1L Summer Employment SA? Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I am in the middle of looking for and applying to summer internships.

Here's my situation. I had been told early on that your 1L summer job doesn't matter all that much as long as it's law related and gives you some good experience/something to talk about in an interview/OCI.

In addition to this assumption, I did not anticipate receiving high grades, or maybe I did, but was just superstitious and didn't want to jinx myself.

I had also heard that with the downturn of the economy and even before, most big firms don't hire 1Ls as summer associates.

OK. So all of this leads me to my point. I just got back my first semester grades and they are very good. I would like to apply to some large firms. I know that some if not many require that you apply in December or something.

Does anyone have any suggestions of places to apply, how to apply to large firms, or just where to get started?

thx

and yes, tl;dr

[ph14]

So I am in the middle of looking for and applying to summer internships.

Here's my situation. I had been told early on that your 1L summer job doesn't matter all that much as long as it's law related and gives you some good experience/something to talk about in an interview/OCI.

In addition to this assumption, I did not anticipate receiving high grades, or maybe I did, but was just superstitious and didn't want to jinx myself.

I had also heard that with the downturn of the economy and even before, most big firms don't hire 1Ls as summer associates.

OK. So all of this leads me to my point. I just got back my first semester grades and they are very good. I would like to apply to some large firms. I know that some if not many require that you apply in December or something.

Does anyone have any suggestions of places to apply, how to apply to large firms, or just where to get started?

thx

and yes, tl;dr

Vault 100 Rankings (http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/ran ... regionId=0) + NALP directory (--LinkRemoved--).

If you could be more specific since you're anonymous anyways, it'd be more helpful. What school and approximate rank?

[romothesavior]

Use the NALP directory and talk to your CSO for a list of firms that hire 1Ls in your preferred market. Did you have a 1L OCI of any sort? You better get on this now because it is very, very late in the 1L firm hiring game. Your odds of getting a 1L SA at this point approach zero, although it is probably worth a shot.

School/class rank?

[Anonymous User]

T30, not sure of my class rank, and we just got our grades, but id estimate 3-7%

[ph14]

T30, not sure of my class rank, and we just got our grades, but id estimate 3-7%

Definitely apply. I echo Romo's advice though, target firms in your preferred market. Don't get your hopes up though, getting a 1L SA is really tough.

[Anonymous User]

I've search the forums, but i didnt see that many opinions on this. Do I put my gpa in my cover letter? Assuming I can make it look like it flows

[Guchster]

I agree with everything here ^^^

Does your school have OCI? Our symplicity has big/mid-size firms that are hiring.

Lastly, at this point, you are REALLY late in the big law 1L SA job search. So you need to blanket as much as possible. Use the 'hire 1Ls' option in advanced search, pick your market, and go.

Also you might want to check the firms that were TBD in terms of hiring 1L SAs. These firms weren't sure if they'd take 1Ls at the time their nalp info was published. Blanket those, as there is more of a chanc less 1Ls applied to them because they coudln't find them in the first place.

Good luck. But start looking for back up options ASAP.

I'm really confused why you took this long. You shouldn't have waited for grades to apply--you don't have that luxury, especially ITE where there are SOOOOO precious few 1L Spots. It's too late now, but hopefully there is something--probs not hth

[ph14]

I've search the forums, but i didnt see that many opinions on this. Do I put my gpa in my cover letter? Assuming I can make it look like it flows

I'd let your transcript speak for itself, but others may disagree.

[romothesavior]

T30, not sure of my class rank, and we just got our grades, but id estimate 3-7%

Definitely apply. I echo Romo's advice though, target firms in your preferred market. Don't get your hopes up though, getting a 1L SA is really tough.

It is incredibly tough, and has more to do with luck than any other factor (luck >>>> grades/school, IMO). I was top 15% and didn't get a single 1L SA interview at our 1L OCI. Was kind of disappointed, even though I knew how hard it was to get a 1L SA. Wound up with a government job and stipend, did that whole thing, and got multiple biglaw offers at 2L OCI. So definitely don't get down if you don't even get sniffed at by firms as a 1L, because it is really a crapshoot and it is damn tough to get looks.

[Guchster]

I've search the forums, but i didnt see that many opinions on this. Do I put my gpa in my cover letter? Assuming I can make it look like it flows

I'd let your transcript speak for itself, but others may disagree.

No. i completely agree with you ph14. I personally think that would look really tacky. Biglaw hiring partners will be able to read a transcript just fine.

[Anonymous User]

any cover letter suggestions?

[ph14]

any cover letter suggestions?

Look at your career services' website. They should have examples and other information.

[romothesavior]

What do you mean? Do you just want like a sample? If so, PM me.

[Guchster]

What do you mean? Do you just want like a sample? If so, PM me.

You can me PM me too. I can give you some 1L SA sample cover letters and even my resume if you want it.

[dood]

wat is this shit. how did OP survive this far in life?

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, relatedly, anybody think #1 at CCN can get a 1L V50 spot? Like, if I start applying now?

(non-URM, patent-bar eligible but not with the degrees they really like)

[Anonymous User]

Just curious as to how much a 1L SA will help during OCI for 2L?

(not OP)

[Guchster]

Just curious as to how much a 1L SA will help during OCI for 2L?

(not OP)

not that much. all legal jobs are +/- relative to one another. maybe a marginal bump.

i'm more interested in the 30k i get to make this summer.

[spets]

What market are you aiming for, OP?

[Anonymous User]

Im looking at CA. Primarily Los Angeles and SF. I do realize that its very late.

[Guchster]

Im looking at CA. Primarily Los Angeles and SF. I do realize that its very late.

also, you need to start looking at safety options REALLY REALLY REALLY badly right now too.

you're not late on those, so you could potentially find something really nice that isn't biglaw or judicial externship.

[Grizz]

Just curious as to how much a 1L SA will help during OCI for 2L?

(not OP)

You may not even have to do 2L OCI

[Guchster]

Just curious as to how much a 1L SA will help during OCI for 2L?

(not OP)

You may not even have to do 2L OCI

Grizz. Would you do 2L OCI if you liked your 1L SA firm (and were offered back)? Do you think those people should at least settle what it would be like to work for a different law firm?

Just wanted to pick your brain about this before I forget.

[Anonymous User]

FYI: I've already applied to about 35 judges, 5 DA/PDs, and several nonprofits, i.e. I'm not totally missing the boat of summer employment -- just on SA apparently.

[Guchster]

FYI: I've already applied to about 35 judges, 5 DA/PDs, and several nonprofits, i.e. I'm not totally missing the boat of summer employment -- just on SA apparently.

Then it's just baffling to me why you didn't apply for an SA? What were you thinking? You should've recognized that for SA, you can't wait around for grades to determine whether to apply or not.