The Official 1L Summer Employment Thread - 2012 Edition Forum

[shoeshine]

What exactly does it take to get a 1L SA? I know it's incredibly hard, but what are they looking for besides diversity and a good law school?

Grades!

I have no idea what it takes to get a 1L internship (I haven't landed one yet). But I just got done talking to a couple recruiters from major firms in my hometown and they seemed more interested in my work experience (Investments and Finance) than anything else. I got offered interviews at those firms but who knows what they specifically look for.

(P.S. I am also a minority and I go to a T14 so I am sure that helped some)

[NYC Law]

Holy shit. I just got three interviews in my home market during winter break. This is the best day ever.

Jesus dude, congratulations.

Same here. I've always heard a lot of USAOs did interview and offer without grades. I guess more popular/prestigious districts need the grades to weed out applicants. Maybe they do give out offers without grades and we are just borderline.

It isn't that prestigious of a district (my hometown, not the Brooklyn office, which I'm sure is competitive). I'm unsure of whether I should send the questionnaire now or wait for transcript.

[shoeshine]

Two more interviews.

Targeting your home market works!

[theavrock]

Two more interviews.

Targeting your home market works!

Wow congrats. Where is your home market?

[Michaela]

Sent out 4 apps through my school- I think they listed 6 or 7 total there and then sent out another 10 to some in my school's market and some in my home market. We shall see.

Since the ones through the school obviously aren't looking at grades yet it will be interesting to see who gets interviews. People in my section are already being dicks about it, of course.

[shoeshine]

Two more interviews.

Targeting your home market works!

Wow congrats. Where is your home market?

It would out me to say but I will say it is a non -major market with a satellite big law offices and a couple huge regional firms that all pay market salary. It is on neither coast and no T14s are near.

[ilovesf]

Sent out 4 apps through my school- I think they listed 6 or 7 total there and then sent out another 10 to some in my school's market and some in my home market. We shall see.

Since the ones through the school obviously aren't looking at grades yet it will be interesting to see who gets interviews. People in my section are already being dicks about it, of course.

That sucks. Out of my friends in my section, I haven't talked to anyone that actually sent in any apps yet. I sent out less than 10, but I have all of my materials ready to send out more next week for more judicial positions and some public interest things. I actually haven't talked to anyone who has any idea what they even want to do over the summer.

[Michaela]

Sent out 4 apps through my school- I think they listed 6 or 7 total there and then sent out another 10 to some in my school's market and some in my home market. We shall see.

Since the ones through the school obviously aren't looking at grades yet it will be interesting to see who gets interviews. People in my section are already being dicks about it, of course.

That sucks. Out of my friends in my section, I haven't talked to anyone that actually sent in any apps yet. I sent out less than 10, but I have all of my materials ready to send out more next week for more judicial positions and some public interest things. I actually haven't talked to anyone who has any idea what they even want to do over the summer.

I asked my assigned career services person how to go about judicial apps and she said they're going to cover it at a meeting in January. It seems like it'll be too late by then though, thoughts anyone? Should I just do it myself by sending a cover letter+resume to whichever judges?

[ilovesf]

Sent out 4 apps through my school- I think they listed 6 or 7 total there and then sent out another 10 to some in my school's market and some in my home market. We shall see.

Since the ones through the school obviously aren't looking at grades yet it will be interesting to see who gets interviews. People in my section are already being dicks about it, of course.

That sucks. Out of my friends in my section, I haven't talked to anyone that actually sent in any apps yet. I sent out less than 10, but I have all of my materials ready to send out more next week for more judicial positions and some public interest things. I actually haven't talked to anyone who has any idea what they even want to do over the summer.

I asked my assigned career services person how to go about judicial apps and she said they're going to cover it at a meeting in January. It seems like it'll be too late by then though, thoughts anyone? Should I just do it myself by sending a cover letter+resume to whichever judges?

Yeah, do it yourself. Here, we can send state apps dec 1, but for bay area schools you have to wait until you get your grades to apply for the federal district. The federal district court made that rule themselves because it is such a popular market and we can extern there during the school year, so they take applications from schools from other areas first, and only consider ours during once we get grades. It sucks, but I know a lot of 2Ls who are externing there during the school year, so I guess it isn't that big of a deal. And that doesn't only apply to my school, but all schools in the area.

[Dany]

Sent two applications.

[adonai]

Got my first law firm rejection today. wewt! Failing makes me feel alive

[r6_philly]

Got my first law firm rejection today. wewt! Failing makes me feel alive

How do they reject? You mean they would hire 1Ls but just not you?

[adonai]

Got my first law firm rejection today. wewt! Failing makes me feel alive

How do they reject? You mean they would hire 1Ls but just not you?

