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Hello all,

I go to an Ontario school where a few (around 10) NY Big Law firms are conducting OCIs. The information section posted by the firms states that an "unofficial transcript" and a cover letter are required. Should I include my undergraduate transcript, or just my law school transcript? Also, is a 1-page resume the norm?

Trustee wrote:Hello all,

I go to an Ontario school where a few (around 10) NY Big Law firms are conducting OCIs. The information section posted by the firms states that an "unofficial transcript" and a cover letter are required. Should I include my undergraduate transcript, or just my law school transcript? Also, is a 1-page resume the norm?

Normally, I respond to these kind of threads with either "really, you're asking that question!?" or "go speak to your career office" but since you're Canadian (sorry bout that) and a first-time poster: they want your law school transcript and you should use a 1-page legal resume (education, then work experience, with activities/languages/publications at the bottom if you have space to fill or applicable information). The only time where your UG transcript is needed is if you're doing some kinds of IP work or you are applying to a very small number of firms who specifically request it.

Your career office has all this information.

Sup Kid wrote:

Trustee wrote:Hello all,

I go to an Ontario school where a few (around 10) NY Big Law firms are conducting OCIs. The information section posted by the firms states that an "unofficial transcript" and a cover letter are required. Should I include my undergraduate transcript, or just my law school transcript? Also, is a 1-page resume the norm?

Normally, I respond to these kind of threads with either "really, you're asking that question!?" or "go speak to your career office" but since you're Canadian (sorry bout that) and a first-time poster: they want your law school transcript and you should use a 1-page legal resume (education, then work experience, with activities/languages/publications at the bottom if you have space to fill or applicable information). The only time where your UG transcript is needed is if you're doing some kinds of IP work or you are applying to a very small number of firms who specifically request it.

That's a relief. So what do my chances look like with a 3.7 1L gpa (top 3%)?

Trustee wrote:

Sup Kid wrote:

Trustee wrote:Hello all,

I go to an Ontario school where a few (around 10) NY Big Law firms are conducting OCIs. The information section posted by the firms states that an "unofficial transcript" and a cover letter are required. Should I include my undergraduate transcript, or just my law school transcript? Also, is a 1-page resume the norm?

Normally, I respond to these kind of threads with either "really, you're asking that question!?" or "go speak to your career office" but since you're Canadian (sorry bout that) and a first-time poster: they want your law school transcript and you should use a 1-page legal resume (education, then work experience, with activities/languages/publications at the bottom if you have space to fill or applicable information). The only time where your UG transcript is needed is if you're doing some kinds of IP work or you are applying to a very small number of firms who specifically request it.

That's a relief. So what do my chances look like with a 3.7 1L gpa (top 3%)?

I might be wrong, but I doubt that too many on here have enough of an idea about the chances Canadian law school attendees have of getting jobs in the states. Your career services office and upperclassmen at your school are probably going to be a much better help. Out of curiosity, which firms are coming to your OCI?

Helmholtz wrote:I might be wrong, but I doubt that too many on here have enough of an idea about the chances Canadian law school attendees have of getting jobs in the states. Your career services office and upperclassmen at your school are probably going to be a much better help. Out of curiosity, which firms are coming to your OCI?

Yeah, I'm not sure about chances from a Canadian law school, but I would guess that you have a decent shot at least for the 10 coming to your OCI. Two things to do: check with career services and search firms' websites for attorneys that went to your law school. Those firms that have hired people from your school in the past 1-3 years are the ones to mass mail as soon as you can, and possibly email the alumni to get their take on the process.

If you are a law student at Toronto in the top 3%, you should do very well.

firms that are participating in OCIs:
Skadden, Sullivan & Cromwell; Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; White & Case LLP, Milbank; Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP; Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP; mayer brown llp; Shearman & Sterling; Shearman & Sterling; Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP; & Cravath

Any tips on how these firms rank, reaches etc. ? Also, are NY firms grade-centric or will my lack of meaningful work experience be an issue?