V15 Partner/OCI Interviewer Answering Questions... Forum

[Anonymous User]

SA here. I met an associate at a firm event, and he/she is in a practice field I am interested in. I emailed him/her and asked for advice over a cup of coffee. In response, he/she first agreed, but when I tried to set up the time via email, I got no response.
Should I take this as him/her not liking me, or just busy and forgot?

[TooOld4This]

SA here. I met an associate at a firm event, and he/she is in a practice field I am interested in. I emailed him/her and asked for advice over a cup of coffee. In response, he/she first agreed, but when I tried to set up the time via email, I got no response.
Should I take this as him/her not liking me, or just busy and forgot?

Busy. Reach out one more time. Maybe drop by (know your office). Don't take it personally.

[Anonymous User]

3.8, will probably be on law review at MVP. I have good, but not great, WE. Have ties to DC.

I get nervous in interviews. If I'm not able to overcome that by Fall, am I sunk at DC/NYC firms?

[5ky]

3.8, will probably be on law review at MVP. I have good, but not great, WE. Have ties to DC.

I get nervous in interviews. If I'm not able to overcome that by Fall, am I sunk at DC/NYC firms?

Not OP so I'll let him address the substance of your question.

I will note that you will have so many screeners in such a short time frame, all of which ask the exact same questions, that you'll calm down very quickly. I was really nervous for my first few, but towards the end I was on such autopilot I had the opposite problem, and really had to force myself to be lively during the interviews

[itbdvorm]

Have you ever considered a candidate "strong," but then looked at her google "presence" and turned her down or at least come close to doing it?

not that i can recall, would need to be a pretty bizarre google "presence"

[itbdvorm]

SA here. I met an associate at a firm event, and he/she is in a practice field I am interested in. I emailed him/her and asked for advice over a cup of coffee. In response, he/she first agreed, but when I tried to set up the time via email, I got no response.
Should I take this as him/her not liking me, or just busy and forgot?

Busy. Reach out one more time. Maybe drop by (know your office). Don't take it personally.

agree

[itbdvorm]

3.8, will probably be on law review at MVP. I have good, but not great, WE. Have ties to DC.

I get nervous in interviews. If I'm not able to overcome that by Fall, am I sunk at DC/NYC firms?

Not OP so I'll let him address the substance of your question.

I will note that you will have so many screeners in such a short time frame, all of which ask the exact same questions, that you'll calm down very quickly. I was really nervous for my first few, but towards the end I was on such autopilot I had the opposite problem, and really had to force myself to be lively during the interviews

general nervousness will not be a deal-killer at many, many firms. there are a few firms that focus pretty strongly on "fit". but S&C, for example, couldn't give a crap

[Anonymous User]

3.8, will probably be on law review at MVP. I have good, but not great, WE. Have ties to DC.

I get nervous in interviews. If I'm not able to overcome that by Fall, am I sunk at DC/NYC firms?

Not OP so I'll let him address the substance of your question.

I will note that you will have so many screeners in such a short time frame, all of which ask the exact same questions, that you'll calm down very quickly. I was really nervous for my first few, but towards the end I was on such autopilot I had the opposite problem, and really had to force myself to be lively during the interviews

general nervousness will not be a deal-killer at many, many firms. there are a few firms that focus pretty strongly on "fit". but S&C, for example, couldn't give a crap

so the nervous among us should target S&C

[itbdvorm]

3.8, will probably be on law review at MVP. I have good, but not great, WE. Have ties to DC.

I get nervous in interviews. If I'm not able to overcome that by Fall, am I sunk at DC/NYC firms?

Not OP so I'll let him address the substance of your question.

I will note that you will have so many screeners in such a short time frame, all of which ask the exact same questions, that you'll calm down very quickly. I was really nervous for my first few, but towards the end I was on such autopilot I had the opposite problem, and really had to force myself to be lively during the interviews

general nervousness will not be a deal-killer at many, many firms. there are a few firms that focus pretty strongly on "fit". but S&C, for example, couldn't give a crap

so the nervous among us should target S&C

the nervous with great grades, yes

[Anonymous User]

I ended up needing surgery right before and right after my final exams. Is there any way to put this in a cover letter to mitigate a drop in grades?

[itbdvorm]

I ended up needing surgery right before and right after my final exams. Is there any way to put this in a cover letter to mitigate a drop in grades?

Not really. Worth trying, but focus more on being awesome in an interview and then having your interviewer go to bat for you than trying to win him/her over w/a sob story...

[Anonymous User]

I ended up needing surgery right before and right after my final exams. Is there any way to put this in a cover letter to mitigate a drop in grades?

Not really. Worth trying, but focus more on being awesome in an interview and then having your interviewer go to bat for you than trying to win him/her over w/a sob story...

I'm mostly concerned about getting the interview

[anon168]

I ended up needing surgery right before and right after my final exams. Is there any way to put this in a cover letter to mitigate a drop in grades?

