauntlet helped me figure out exactly what I did want. I felt well prepared for that interview when it came.

[denardisgod]

.

[Julio_El_Chavo]

worthless threads are worthless

you mad?

[OperaSoprano]

I'm going to second this. It's a worthwhile experience even if you're fairly sure you want to do public interest, or some other non-biglaw job. At most schools, OCI =/= exclusively firms, and running the interviewing gauntlet helped me figure out exactly what I did want. I felt well prepared for that interview when it came.

so worthless thread not worthless?

My point. I was far from the only person on the fence. A lot of PI minded people at my school skipped OCI, but the experience has value and I advise people considering it to do it. You can still take a public interest position, and may even find one during the latter weeks of OCI, depending on your school's schedule.

[Anonymous User]

Yes, you should.

Blargh. You would make this thread. There's got to be scenarios where it's not worth doing OCI.

OperaSoprano; what is the experience that it gives to people who only want to do PI? Sure, "interview" experience I suppose. But it seems like it would just be a timesink.

[3ThrowAway99]

Yes, you should.

Have you demanded your content competition award yet?

[OperaSoprano]

I'm going to second this. It's a worthwhile experience even if you're fairly sure you want to do public interest, or some other non-biglaw job. At most schools, OCI =/= exclusively firms, and running the interviewing gauntlet helped me figure out exactly what I did want. I felt well prepared for that interview when it came.

so worthless thread not worthless?

My point. I was far from the only person on the fence. A lot of PI minded people at my school skipped OCI, but the experience has value and I advise people considering it to do it. You can still take a public interest position, and may even find one during the latter weeks of OCI, depending on your school's schedule.

Except you're actually taking interview slots from people who don't want PI, so don't mindlessly do OCI for experience.

I was seriously thinking about a firm job at the time I did it. I don't think anyone should completely close off an avenue that might lead to a job-- few people are so well positioned that we know for sure what we're going to get, or even what we want. OCI gave me good interviewing experience and clarity, which is why I recommend it. I also bid on some non-firm employers who came to our latter weeks.

[OperaSoprano]

I was seriously thinking about a firm job at the time I did it. I don't think anyone should completely close off an avenue that might lead to a job-- few people are so well positioned that we know for sure what we're going to get, or even what we want. OCI gave me good interviewing experience and clarity, which is why I recommend it. I also bid on some non-firm employers who came to our latter weeks.

I'm not talking about you in particular. If you're on the fence, by all means do OCI, but people shouldn't be using it as practice if they have no interest whatsoever in biglaw (this happens).

To be clear, I agree that people shouldn't take interview slots with firms (or other employers) if they know they'd never accept a job there. That's effectively stealing from one's classmates. I merely noted that a lot of my classmates were unsure, and participating either got them a firm job or gave them insight into why they wanted PI. My best advice is to be flexible and approach all legal hiring with an open mind.