The Official 1L Summer Employment Thread - 2012 Edition Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have 5 interviews in Dallas and 3 in Houston as of now lined up for early Jan (all V200)

I also might have an offer in NYC for a V10 firm if my grades are good.

I feel incredibly schizo about this experience--mixture of glee and gratefulness for the opportunities coupled with anxiety about blowing them and also with having to turn down firms.

I'm scared that I'm going to mess up connections for 2L OCI (when it really counts) by turning down a 1L SA gig (if I get multiple offers), which a million people would be grateful to have. I blanketed V100 firms in Texas and NYC as a safety measure, and now that I have these interviews lined up, I realized that there's a good possibility that I might have to turn down a golden opportunity--which might lead firms to think I'm a flake.

What the hell do I even say to them to turn them down? Oh well, this is a bridge to cross if I'm lucky enough for it to happen. I suppose these are really awesome problems to have?

[Anonymous User]

I have 5 interviews in Dallas and 3 in Houston as of now lined up for early Jan (all V200)

I also might have an offer in NYC for a V10 firm if my grades are good.

I feel incredibly schizo about this experience--mixture of glee and gratefulness for the opportunities coupled with anxiety about blowing them and also with having to turn down firms.

I'm scared that I'm going to mess up connections for 2L OCI (when it really counts) by turning down a 1L SA gig (if I get multiple offers), which a million people would be grateful to have. I blanketed V100 firms in Texas and NYC as a safety measure, and now that I have these interviews lined up, I realized that there's a good possibility that I might have to turn down a golden opportunity--which might lead firms to think I'm a flake.

What the hell do I even say to them to turn them down? Oh well, this is a bridge to cross if I'm lucky enough for it to happen. I suppose these are really awesome problems to have?

School range? Are you a "diversity" candidate? Do you have an IP background?

[ilovesf]

Ok, I'm seriously writing my cover letters now, for real. I have to stop checking this thread because it's making me feel incredibly guilty and jealous.

[orderofthings]

Would it be ok to ask a judge to give me 2-3 weeks to decide to accept his/her offer? I want to wait to get grades back to see if they're good enough to try and get a 1L SA, but I have a couple of interviews with judges over the next few weeks...

What would be the best way to phrase this?

[piccolittle]

Ugh, so jealous of those with NYC offers and interviews. What is wrong with me? Another rejection today, but it was more "we don't take 1Ls" than "we don't like you." Sent out many more applications today. Feeling very sad.

[adonai]

Would it be ok to ask a judge to give me 2-3 weeks to decide to accept his/her offer? I want to wait to get grades back to see if they're good enough to try and get a 1L SA, but I have a couple of interviews with judges over the next few weeks...

What would be the best way to phrase this?

It is usually a rule of thumb that you should not reject a judge for another possible job offer. You can ask to go part time and see if it is alright to split with a firm, but if the judge offered you, you are pretty much obliged to accept barring an unforeseen, exceptional circumstance.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone get grade requests from NY and DC firms and think their GPA is gonna be less than stellar. I'm still going to send my grades regardless but seems like I'm screwed.

[jd20132013]

so I've applied to a multitude of government positions. None of their deadlines have even passed yet, and I realize that the government gets ridiculous amounts of time off around the holiday season but I have't heard back from one yet. (sent the first on the 14th and sent others over the next two weeks)

Concerning?

i wouldn't be concerned. I applied to a bunch of DA/SA offices and AUSA offices and have only heard back from a handful.

so I've applied to a multitude of government positions. None of their deadlines have even passed yet, and I realize that the government gets ridiculous amounts of time off around the holiday season but I have't heard back from one yet. (sent the first on the 14th and sent others over the next two weeks)

Concerning?

Don't be concerned, the government's not doing much right now. The second half of December is filled with Christmas parties and Christmas vacation.

Thanks!

[005618502]

tag

[thegrayman]

Does it matter if you want to get into transactional work and have no interest in litigation when applying for things like judicial internships/clerkships? Do firms view anything you do 1L summer as orienting yourself towards transactional/litigation or can you just do whatever you want and still have your options open for 2L?

[NYC Law]

Does it matter if you want to get into transactional work and have no interest in litigation when applying for things like judicial internships/clerkships? Do firms view anything you do 1L summer as orienting yourself towards transactional/litigation or can you just do whatever you want and still have your options open for 2L?

I was wondering this too... It felt weird in my judicial interview saying that I sorta do have more transactional interest.
I think for the most part it won't matter, but it may give you more meaningful things to talk about if you end up getting something in-house or perhaps with a gov't agency (or of course doing transactional work with a firm, but good luck with that).

[Anonymous User]

Secured a job with a federal district judge in Chicago this summer. Beyond excited!

[jeeptiger09]

Does it matter if you want to get into transactional work and have no interest in litigation when applying for things like judicial internships/clerkships? Do firms view anything you do 1L summer as orienting yourself towards transactional/litigation or can you just do whatever you want and still have your options open for 2L?

No. Firms understand that the market is terrible for 1Ls, so they won't hold it against you for doing something different/non-paid/not 100% career-oriented. With that being said, you can make yourself look better by finding a 1L transactional-oriented position (although these are super rare) to show interest in transactional work. You can also spin it to your 2L firms that you "tried litigation/public interest/etc" and it made you more interested in transactional work.

HTH.

[Haymarket]

Came back from Christmas break to a snail mail firm rejection. Womp womp.