Not really. Worth trying, but focus more on being awesome in an interview and then having your interviewer go to bat for you than trying to win him/her over w/a sob story...

I'm mostly concerned about getting the interview

Let me just chime in for a moment here.

After having reviewed hundreds of applications and cover letters over the years, it never comes off well when someone tries to make an excuse for either low grades, or a drop in grades.

Just because you've had a personal hardship, doesn't mean that other people in your class also didn't have a similar (or worse) personal hardship.

Life isn't about making excuses for what happened. Life is about overcoming personal obstacles.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks to OP and others for all their insight. This thread is great.

My question may be too fact-specific, but how important should personal fit be in making your own choice about which firm to go to? Such as in the following situation:

Firm A - V50, Band 1 in practice area of interest, extensive practice in sub-area of interest, fit is fine but not great

Firm B - V100, unranked for practice area of interest, small practice in sub-area of interest, fit is great, excellent connection to a partner that works in sub-area of interest

Are the opportunities at Firm A likely to be so much greater that I should suck it up?

[Anonymous User]

I ended up needing surgery right before and right after my final exams. Is there any way to put this in a cover letter to mitigate a drop in grades?

Not really. Worth trying, but focus more on being awesome in an interview and then having your interviewer go to bat for you than trying to win him/her over w/a sob story...

I'm mostly concerned about getting the interview

Let me just chime in for a moment here.

After having reviewed hundreds of applications and cover letters over the years, it never comes off well when someone tries to make an excuse for either low grades, or a drop in grades.

Just because you've had a personal hardship, doesn't mean that other people in your class also didn't have a similar (or worse) personal hardship.

Life isn't about making excuses for what happened. Life is about overcoming personal obstacles.

Piggybacking off this question for u and op.... Nt making excuses np but how does a paragraph in a cover letter about a significant drop in grades .... Something to the f
Effect of ( there was a significant drop off in my vp grades from first semester to second semester. I have spoken with my roles sorts and analyzed my test and I where my mistakes lie. I am confident that my first semester grads are more of an accurate representation of my skills and abilities and I am positive that by implementing changes that this will not happen again.)......

I actually know where I went wrong in my exams it was more of test taking strategy flaw than a knowledge of the material flaw... Should I lave it short like this one... Expand a little or just leave it out all together??

[itbdvorm]

Thanks to OP and others for all their insight. This thread is great.

My question may be too fact-specific, but how important should personal fit be in making your own choice about which firm to go to? Such as in the following situation:

Firm A - V50, Band 1 in practice area of interest, extensive practice in sub-area of interest, fit is fine but not great

Firm B - V100, unranked for practice area of interest, small practice in sub-area of interest, fit is great, excellent connection to a partner that works in sub-area of interest

Are the opportunities at Firm A likely to be so much greater that I should suck it up?

decent odds of yes. unless you know for a fact that partner is going to take you under his wing. but it's a guessing game, probably not going that wrong either way but greater chance Firm B leads to you not practicing in your "area of interest"

[itbdvorm]

Let me just chime in for a moment here.

After having reviewed hundreds of applications and cover letters over the years, it never comes off well when someone tries to make an excuse for either low grades, or a drop in grades.

Just because you've had a personal hardship, doesn't mean that other people in your class also didn't have a similar (or worse) personal hardship.

Life isn't about making excuses for what happened. Life is about overcoming personal obstacles.

Piggybacking off this question for u and op.... Nt making excuses np but how does a paragraph in a cover letter about a significant drop in grades .... Something to the f
Effect of ( there was a significant drop off in my vp grades from first semester to second semester. I have spoken with my roles sorts and analyzed my test and I where my mistakes lie. I am confident that my first semester grads are more of an accurate representation of my skills and abilities and I am positive that by implementing changes that this will not happen again.)......

I actually know where I went wrong in my exams it was more of test taking strategy flaw than a knowledge of the material flaw... Should I lave it short like this one... Expand a little or just leave it out all together??

I fully agree with anon168 as usual. This letter would be useless to me. What about that isn't an excuse? Your grades aren't great but you're smarter than you showed?

[Anonymous User]

Let me just chime in for a moment here.

After having reviewed hundreds of applications and cover letters over the years, it never comes off well when someone tries to make an excuse for either low grades, or a drop in grades.

Just because you've had a personal hardship, doesn't mean that other people in your class also didn't have a similar (or worse) personal hardship.

Life isn't about making excuses for what happened. Life is about overcoming personal obstacles.

Piggybacking off this question for u and op.... Nt making excuses np but how does a paragraph in a cover letter about a significant drop in grades .... Something to the f
Effect of ( there was a significant drop off in my vp grades from first semester to second semester. I have spoken with my roles sorts and analyzed my test and I where my mistakes lie. I am confident that my first semester grads are more of an accurate representation of my skills and abilities and I am positive that by implementing changes that this will not happen again.)......

I actually know where I went wrong in my exams it was more of test taking strategy flaw than a knowledge of the material flaw... Should I lave it short like this one... Expand a little or just leave it out all together??