They said their class was full. But if I were a special snowflake they would make a spot for me. lulz!
It isn't possible for them to interview and CB the candidates they want in one day. So saying "class is full, sorry" is basically a nicer way of saying "you weren't qualified."

[kwais]

Got my first law firm rejection today. wewt! Failing makes me feel alive

How do they reject? You mean they would hire 1Ls but just not you?

They said their class was full. But if I were a special snowflake they would make a spot for me. lulz!
It isn't possible for them to interview and CB the candidates they want in one day. So saying "class is full, sorry" is basically a nicer way of saying "you weren't qualified."

someone else made this point I believe, but they might also mean that the class is full of 2Ls and they have decided not to open it up to 1Ls

[shoeshine]

Got my first law firm rejection today. wewt! Failing makes me feel alive

How do they reject? You mean they would hire 1Ls but just not you?

They said their class was full. But if I were a special snowflake they would make a spot for me. lulz!
It isn't possible for them to interview and CB the candidates they want in one day. So saying "class is full, sorry" is basically a nicer way of saying "you weren't qualified."

someone else made this point I believe, but they might also mean that the class is full of 2Ls and they have decided not to open it up to 1Ls

I am pretty sure that it means full of 2Ls. I have gotten several of those emails today and when I looked back at NALP it was usually from people who don't hire 1Ls but I sent an app to anyway.

Has anyone got an email like that from a place that they know was hiring 1Ls.

[Eco]

It would out me to say but I will say it is a non -major market with a satellite big law offices and a couple huge regional firms that all pay market salary. It is on neither coast and no T14s are near.

Which is why you need an * at the end of your "targeting home markets works" post. It works if your home market isn't one that is competitive like NYC for example.

[shoeshine]

It would out me to say but I will say it is a non -major market with a satellite big law offices and a couple huge regional firms that all pay market salary. It is on neither coast and no T14s are near.

Which is why you need an * at the end of your "targeting home markets works" post. It works if your home market isn't one that is competitive like NYC for example.

That is very true. I am actually feeling lucky to have not been from a major market.

I just don't think people realize how much easier it is to get job in your home market from a T14 then it is to get jobs in NYC, DC, Chicago, or SF/SV. I really doubted it till today. The 70 or so major market mailers I sent out have yielded 1 interview. My home market mailers have had a 60% success rate in just 24 hours! This may be unique to me but I think it is worth noting.

[thelaststraw05]

It would out me to say but I will say it is a non -major market with a satellite big law offices and a couple huge regional firms that all pay market salary. It is on neither coast and no T14s are near.

Which is why you need an * at the end of your "targeting home markets works" post. It works if your home market isn't one that is competitive like NYC for example.

You hit the nail on the head. My home.market is DC. Not much action so far.

[r6_philly]

It would out me to say but I will say it is a non -major market with a satellite big law offices and a couple huge regional firms that all pay market salary. It is on neither coast and no T14s are near.

Which is why you need an * at the end of your "targeting home markets works" post. It works if your home market isn't one that is competitive like NYC for example.

You hit the nail on the head. My home.market is DC. Not much action so far.

I have 1 grade request so far. From Philly and I am at Penn. Not very special I suppose.

[piccolittle]

Arghhhh I'm so dumb and just saw that one of my apps put "LLP" after the firm name when it is actually "PC." This pretty much speaks to my attention to detail, and thus probably gets me auto-dinged, right? (assuming they notice)

[cowgirl_bebop]

You hit the nail on the head. My home.market is DC. Not much action so far.

Same here. Not a word from anyone in DC. Fingers crossed that we get some action on Monday.

[Anonymous User]

1 judge rejection so far.
Back to studying I go...

Boudin?

[BEAST_mode]

You hit the nail on the head. My home.market is DC. Not much action so far.

Same here. Not a word from anyone in DC. Fingers crossed that we get some action on Monday.

+1.

[shock259]

I've gotten a surprising amount of quick responses to my letters. Probably 10 already. Most have been rejections, but a few interested. All interest has been from state court judges so far. Wasn't expecting to have to deal with this prior to finals.

[headandshoulderos]

I've gotten a surprising amount of quick responses to my letters. Probably 10 already. Most have been rejections, but a few interested. All interest has been from state court judges so far. Wasn't expecting to have to deal with this prior to finals.

another great reason not to apply to jobs on 12/1. it likely will lead to more work in following up prior to finals. what are you gonna say, sorry I can't get back to you until after finals?

seriously 1L bros, chill on the apps until after finals. it doesn't matter. theres no job you have to get as a 1L, but there are grades you have to get.