[paulinaporizkova]

Ok, I'm seriously writing my cover letters now, for real. I have to stop checking this thread because it's making me feel incredibly guilty and jealous.

i am too, sending out my first stuff tomorrow

[r6_philly]

Ok, I'm seriously writing my cover letters now, for real. I have to stop checking this thread because it's making me feel incredibly guilty and jealous.

i am too, sending out my first stuff tomorrow

Best of luck!

Got nothing but silence over here.

[paulinaporizkova]

Ok, I'm seriously writing my cover letters now, for real. I have to stop checking this thread because it's making me feel incredibly guilty and jealous.

i am too, sending out my first stuff tomorrow

Best of luck!

Got nothing but silence over here.

thanks buddy, hope all is well

also, yikes

[Anonymous User]

I have 5 interviews in Dallas and 3 in Houston as of now lined up for early Jan (all V200)

I also might have an offer in NYC for a V10 firm if my grades are good.

I feel incredibly schizo about this experience--mixture of glee and gratefulness for the opportunities coupled with anxiety about blowing them and also with having to turn down firms.

I'm scared that I'm going to mess up connections for 2L OCI (when it really counts) by turning down a 1L SA gig (if I get multiple offers), which a million people would be grateful to have. I blanketed V100 firms in Texas and NYC as a safety measure, and now that I have these interviews lined up, I realized that there's a good possibility that I might have to turn down a golden opportunity--which might lead firms to think I'm a flake.

What the hell do I even say to them to turn them down? Oh well, this is a bridge to cross if I'm lucky enough for it to happen. I suppose these are really awesome problems to have?

I get what you're feeling to be honest. I have interviews in Houston as well with contacts at all of the firms, but my major interest is probably elsewhere. I will not pursue any of those options until next summer. I'm more worried about getting multiple offers for this summer and deciding to split if possible this summer while knowing I will only take one of these firms for the next summer if offered.

[jeeptiger09]

I have 5 interviews in Dallas and 3 in Houston as of now lined up for early Jan (all V200)

I also might have an offer in NYC for a V10 firm if my grades are good.

I feel incredibly schizo about this experience--mixture of glee and gratefulness for the opportunities coupled with anxiety about blowing them and also with having to turn down firms.

I'm scared that I'm going to mess up connections for 2L OCI (when it really counts) by turning down a 1L SA gig (if I get multiple offers), which a million people would be grateful to have. I blanketed V100 firms in Texas and NYC as a safety measure, and now that I have these interviews lined up, I realized that there's a good possibility that I might have to turn down a golden opportunity--which might lead firms to think I'm a flake.

What the hell do I even say to them to turn them down? Oh well, this is a bridge to cross if I'm lucky enough for it to happen. I suppose these are really awesome problems to have?

I get what you're feeling to be honest. I have interviews in Houston as well with contacts at all of the firms, but my major interest is probably elsewhere. I will not pursue any of those options until next summer. I'm more worried about getting multiple offers for this summer and deciding to split if possible this summer while knowing I will only take one of these firms for the next summer if offered.

You shouldn't be worried about getting multiple offers, you should focus on getting one offer--it's pretty damn tough out there right now.

[Guchster]

Anyone get grade requests from NY and DC firms and think their GPA is gonna be less than stellar. I'm still going to send my grades regardless but seems like I'm screwed.

Holy shit, I HATE getting grade requests. Don't they know I'm probs median pwn3d at best?!

[Anonymous User]

I too applied to almost all V100 firms in Texas, and hoped to get an interview in Houston but haven't heard back anything.

[piccolittle]

Just wondering, at what point should you start asking (yourself) if you're doing something wrong? I thought I had a pretty interesting background, but it's now over 50 applications that I've sent out, many with connections, and not one positive response (not even a grades request). Anyone else in the same boat and starting to worry? I'm wondering if there's something bad in my cover letter or something.

[shoeshine]

Just wondering, at what point should you start asking if you're doing something wrong? I thought I had a pretty interesting background, but it's now over 50 applications that I've sent out, many with connections, and not one positive response (not even a grades request). Anyone else in the same boat and starting to worry? I'm wondering if there's something bad in my cover letter or something.

When did you send your apps out?

[piccolittle]

Just wondering, at what point should you start asking if you're doing something wrong? I thought I had a pretty interesting background, but it's now over 50 applications that I've sent out, many with connections, and not one positive response (not even a grades request). Anyone else in the same boat and starting to worry? I'm wondering if there's something bad in my cover letter or something.

When did you send your apps out?

Most December 1-8, but after exams finished I've been steadily sending out 2-3 a day. I've applied to a lot of in-house positions, and I feel like they tend to be a bit slower, so maybe that's it. I also tried to tell myself that NY firms would be slower, but now I see that a lot of people have grades requests.

[NYC Law]

Just wondering, at what point should you start asking if you're doing something wrong? I thought I had a pretty interesting background, but it's now over 50 applications that I've sent out, many with connections, and not one positive response (not even a grades request). Anyone else in the same boat and starting to worry? I'm wondering if there's something bad in my cover letter or something.

When did you send your apps out?

Most December 1-8, but after exams finished I've been steadily sending out 2-3 a day. I've applied to a lot of in-house positions, and I feel like they tend to be a bit slower, so maybe that's it. I also tried to tell myself that NY firms would be slower, but now I see that a lot of people have grades requests.

Didn't know in-house started yet. Every site I checked didn't have internships listed yet.


The gov't rejections are starting to roll in, they sting a little since they do take 1Ls, most are pretty short and impersonal.