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Title pretty much says it all. I thought the 28 days expired tomorrow, but it turns out it expired on Thursday (11/03). Double checked the date on the offer letter after getting rejecting from the firm I was "holding out" for hoping to get an offer and realized I had made a mistake. I called the office--no response but was after business hours. I also called the hiring partner's cell phone (we played phone tag previously and he ended up calling on his cell phone to make the actual offer), but he has not returned my phone calls or voicemail. Do you think they will leave the offer on the table for me? If not, I'm really screwed.

If they were antsy, my sense is that they would have followed up with you-- had they? Good luck, I hope you can pull this out.

I hope for your sake that you can still accept the offer, but man, not a good move. Work of a lawyer = meeting client/court/partner-imposed deadlines, and you just missed your first one. Don't make any excuses, just apologize and explain you mixed up the dates and really hope you can still accept.

Did the letter specifically state a deadline?

The letter specifically stated I had until 11/03 to accept.

I had about 2-3 voicemails/emails from them, but they were all premised on whether or not had any questions. The offer was pretty was pretty straightforward and I didn't have any questions so I didn't reply.

Really curious to see how this turns out. Make sure you dont' make excuses. Best case scenario, they haven't extended another offer once your 28 days expired. Worst case scenario, they already hired somebody to replace you. Let us know what happens tomorrow.

So in other words you didn't communicate with them at all since receiving the offer letter--not even to check in and explain what was going on?

I actually feel really bad for you. Hope this works out ok. Obviously I would continue to blow their phones up and get ready to beg for a position that you already had.

I would call the recruiting director or whomever you can get on the phone and say "My name is Joe Blow AND I ACCEPT THANKS." Don't play phone tag, talk to someone.

You need to be talking to someone at the firm now. If a mailed acceptance was requested, get it postmarked today and call as well.

I wish you the very best of luck.

Well this is all supposition, but I think those voice/emails were polite ways to assess your interest, since you didn't bother to respond and now let the offer expire, it's possible you're done. I hope for your sake this isn't the case, but that was a pretty bad first mistake to make with the firm.

snailio wrote:Well this is all supposition, but I think those voice/emails were polite ways to assess your interest, since you didn't bother to respond and now let the offer expire, it's possible you're done. I hope for your sake this isn't the case, but that was a pretty bad first mistake to make with the firm.

This. I was holding out to but I clearly communicated this with the firm I held open. I even told them the name of the other firm and the reasons why I thought it important to wait to make a decision. They were great, the holdout ended up not being able to make an offer within the deadline, and I accepted at the original firm...by the deadline.

You really screwed up on this. Have you talked to your OCS? It's not like you missed it by a day...you missed it by a week. I really hope it works out for you.

Let us know how it goes.

Statute of repose........you just malpracticed yourself. Sorry, but good luck.

Have you heard back yet?

I am starting to wonder if flame; OP should have an answer by now.

IAFG wrote:I am starting to wonder if flame; OP should have an answer by now.

In fairness, OP might be drinking herself into oblivion if the response was negative.

IrwinM.Fletcher wrote:

IAFG wrote:I am starting to wonder if flame; OP should have an answer by now.

In fairness, OP might be drinking herself into oblivion if the response was negative.

Good point. I sorta expected the OP to pull this out, but if he didn't, he's probably not super eager to share that.

IAFG wrote:

IrwinM.Fletcher wrote:

IAFG wrote:I am starting to wonder if flame; OP should have an answer by now.

In fairness, OP might be drinking herself into oblivion if the response was negative.

Good point. I sorta expected the OP to pull this out, but if he didn't, he's probably not super eager to share that.

I wish I had your optimism; my life would be a Hell of a lot less stressful.

This would be one of the most (perhaps the most) tragic story I've read on TLS if OP just let his one and only offer slip through his hands.

Probably flame though. Gotta be.

polycom01 wrote:This would be one of the most (perhaps the most) tragic story I've read on TLS if OP just let his one and only offer slip through his hands.

Probably flame though. Gotta be.

I agree, and I'm not so sure. If it's a flame, it has convinced me.

OP here. Not flame. I debated not even posting anything else because I was worried about being outed (I doubt there is many other people in the law school population in my situation). I will give a brief (but somewhat redacted) summary of my current situation.

FINALLY got in touch with hiring partner today at roughly 4:00 their time (he had been avoiding my calls and/or calling me back). He acknowledged upfront that they were well aware my deadline had expired--I didn't even mention it. He basically told me the hiring committee would meet this Friday to discuss the "situation" and I could expect a call late Friday or Monday. Got off the phone very quickly and really didn't elaborate much. I don't know what the hell to think. This is really stressing me out.

Sounds like they are pissed. Doesn't seem good.

Wow bro. Sorry to hear. I really hope they come back at you with a second chance.

It will not help your situation, but for future 2Ls:

1) Firms are not uniform in their reaction to bypassing the deadline. A good portion don't care. Some will axe you instantly (eg. Jones Day). Their reaction may depend on the type of candidate (marginal versus top acceptance), they could be flexible if they like you.

2) DO NOT push it to the deadline. Firms will remember that you didn't accept earlier, and that they weren't your top choice. This means a lot for them, as some partners take chances on people/ have an emotional investment in them.

3) If you are in OP's position, couch you stupidity better. This is your life and if you lose out on 2L OCI, the options drop like crazy. Call in "to verify that they received your acceptance letter because you haven't heard anything back, and ask what the next steps are to prepare for the summer."

+1 firms notice if they are your first choice.

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. Not flame. I debated not even posting anything else because I was worried about being outed (I doubt there is many other people in the law school population in my situation). I will give a brief (but somewhat redacted) summary of my current situation.

FINALLY got in touch with hiring partner today at roughly 4:00 their time (he had been avoiding my calls and/or calling me back). He acknowledged upfront that they were well aware my deadline had expired--I didn't even mention it. He basically told me the hiring committee would meet this Friday to discuss the "situation" and I could expect a call late Friday or Monday. Got off the phone very quickly and really didn't elaborate much. I don't know what the hell to think. This is really stressing me out.

It sounds like they haven't filled the spot, and they're meeting to consider extending you another offer vs. going with someone else in the massive resume pile they've no doubt built up.

I'm sorry to hear that they didn't take you right off, but this is probably the best that can be reasonably expected, and I wish you the best of luck.