3L OCI/Employment Search Results: Forum

[Anonymous User]

I will start:

School: Wustl/UIUC/ND
Market(s): Midwest, NYC
Approximate class rank: Top 15-20%
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: 0
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? Yes, market paying firm.
Offered? No, firm offer rate ~50%
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 3, None from OCI.
Mass mails: 50+ "targeted" mass mail.
Callbacks received: 2, 1 Midlaw market, 1 NLJ250. Both in secondary home markets.
Offers: 1 Reject, 1 silence for over a month.
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: Tons
Clerkship Interview: 1 State Appellate ... still waiting. 0/??? Fed Clerkship.
Other: Brutal.... basically fought for every one of the 3 interviews I received. Networked with over 50 people. Only received the interviews and callbacks because of the networking that I did. Talked to my school's career center and they were surprised at the number of callbacks that I received.... Told me I was doing well.
Once you get no offered you are considered "damaged goods" no matter what the reason is. Might actually want to consider leaving off your summer job if you don't get an offer.

[Bosque]

This thread has depression written all over it.

[Anonymous User]

School: T10
Market(s): Anywhere
Approximate class rank: Top 20% maybe a bit higher
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: A bit
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? no
Offered? N/A
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 5
Mass mails: 600+
Callbacks received: 0
Offers: 0
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: A lot
Clerkship Interview: 0/200 here
Other: It's really been a difficult process to accept that despite my credentials, I am virtually unemployable. I've accepted that fact and am looking into service industry jobs (starbucks, waitressing) which pay more than the legal field options currently available. If you strike out at 2L OCI, I encourage dropping out, there is not much left after that except positions with 1000 applicants per spot available.

[dailygrind]

School: T10
Market(s): Anywhere
Approximate class rank: Top 20% maybe a bit higher
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: A bit
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? no
Offered? N/A
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 5
Mass mails: 600+
Callbacks received: 0
Offers: 0
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: A lot
Clerkship Interview: 0/200 here
Other: It's really been a difficult process to accept that despite my credentials, I am virtually unemployable. I've accepted that fact and am looking into service industry jobs (starbucks, waitressing) which pay more than the legal field options currently available. If you strike out at 2L OCI, I encourage dropping out, there is not much left after that except positions with 1000 applicants per spot available.

Can't you find something with a small, local firm that's impressed by the t10 name (and grades)?

[Anonymous User]

I dont mind sharing...hope the despair will be over soon.

School: T20
Market(s): West, but flexible
Approximate class rank: Top 35%
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: 0, working part-time now
IP background: Yes
Summer Associate Position? No, decent paid internship elsewhere.
Offered? No.
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): Diversity
Screening Interviews: ~3.
Mass mails: 50+ "targeted" mass mail.
Callbacks received: N/A, some from informational interview
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: Not many, most responded with a rejection letter in a few days.
Other: Good side is that I have a decent paying legal thing to cover some of my 3L expenses. Otherwise its bad. Applying for public interest fellowships and considering doing a Tax LLM if all else fails. Networked with mid-law partners and had decent conversations with most of them, they are just NOT HIRING.
Still debating between law/non-law jobs, I guess I am in pure depression now.

[Anonymous User]

School: CCN
Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: Median after 1L, Top 1/3 after 2L
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: 0
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? No, worked state gov.
Offered? No
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 12 at OCI, 2 after, 0 from mailings
Mass mails: 50+ semi-targeted mass mails (generic cover letter with firm name/info mixed in
Callbacks received: 3, (1 V40 from OCI, 1 V40 from resume drop, 1 V10 from networking)
Offers: 2 Rejections, 1 silence for about 2 months.
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: About 1/2 of my mass mails
Clerkship Interview: 50+ apps, no interviews
Other: Just awful. Luckily I had 12 3L OCI screeners because I found out later a few firms came to 3L OCI and didn't call anyone back, a few others were only looking for people with 2L SA offers. Starting to lose hope for that biglaw job I came to law school to get.