I fully agree with anon168 as usual. This letter would be useless to me. What about that isn't an excuse? Your grades aren't great but you're smarter than you showed?

So is it pretty much safe to say never address a grade drop in a cover letter except for a legit medical reason?

[anon168]

Thanks to OP and others for all their insight. This thread is great.

My question may be too fact-specific, but how important should personal fit be in making your own choice about which firm to go to? Such as in the following situation:

Firm A - V50, Band 1 in practice area of interest, extensive practice in sub-area of interest, fit is fine but not great

Firm B - V100, unranked for practice area of interest, small practice in sub-area of interest, fit is great, excellent connection to a partner that works in sub-area of interest

Are the opportunities at Firm A likely to be so much greater that I should suck it up?

decent odds of yes. unless you know for a fact that partner is going to take you under his wing. but it's a guessing game, probably not going that wrong either way but greater chance Firm B leads to you not practicing in your "area of interest"

I worry about people who post questions like this on boards such as this one.

No one - and certainly no one here - knows your personal situation better than yourself. If you don't know how important "fit" is to you and your situation, then how is it possible for a complete anonymous stranger to figure that out.

Better to ask your parents, mentors, older siblings or whatever, but not us.

Better yet, figure it out yourself. At some point you're going to have to be a big boy, grow up, look yourself in the mirror and make a decision.

No time like the present to start.

[anon168]

Let me just chime in for a moment here.

After having reviewed hundreds of applications and cover letters over the years, it never comes off well when someone tries to make an excuse for either low grades, or a drop in grades.

Just because you've had a personal hardship, doesn't mean that other people in your class also didn't have a similar (or worse) personal hardship.

Life isn't about making excuses for what happened. Life is about overcoming personal obstacles.

Piggybacking off this question for u and op.... Nt making excuses np but how does a paragraph in a cover letter about a significant drop in grades .... Something to the f
Effect of ( there was a significant drop off in my vp grades from first semester to second semester. I have spoken with my roles sorts and analyzed my test and I where my mistakes lie. I am confident that my first semester grads are more of an accurate representation of my skills and abilities and I am positive that by implementing changes that this will not happen again.)......

I actually know where I went wrong in my exams it was more of test taking strategy flaw than a knowledge of the material flaw... Should I lave it short like this one... Expand a little or just leave it out all together??

I fully agree with anon168 as usual. This letter would be useless to me. What about that isn't an excuse? Your grades aren't great but you're smarter than you showed?

So is it pretty much safe to say never address a grade drop in a cover letter except for a legit medical reason?

No, dude. Just no.

Read the entire sub-thread. Please.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks to OP and others for all their insight. This thread is great.

My question may be too fact-specific, but how important should personal fit be in making your own choice about which firm to go to? Such as in the following situation:

Firm A - V50, Band 1 in practice area of interest, extensive practice in sub-area of interest, fit is fine but not great

Firm B - V100, unranked for practice area of interest, small practice in sub-area of interest, fit is great, excellent connection to a partner that works in sub-area of interest

Are the opportunities at Firm A likely to be so much greater that I should suck it up?

decent odds of yes. unless you know for a fact that partner is going to take you under his wing. but it's a guessing game, probably not going that wrong either way but greater chance Firm B leads to you not practicing in your "area of interest"

I worry about people who post questions like this on boards such as this one.

No one - and certainly no one here - knows your personal situation better than yourself. If you don't know how important "fit" is to you and your situation, then how is it possible for a complete anonymous stranger to figure that out.

Better to ask your parents, mentors, older siblings or whatever, but not us.

Better yet, figure it out yourself. At some point you're going to have to be a big boy, grow up, look yourself in the mirror and make a decision.

No time like the present to start.

Definitely doing that too, but I often find different and valuable perspectives on here. Parents, mentors, etc. tend to put an overly optimistic spin on things, IME.

[Anonymous User]

My grades tanked, horribly, this semester.
Is there anything I can do to get an interview anyway? (Assume I'm well below any cutoffs a firm might have)

[itbdvorm]

My grades tanked, horribly, this semester.
Is there anything I can do to get an interview anyway? (Assume I'm well below any cutoffs a firm might have)

have your friend/uncle/dad/cousin/etc. who is a big client of the firm call and ask. but why waste your time? all interviews aren't created equal. unless your dad's the ceo of bigfirm client X, you're not going to get the job if your grades are well below cutoffs. period.

[roranoa]

Do you know anyone (from your firm or from your school) who quit BigLaw and landed a professorship?
If you do, do you know how they did it?

[TooOld4This]

Do you know anyone (from your firm or from your school) who quit BigLaw and landed a professorship?
If you do, do you know how they did it?

Yes. Most: HYS (some T14s too)-->clerkship-->BigLaw for 2-3years-->professor (or VAP then prof)

A few worked for 6-10 years in a niche area, wrote during that time and then made the jump.