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Rising 2L here, trying to figure some stuff out. Forgive me if it sounds like I have no idea what I'm talking about, because, really, I don't.

So, my understanding of Cravath's recruiting process is that you have to indicate early on, at the level of the screening interview, whether you are interested in their litigation or their corporate practice. My question is, on their syplycity listing, Cravath wants a cover letter: in the letter, do I already have to make that decision? Can I just extol the awesomeness of each practice group and my interest in each in the letter, and subsequently give them a firmer answer should I get a first round interview? Or do they want to know, in the letter, which one I would indicate my preference for?

If it matters, I'm at BU/BC, so while CSM is obviously a huge reach, they do interview at our NYC program. My grades are solidly above the top 5% cutoff and the NYC program is infinite bid, totally pre-select, so I figure I have nothing to lose but ego by trying. Just trying to figure out how to write the letter.

Thanks.

I would pick either corporate or litigation now, for your cover letter. I know from experience that saying you're interested in both during the screening interview is a big no-no, so they might react negatively to a cover letter that discusses your interest in both. FWIW, I think picking corporate will increase your chances of being called back. At UVA they are actually interviewing 3Ls this fall, but only those who are interested in corporate, which is telling.

Cavalier wrote:I would pick either corporate or litigation now, for your cover letter. I know from experience that saying you're interested in both during the screening interview is a big no-no, so they might react negatively to a cover letter that discusses your interest in both. FWIW, I think picking corporate will increase your chances of being called back. At UVA they are actually interviewing 3Ls this fall, but only those who are interested in corporate, which is telling.

Same at NYU; they're only interviewing 3Ls for corporate.

Weird that they're asking BU/BC students for a cover letter, though. They're not asking for one at NYU (just the typical oddity of asking for an undergrad transcript).

OP here:

Thanks for the quick replies. That was my thinking, too, both with regards to picking one in the cover letter, and to picking corp (they say they're interviewing 3Ls for corp here, too).

BenJ wrote:Cavalier wrote:
I would pick either corporate or litigation now, for your cover letter. I know from experience that saying you're interested in both during the screening interview is a big no-no, so they might react negatively to a cover letter that discusses your interest in both. FWIW, I think picking corporate will increase your chances of being called back. At UVA they are actually interviewing 3Ls this fall, but only those who are interested in corporate, which is telling.


Same at NYU; they're only interviewing 3Ls for corporate.

Weird that they're asking BU/BC students for a cover letter, though. They're not asking for one at NYU (just the typical oddity of asking for an undergrad transcript).

What do you mean they are only interviewing 3Ls for corporate? They are interviewing 2Ls for corporate as well...

I think the posters meant to say that they're NOT interviewing 3Ls for litigation.

Anonymous User wrote:

BenJ wrote:Cavalier wrote:
I would pick either corporate or litigation now, for your cover letter. I know from experience that saying you're interested in both during the screening interview is a big no-no, so they might react negatively to a cover letter that discusses your interest in both. FWIW, I think picking corporate will increase your chances of being called back. At UVA they are actually interviewing 3Ls this fall, but only those who are interested in corporate, which is telling.


Same at NYU; they're only interviewing 3Ls for corporate.

Weird that they're asking BU/BC students for a cover letter, though. They're not asking for one at NYU (just the typical oddity of asking for an undergrad transcript).

What do you mean they are only interviewing 3Ls for corporate? They are interviewing 2Ls for corporate as well...

He means 3Ls that want to do litigation are SoL.

Anonymous User wrote:

BenJ wrote:Cavalier wrote:
I would pick either corporate or litigation now, for your cover letter. I know from experience that saying you're interested in both during the screening interview is a big no-no, so they might react negatively to a cover letter that discusses your interest in both. FWIW, I think picking corporate will increase your chances of being called back. At UVA they are actually interviewing 3Ls this fall, but only those who are interested in corporate, which is telling.


Same at NYU; they're only interviewing 3Ls for corporate.

Weird that they're asking BU/BC students for a cover letter, though. They're not asking for one at NYU (just the typical oddity of asking for an undergrad transcript).

What do you mean they are only interviewing 3Ls for corporate? They are interviewing 2Ls for corporate as well...

reading comprehension fail. and why is this anonymous

RCRARollin wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

BenJ wrote:Cavalier wrote:
I would pick either corporate or litigation now, for your cover letter. I know from experience that saying you're interested in both during the screening interview is a big no-no, so they might react negatively to a cover letter that discusses your interest in both. FWIW, I think picking corporate will increase your chances of being called back. At UVA they are actually interviewing 3Ls this fall, but only those who are interested in corporate, which is telling.


Same at NYU; they're only interviewing 3Ls for corporate.

Weird that they're asking BU/BC students for a cover letter, though. They're not asking for one at NYU (just the typical oddity of asking for an undergrad transcript).

What do you mean they are only interviewing 3Ls for corporate? They are interviewing 2Ls for corporate as well...

reading comprehension fail. and why is this anonymous

Um. More like misplaced modifier fail.