SEMJF/southern firm help! Forum

[Anonymous User]

Please help me narrowing down the list of firms to interview with at SEMJF. Top 20% at UVA; legit ties to the south; a few years of work experience; average interviewer. If I want to maximize my chance of getting CBs, which of these firms should I (not) interview with? I’m asking because when I applied, my GPA was much higher, so I’m afraid some of these firms would not have picked me with my current GPA. I'm leaning towards transactional work right now, but would really like to try both lit and transaction over the summer.

Austin/Dallas:
Baker Botts
Fulbright
Locke Lord

Atlanta:
Alston & Bird
AGG
Bryan Cave
DLA
Jones Day
Kilpatrick Townsend
McKenna Long
Paul Hasting
Sutherland
Troutman Sanders


Any help is appreciated!!

[pinkcamellia]

lolwut

Why aren't you going to interview with all of them? ITE you need all the interviews you can get.

[Anonymous User]

lolwut

Why aren't you going to interview with all of them? ITE you need all the interviews you can get.

We are only allowed to have up to 10 interviews.

[pinkcamellia]

Ah, okay then.

I'd cut out Troutman and DLA (heard some negative things about DLA). Do you want Texas or Atlanta more?

[Aberzombie1892]

Top 20% at UVA should get you call backs at almost all of them. Your only issue when it comes to offers is one you cannot control - your competition with URM's at higher ranked schools. Many of these firms may hire 1 male and 1 female of your background for the summer (at most, for some of them), and all you can do is ensure you research the firms well and can explain why you want them.

As the other poster asked, do you want Texas or Atlanta more?

[Anonymous User]

Texas (more ties there), but ITE wherever I have the most chance of getting a job. For TX firms, I'm particularly worried about LL. Since they aren't on NALP, I don't know much about their SA program.

[rad lulz]

Top 20% at UVA should get you call backs at almost all of them. Your only issue when it comes to offers is one you cannot control - your competition with URM's at higher ranked schools. Many of these firms may hire 1 male and 1 female of your background for the summer (at most, for some of them), and all you can do is ensure you research the firms well and can explain why you want them.

As the other poster asked, do you want Texas or Atlanta more?

OP might not be URM. Could be azn bro

[pinkcamellia]

Texas (more ties there), but ITE wherever I have the most chance of getting a job. For TX firms, I'm particularly worried about LL. Since they aren't on NALP, I don't know much about their SA program.

I'd stick with all your TX firms then, ATL, as I'm sure you know, has been a slaughterhouse as of late. Eliminate another ATL firm that you're not as interested in.

[de5igual]

Texas (more ties there), but ITE wherever I have the most chance of getting a job. For TX firms, I'm particularly worried about LL. Since they aren't on NALP, I don't know much about their SA program.

Locke Lord is based in Dallas, so it has the largest class size of the 3. Plus, it's a second half only firm, so you might be able to score a Houston gig through OGI for first half. Both BB and FJ's class sizes are smaller for Dallas (I think BB has 15 and FJ has like 6-7). Are you leaning more corporate or litigation? For FJ Dallas, they only hire for litigation, so that's something to consider.

[rad lulz]

Lose DLA, Bryan Cave, Paul Hastings.

[Anonymous User]

Texas (more ties there), but ITE wherever I have the most chance of getting a job. For TX firms, I'm particularly worried about LL. Since they aren't on NALP, I don't know much about their SA program.

I'd stick with all your TX firms then, ATL, as I'm sure you know, has been a slaughterhouse as of late. Eliminate another ATL firm that you're not as interested in.

Great thanks! Why did you recommend taking Troutman off? Is it because they are more grade selective?

[Anonymous User]

Lose DLA, Bryan Cave, Paul Hastings.

Thanks! I was thinking DLA and Bryan Cave too. Why PH? Just curioius.

[pinkcamellia]

Texas (more ties there), but ITE wherever I have the most chance of getting a job. For TX firms, I'm particularly worried about LL. Since they aren't on NALP, I don't know much about their SA program.

I'd stick with all your TX firms then, ATL, as I'm sure you know, has been a slaughterhouse as of late. Eliminate another ATL firm that you're not as interested in.

Great thanks! Why did you recommend taking Troutman off? Is it because they are more grade selective?

I looked at Troutman stuff pretty in-depth earlier this year and it appears they're not looking to hire as many SAs this year. However, I would be more inclined in this situation to follow Rad Lulz's advice and cut DLA, Bryan Cave and Paul Hastings.

[de5igual]

Lose DLA, Bryan Cave, Paul Hastings.

what if he comes to enjoy it? (DLA, I mean)

[Anonymous User]

Texas (more ties there), but ITE wherever I have the most chance of getting a job. For TX firms, I'm particularly worried about LL. Since they aren't on NALP, I don't know much about their SA program.

Locke Lord is based in Dallas, so it has the largest class size of the 3. Plus, it's a second half only firm, so you might be able to score a Houston gig through OGI for first half. Both BB and FJ's class sizes are smaller for Dallas (I think BB has 15 and FJ has like 6-7). Are you leaning more corporate or litigation? For FJ Dallas, they only hire for litigation, so that's something to consider.

Great to know. I'm leaning towards corporate right now, but would very much like to try both. So maybe no FJ.

Do you happen to know if firms frown upon a student applying to their Austin and Dallas offices at the same time? I have some ties to Dallas, not really any to Austin besides just wanting to be there.

[de5igual]

Texas (more ties there), but ITE wherever I have the most chance of getting a job. For TX firms, I'm particularly worried about LL. Since they aren't on NALP, I don't know much about their SA program.

Locke Lord is based in Dallas, so it has the largest class size of the 3. Plus, it's a second half only firm, so you might be able to score a Houston gig through OGI for first half. Both BB and FJ's class sizes are smaller for Dallas (I think BB has 15 and FJ has like 6-7). Are you leaning more corporate or litigation? For FJ Dallas, they only hire for litigation, so that's something to consider.

Great to know. I'm leaning towards corporate right now, but would very much like to try both. So maybe no FJ.

Do you happen to know if firms frown upon a student applying to their Austin and Dallas offices at the same time? I have some ties to Dallas, not really any to Austin besides just wanting to be there.

Probably not, but realize Austin is really hard to get. It's basically only HYS + top 10% at UT, everything else, including T14 comes second fiddle.

If you really want Texas, of course bid Dallas, but also focus on Houston. The class sizes there are much bigger (compare 50+ at each BB and VE, 30+ at FJ in Houston vs. 15 at BB and VE, around 7 at FJ in Dallas)

[rad lulz]

In answer to anon and PC

Last yr Troutman seemed to like people with high grades from UVA type schools and PH doesn't hire that many people and isn't that well regarded, generally.

[rad lulz]

Lose DLA, Bryan Cave, Paul Hastings.

what if he comes to enjoy it? (DLA, I mean)

Who doesn't enjoy it?

[Anonymous User]

i'm sorry to derail this topic, but was SEMJF only open to students from participating schools in the fair?

[rad lulz]

i'm sorry to derail this topic, but was SEMJF only open to students from participating schools in the fair?

Ya