[Anonymous User]

School: T10
Market(s): Anywhere
Approximate class rank: Top 20% maybe a bit higher
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: A bit
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? no
Offered? N/A
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 5
Mass mails: 600+
Callbacks received: 0
Offers: 0
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: A lot
Clerkship Interview: 0/200 here
Other: It's really been a difficult process to accept that despite my credentials, I am virtually unemployable. I've accepted that fact and am looking into service industry jobs (starbucks, waitressing) which pay more than the legal field options currently available. If you strike out at 2L OCI, I encourage dropping out, there is not much left after that except positions with 1000 applicants per spot available.

Can't you find something with a small, local firm that's impressed by the t10 name (and grades)?

Shitlaw pays around 40-50k for Biglaw hours. So basically you are getting what a Starbucks barrista makes, except with a lot more mind numbingly boring work. Not worth it to me.

[Anonymous User]

School: CCN
Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: Median after 1L, Top 1/3 after 2L
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: 0
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? No, worked state gov.
Offered? No
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 12 at OCI, 2 after, 0 from mailings
Mass mails: 50+ semi-targeted mass mails (generic cover letter with firm name/info mixed in
Callbacks received: 3, (1 V40 from OCI, 1 V40 from resume drop, 1 V10 from networking)
Offers: 2 Rejections, 1 silence for about 2 months.
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: About 1/2 of my mass mails
Clerkship Interview: 50+ apps, no interviews
Other: Just awful. Luckily I had 12 3L OCI screeners because I found out later a few firms came to 3L OCI and didn't call anyone back, a few others were only looking for people with 2L SA offers. Starting to lose hope for that biglaw job I came to law school to get.

Op here.. What do you think the silence means? I had the same thing happen to me after a callback.. 2 months of silence.

[dailygrind]

Shitlaw pays around 40-50k for Biglaw hours. So basically you are getting what a Starbucks barrista makes, except with a lot more mind numbingly boring work. Not worth it to me.

At least you get to build skills which may be transferable to something bigger and better. Working as a waiter/barista pretty much limits you to working as a waiter/barista or going into restaurant management. Besides which, baristas probably make a good chunk less than 40-50k a year.

[Anonymous User]

School: CCN
Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: Median after 1L, Top 1/3 after 2L
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: 0
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? No, worked state gov.
Offered? No
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 12 at OCI, 2 after, 0 from mailings
Mass mails: 50+ semi-targeted mass mails (generic cover letter with firm name/info mixed in
Callbacks received: 3, (1 V40 from OCI, 1 V40 from resume drop, 1 V10 from networking)
Offers: 2 Rejections, 1 silence for about 2 months.
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: About 1/2 of my mass mails
Clerkship Interview: 50+ apps, no interviews
Other: Just awful. Luckily I had 12 3L OCI screeners because I found out later a few firms came to 3L OCI and didn't call anyone back, a few others were only looking for people with 2L SA offers. Starting to lose hope for that biglaw job I came to law school to get.

Op here.. What do you think the silence means? I had the same thing happen to me after a callback.. 2 months of silence.

Not sure. Perhaps they are waiting for Nov. 1 and the last of their SA class to accept or decline offers. The hiring was done for a specific group that is supposedly slammed with work right now but may be affected by an economic downturn, so maybe they do not want to jump the gun and hire people. Or maybe they lost my rejection letter. It's happened three times before.

I actually waited 4 months for a rejection from a callback last year.

[Anonymous User]

School: T20
Market(s): DC
Approximate class rank: Below Median
Law review: None
Work experience: Technology consulting
IP background: Passed patent bar, no legal IP work experience
Summer Associate Position? No.
Offered? No.
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 1 from OCI. 2 from mass mailing.
Mass mails: 25+ "targeted" mass mail, targeting DC IP.
Callbacks received: 1, Boutique. Next monday.
Offers: Cross your fingers!
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: Tons
Clerkship Interview: NA
Other: IP is key.

[PeanutHead]

considering doing a Tax LLM if all else fails.

This is a terrible idea. Unless you are already at NYU or GULC and can "re-do" OCI as a 2L by getting into the joint degree program then this would be a waste of time and money. GULC and NYU share a hiring program called TIP. Biglaw really doesn't hire much out of TIP, so the best you can hope for is Big 4--not to say at all that Big 4 is a bad thing at all. Tax Court? Forget about it. DOJ Tax? Not hiring. IRS? Maybe.

