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1L here. I have an unpaid offer for the summer from a non-profit that needs an answer by Friday. I am waiting for an answer from a second unpaid position, again non-profit, but a position I would much prefer. Is it appropriate to call the second place and ask if I will hear back by the end of the week or is it inappropriate? How does one even go about asking?

*edit: summer position

Yes. Just call the second place and tell them that you have an offer with a deadline of this Friday, but that they are your first choice and ask is it possible that you might be able to get a decision before this Friday.

No one will take offense, it's a perfectly normal question.

kalvano wrote:Yes. Just call the second place and tell them that you have an offer with a deadline of this Friday, but that they are your first choice and ask is it possible that you might be able to get a decision before this Friday.

No one will take offense, it's a perfectly normal question.

This is the way to go. However, if you do so, make sure you accept the second offer if offered.

If you call a firm and tell them you have a deadline then you don't hear back from the firm by that deadline, should you assume a rejection? Or is it possible your deadline just means nothing to them and they will let you know when they are ready?

Anonymous User wrote:If you call a firm and tell them you have a deadline then you don't hear back from the firm by that deadline, should you assume a rejection? Or is it possible your deadline just means nothing to them and they will let you know when they are ready?

Assume rejection. The universal assumption is that you would have accepted your alternative offer on that deadline if you hadn't yet heard back from them, so if they wanted you, they would have extended an offer before your deadline.

Do you think they would just assume I accepted the other position without me formally withdrawing from consideration with the firm?

Anonymous User wrote:Do you think they would just assume I accepted the other position without me formally withdrawing from consideration with the firm?

Not if you notified them. Call again on the day of your deadline.

ETA: if the other position is not a firm, don't expect it to make any difference.

r6_philly wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Do you think they would just assume I accepted the other position without me formally withdrawing from consideration with the firm?

Not if you notified them. Call again on the day of your deadline.

ETA: if the other position is not a firm, don't expect it to make any difference.

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I figured they would not assume I accepted until I notified them of that. I thought it might not make a difference because they have their own schedule, which is not dependent on mine. I mean, law students are expendable so its not like they will be freaking out if they "miss out" on me working for them.

Anonymous User wrote:
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I figured they would not assume I accepted until I notified them of that. I thought it might not make a difference because they have their own schedule, which is not dependent on mine. I mean, law students are expendable so its not like they will be freaking out if they "miss out" on me working for them.

We are largely fungible, but we may fit some niche (this may not even be academically related). So while we are not special snowflakes, we are nonetheless snowflakes. So if the firm find you at all special, they will probably care if you are going to a rival firm.

I think luck has a large part in this matching process here.

It is possible that down the line, enough of their preferred candidates reject their offers such that if they knew that you still wanted to work for them, they would give you an offer. However, you absolutely should not reject your alternative offer based on this possibility.

zomginternets wrote:It is possible that down the line, enough of their preferred candidates reject their offers such that if they knew that you still wanted to work for them, they would give you an offer. However, you absolutely should not reject your alternative offer based on this possibility.

Thank you and I agree 100 percent with the advice. Just to give context, this is a 3L position for entry level. I'm not sure anyone is turning down a position this late in the game, but here's hoping.