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still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 6:27 pm
by Anonymous User
have most of you heard by now? is my firm in trouble? firm has been MIA since paying for barbri.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 7:22 pm
by Anonymous User
You are not alone. My firm has not either, but they were late last year too.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 7:30 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:You are not alone. My firm has not either, but they were late last year too.
OP here - when are you expecting to start?

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 7:38 pm
by Anonymous User
2nd Anon poster - by mid June? That's my hope, at least.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:27 pm
by Big Shrimpin
Anonymous User wrote:2nd Anon poster - by mid June? That's my hope, at least.
I think OP is talking about permanent start dates, breh.

OP, just call and ask. JFC this is like the 836362839227 incarnation of the same cot damn question. Why is it that law students are so socially inept that picking up a telephone and asking a question has become a means of last resort?

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:31 pm
by Anonymous User
Big Shrimpin wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:2nd Anon poster - by mid June? That's my hope, at least.
I think OP is talking about permanent start dates, breh.

OP, just call and ask. JFC this is like the 836362839227 incarnation of the same cot damn question. Why is it that law students are so socially inept that picking up a telephone and asking a question has become a means of last resort?
Well for starters, I don't really want to bother them or rush them. Anyways, that wasn't the point of this post - I'm curious when most firms give out start dates and if my firms relative tardiness on the issue means anything. I was under the impression that firms sent out start dates in march/april. Am I wrong?

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:37 pm
by Anonymous User
My firm also hasn't given out start dates but they were slow last year as well. My other friends found out Feb-April. Not freaking yet because they periodically email us. I'll start to (really) worry in mid-June.

OP has your firm told you anything about a salary advance/bar stipend? The amount might correlate with a start date (the smaller the amount, the more likely you'll be starting early Fall).

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:49 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:My firm also hasn't given out start dates but they were slow last year as well. My other friends found out Feb-April. Not freaking yet because they periodically email us. I'll start to (really) worry in mid-June.

OP has your firm told you anything about a salary advance/bar stipend? The amount might correlate with a start date (the smaller the amount, the more likely you'll be starting early Fall).
We got a generous stipend (not advance) and they paid for barbri back in april. have heard nothing since then. not really worried, just kind of unsettled because its impossible to plan anything without knowing when I'm going to start work.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:53 pm
by Big Shrimpin
Anonymous User wrote:
Big Shrimpin wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:2nd Anon poster - by mid June? That's my hope, at least.
I think OP is talking about permanent start dates, breh.

OP, just call and ask. JFC this is like the 836362839227 incarnation of the same cot damn question. Why is it that law students are so socially inept that picking up a telephone and asking a question has become a means of last resort?
Well for starters, I don't really want to bother them or rush them. Anyways, that wasn't the point of this post - I'm curious when most firms give out start dates and if my firms relative tardiness on the issue means anything. I was under the impression that firms sent out start dates in march/april. Am I wrong?
Understandable. But honestly dood, if you've got a permanent offer to start, you're entitled to that information, and you shouldn't be hesitant to ask for it. If you're worried about the firm, can you contact any associates you were tight with and ask about it? In all likelihood, they'll give 0 fucks that you asked. Definitely worth the marginal utility of being able to sleep at night, depending upon how much you're bugging about the situation.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 9:00 am
by Anonymous User
I haven't heard either. They paid for my bar course last March, haven't heard anything otherwise though. Kind of annoying since I can't plan my fall until I know when I'm starting. I called a couple weeks ago and they told me I'd hear "soon," so I don't want to keep bothering them.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 6:04 pm
by Anonymous User
Bump.

OP here. Talked to the recruiters and they still apparently know nothing. Its getting infuriating...without start dates its impossible to plan when I'm moving to the new city, getting an apartment, going on trips, etc.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 7:40 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Bump.

OP here. Talked to the recruiters and they still apparently know nothing. Its getting infuriating...without start dates its impossible to plan when I'm moving to the new city, getting an apartment, going on trips, etc.
I feel your frustration but try to be resourceful. If you know someone who is a first or second year (and they are helpful/nice) email them and ask them when they started and when they got their start date. Did you have mentors last summer? I would try a mentor first, since they will probably be young, and see if they can ask a first year. Just be really nice and politely explain youre not trying to hassle, you just need to know when you should end your current lease, or something similar. I was lucky in that a recent grad from my law school is working at my firm's same office and they were open to answering my questions about both. You should have asked the recruiters when you called/emailed when the first years started and when they found out; your start date will probably be in the same month...but its too late now and I wouldn't call them back, at least not until June.

It's frustrating but think logically: the earliest you could be starting is after Labor Day (because why would you start and do a few days of orientation before a holiday? do any firms start in august?). That leaves the end of July/beginning August to plan a trip. Unless you had planned to schlep around an entire continent over the course of three months, you can at least start planning your trip and leave the apartment logistics until later in the summer. It doesn't take that long to apartment hunt and sign a lease, and most places wont even know their apartment inventory for the fall more than a month or two out.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 12:44 am
by Anonymous User
I similarly haven't yet received my start date. I received a living expense/Barbri stipend, so I'm not worried about losing out on the offer, but it is very unsettling nonetheless. I contacted someone a few weeks back and was told they wouldn't have the date settled until summer, but that it would most likely be September or October. Bottom line: You're not alone, but I don't think it's cause for concern.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 12:47 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:I similarly haven't yet received my start date. I received a living expense/Barbri stipend, so I'm not worried about losing out on the offer, but it is very unsettling nonetheless. I contacted someone a few weeks back and was told they wouldn't have the date settled until summer, but that it would most likely be September or October. Bottom line: You're not alone, but I don't think it's cause for concern.
Nearly same situation, haven't called though. Might eventually.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 9:34 am
by thesealocust
I know several people whose start dates came down the pipeline this week - relax!

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 8:16 pm
by Anonymous User
Still nothing for me. Anyone else in the dark?

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 9:28 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Still nothing for me. Anyone else in the dark?
Yup...nothing for me either.

I wonder if we're at the same firm...

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 9:46 pm
by Anonymous User
Nothing here either...

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 3:03 am
by Anonymous User
For those of you still waiting...what's your firms vault range and city? Mine is non-NYC v30.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 11:50 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:For those of you still waiting...what's your firms vault range and city? Mine is non-NYC v30.
I bet we're at the same firm. Was your end of summer gift a messenger bag?

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 2:56 am
by Anonymous User
For the person w the messenger bag end of summer gift - I was at that firm too. They did not have their start dates last year at this time and they had start dates with fall options so I am hoping history repeats itself.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 11:31 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:For the person w the messenger bag end of summer gift - I was at that firm too. They did not have their start dates last year at this time and they had start dates with fall options so I am hoping history repeats itself.
Do you know when they had their start date?

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 12:01 pm
by concurrent fork
I heard Ropes still hasn't given start dates. Not sure if this is the firm anons are referring to above.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 1:46 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:For the person w the messenger bag end of summer gift - I was at that firm too. They did not have their start dates last year at this time and they had start dates with fall options so I am hoping history repeats itself.
same firm. I'm hoping the amount of our advance weighs toward a fall start.

Re: still have no biglaw start date. is this normal?

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 11:57 pm
by Anonymous User
Response to when they got their start dates - some time in June I think....