Employers know that people with no interest in tax try to use the Tax LLM as a last resort to get into Biglaw. If you didn't do something tax related during 1L or 2L year, then it looks odd that all of a sudden you developed a love for tax.

The one area where people do seem to be having some success is by doing the Employee benefits program (part of the tax LLM at GULC, not sure if NYU has a similar program). Everyone seems to hate the classes and topic in general, but they have had some success in the job market.

Best of luck.

[Anonymous User]

School: CCN
Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: Median after 1L, Top 1/3 after 2L
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: 0
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? No, worked state gov.
Offered? No
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 12 at OCI, 2 after, 0 from mailings
Mass mails: 50+ semi-targeted mass mails (generic cover letter with firm name/info mixed in
Callbacks received: 3, (1 V40 from OCI, 1 V40 from resume drop, 1 V10 from networking)
Offers: 2 Rejections, 1 silence for about 2 months.
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: About 1/2 of my mass mails
Clerkship Interview: 50+ apps, no interviews
Other: Just awful. Luckily I had 12 3L OCI screeners because I found out later a few firms came to 3L OCI and didn't call anyone back, a few others were only looking for people with 2L SA offers. Starting to lose hope for that biglaw job I came to law school to get.

Op here.. What do you think the silence means? I had the same thing happen to me after a callback.. 2 months of silence.

Not sure. Perhaps they are waiting for Nov. 1 and the last of their SA class to accept or decline offers. The hiring was done for a specific group that is supposedly slammed with work right now but may be affected by an economic downturn, so maybe they do not want to jump the gun and hire people. Or maybe they lost my rejection letter. It's happened three times before.

I actually waited 4 months for a rejection from a callback last year.

I was thinking about the Nov 1st thing, but the firm I interviewed with is a middle size firm. I also interviewed with a specific group. Have you tried emailing HR? Ive emailed them a couple weeks ago and there hasn't been a response either way.

[Anonymous User]

School: CCN
Market(s): NYC
Approximate class rank: Median after 1L, Top 1/3 after 2L
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: 0
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? No, worked state gov.
Offered? No
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 12 at OCI, 2 after, 0 from mailings
Mass mails: 50+ semi-targeted mass mails (generic cover letter with firm name/info mixed in
Callbacks received: 3, (1 V40 from OCI, 1 V40 from resume drop, 1 V10 from networking)
Offers: 2 Rejections, 1 silence for about 2 months.
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: About 1/2 of my mass mails
Clerkship Interview: 50+ apps, no interviews
Other: Just awful. Luckily I had 12 3L OCI screeners because I found out later a few firms came to 3L OCI and didn't call anyone back, a few others were only looking for people with 2L SA offers. Starting to lose hope for that biglaw job I came to law school to get.

Op here.. What do you think the silence means? I had the same thing happen to me after a callback.. 2 months of silence.

Not sure. Perhaps they are waiting for Nov. 1 and the last of their SA class to accept or decline offers. The hiring was done for a specific group that is supposedly slammed with work right now but may be affected by an economic downturn, so maybe they do not want to jump the gun and hire people. Or maybe they lost my rejection letter. It's happened three times before.

I actually waited 4 months for a rejection from a callback last year.

I was thinking about the Nov 1st thing, but the firm I interviewed with is a middle size firm. I also interviewed with a specific group. Have you tried emailing HR? Ive emailed them a couple weeks ago and there hasn't been a response either way.

I gave them a call a few weeks ago and never heard back. I have two old bosses with connections to this firm and OCS has promised to reach out to an alumni partner who I interviewed with. So I could be getting updates soon, but I don't think it will affect the hiring decision.

[A'nold]

Lol. Baristas make like 18k a year.

[Anonymous User]

School: T10
Market(s): Anywhere
Approximate class rank: Top 20% maybe a bit higher
Law review: Secondary Journal
Work experience: A bit
IP background: 0
Summer Associate Position? no
Offered? N/A
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): no
Screening Interviews: 5
Mass mails: 600+
Callbacks received: 0
Offers: 0
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: A lot
Clerkship Interview: 0/200 here
Other: It's really been a difficult process to accept that despite my credentials, I am virtually unemployable. I've accepted that fact and am looking into service industry jobs (starbucks, waitressing) which pay more than the legal field options currently available. If you strike out at 2L OCI, I encourage dropping out, there is not much left after that except positions with 1000 applicants per spot available.

Can't you find something with a small, local firm that's impressed by the t10 name (and grades)?

Shitlaw pays around 40-50k for Biglaw hours. So basically you are getting what a Starbucks barrista makes, except with a lot more mind numbingly boring work. Not worth it to me.

You said no SA position - what did you do over the summer?

[Anonymous User]

Lol. Baristas make like 18k a year.

Yes and Shitlaw makes roughly double after tax for more than double the work. Edit, mean double the hours for double the pay. Thus, I don't see the difference in salary.

[Anonymous User]

Lol. Baristas make like 18k a year.

Yes and Shitlaw makes roughly double after tax for more than double the work.

ummm....you can't expect your pay to proportionally increase with the amount you work.

[IAFG]

Okay, but what are the exit options from Starbucks? I know it's rough out there but there is some entry level work to be had, and you've got to seem more qualified than the sea of English BAs.

[Anonymous User]

I wonder what the financial situation is for the person who starts out working at a big box retailer during high school and works his way up the chain to manager vs. a recent law school graduate with no job prospects or shitlaw. I remember some family members suggested I forego college and go work retail. At the time I thought they were crazy. Now, with no job prospects, and seeing my older cousin who went this route making close to 6 figures (his employer paid for him to attend college and he can go for his MBA if he wants), I wonder what might have been.

I go to CCN btw.

[wiscohopeful]

I was in a similar position to your cousin before I left for law school. Would be making close to 6 figures if I stayed on with retail and had kept on being promoted. Though who knows if it woulda come to fruition. Thems the breaks right?

[A'nold]

Lol. Baristas make like 18k a year.

Yes and Shitlaw makes roughly double after tax for more than double the work. Edit, mean double the hours for double the pay. Thus, I don't see the difference in salary.

Dude, I would much rather be a shitlaw attorney while gaining experience and having the high ceiling in lawyer salary than working 40 hrs a week as a barista, a hell life if you've ever had such a job.

[MrAnon]

Lol. Baristas make like 18k a year.

Yes and Shitlaw makes roughly double after tax for more than double the work. Edit, mean double the hours for double the pay. Thus, I don't see the difference in salary.

Dude, I would much rather be a shitlaw attorney while gaining experience and having the high ceiling in lawyer salary than working 40 hrs a week as a barista, a hell life if you've ever had such a job.

At some point one has to learn when to hold em and when to fold em. If you missed the message after 1L when you were outside of the top 10% and you should have dropped out and pursued something you were better suited to doing then the next chance is after law school but before the bar.

[Anonymous User]

School: T10
Market(s): SF/SV
Approximate class rank: Median
Journal: Secondary
Work experience: Consulting
IP background: No
Summer Associate Position? Yes
Offered? Yes
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): worked in a niche practice area that is in demand
Screening Interviews: 6 from OCI.
Mass mails: None. Decided not worth my time.
Callbacks received: 2, both big law
Offers: 2
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: 0
Clerkship Interview: NA
Other: Niche practice area that I absolutely love was key. Few summers wanted to do this type of law. Was also able to bring the firm clients immediately.

[c3pO4]

School: T10
Market(s): SF/SV
Approximate class rank: Median
Journal: Secondary
Work experience: Consulting
IP background: No
Summer Associate Position? Yes
Offered? Yes
Anything else that might have an impact? (diversity, etc. or whatever, really): worked in a niche practice area that is in demand
Screening Interviews: 6 from OCI.
Mass mails: None. Decided not worth my time.
Callbacks received: 2, both big law
Offers: 2
How many firms just didn't get back with you with a rejection/callback?: 0
Clerkship Interview: NA
Other: Niche practice area that I absolutely love was key. Few summers wanted to do this type of law. Was also able to bring the firm clients immediately.

The power of WE. If done right, you are hyper-marketable and also can credibly sell yourself as bringing in business immediately or have the chops to do it down the road.