Texas OCI (and non-UT students bidding on TX firms) Forum

[brose]

So jealous. We could only select 15 interviews out of 22 bids.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

(anon "unlikely" here)

Because it is a big college town, unlike Dallas and Houston which are more traditional midwest cities. I don't want minnesota (might as well stay in chicago) or St. Louis (I'm just not a huge fan). Kansas City is a great place to live, but doesn't have the legal market that Dallas and Austin have (although I have a couple interviews there)

I've done more research than just "a texan told me so", and I feel like I have a decent feel for what Austin, as a community, has to offer. I really do understand firms wanting to hire from people with roots in the community, both from an attrition perspective and a culture/fit perspective. That said, there must be a way for me to express that I have no desire to move my family around for a third time in a few years, and don't really HAVE a "home market" right now, but feel that Austin would make for a great one.

I suppose I'll just have to toss a couple hail-marys. I suppose what I'm really asking is would it be a good idea to steer the conversation towards why I think my family is a fit for Austin? Or am I dead in the water and should just cancel?

The thing is Austin's market is in no way comparable to Dallas or Houston. It's smaller and they handle less complex stuff generally--this is why firms want people who are all about Austin and care less about the quality of work.

I'm sure there's ways to sell yourself as all about Austin, I'm just not 100% sure on how. (But I would reconfigure what you said in the previous post--that made it seem like Houston was the city where you wanted to be.)

[nonprofit-prophet]

Bid on 19 firms. Pre-selected for 18 and an alternate for 1. Gonna cancel on about half.

Edit: crap I think this is different from 1L OCI. I remember being able to choose whether or not to take the interview after being pre-selected. There doesn't seem to be the same option this time around.

I don't really remember, but UT might have additional guidelines on canceling interviews. I would check the cso handout before following the above post's instructions.

Also, unless you already have an offer from your 1L firm, which you would take over the firms you're canceling, I would be very hesitant to cancel interviews. Yes, based on your numbers you're in a good position, but no need to increase the small risk of getting shut out.

Thanks for the advice. I've recently gotten 2 offers pre oci

[Richie Tenenbaum]

Bid on 19 firms. Pre-selected for 18 and an alternate for 1. Gonna cancel on about half.

Edit: crap I think this is different from 1L OCI. I remember being able to choose whether or not to take the interview after being pre-selected. There doesn't seem to be the same option this time around.

I don't really remember, but UT might have additional guidelines on canceling interviews. I would check the cso handout before following the above post's instructions.

Also, unless you already have an offer from your 1L firm, which you would take over the firms you're canceling, I would be very hesitant to cancel interviews. Yes, based on your numbers you're in a good position, but no need to increase the small risk of getting shut out.

Thanks for the advice. I've recently gotten 2 offers pre oci

Congrats! Sounds like you're free to be as choosy as possible then.

[Cade McNown]

Bid on 19 firms. Pre-selected for 18 and an alternate for 1. Gonna cancel on about half.

I would be very hesitant to cancel interviews. Yes, based on your numbers you're in a good position, but no need to increase the small risk of getting shut out.

Agreed. I'm sure you won't strike out, but considering that all your interviews are likely the same week, why not just do them all? You could always narrow your list at the CB stage if your yield is high.
edit: nvm. Saw above post.

[Anonymous User]

I have heard of CBs going out from:

Latham
Skadden
Weil
Milbank
Cleary
S&C
Ropes
Cravath
Dechert

Don't know about any of the others

If a UT student didn't hear from one of those by now is it game over?

[Cade McNown]

25 preselects, 0 lottery. Top 10%. All of my top bids were Austin but I didn't get a single lottery spot...not even my number one!

Ditto - only got one austin screener. FWIW, I'm out-of-state.

[Anonymous User]

24 preselects; 7 Austin and 1 Austin alternate. The rest are Houston.

Who the hell got bracewell(edit:Austin)? They were my #1 and I got shut out.

[Perseus_I]

24 preselects; 7 Austin and 1 Austin alternate. The rest are Houston.

Who the hell got bracewell(edit:Austin)? They were my #1 and I got shut out.

Me. I will likely cancel my non Houston interviews to the extent CSO is able to put me in others, so check again after Wed. I had a really bad experience at one of the job fairs with interviewers constantly harping on ties.

25 preselect interviews, 15 alternates, 0 lottery, apparently terrible interviewing skills.

[Anonymous User]

I have heard of CBs going out from:

Latham
Skadden
Weil
Milbank
Cleary
S&C
Ropes
Cravath
Dechert

Don't know about any of the others

If a UT student didn't hear from one of those by now is it game over?

Am afraid so. I only got 1 CB on that list and have my fingers crossed about BB, K &S, Akin Gump, and Paul Weiss. Yeah and Cahill? Has anyone gotten CBs from any of these?

[Anonymous User]

24 preselects; 7 Austin and 1 Austin alternate. The rest are Houston.

Who the hell got bracewell(edit:Austin)? They were my #1 and I got shut out.

Me. I will likely cancel my non Houston interviews to the extent CSO is able to put me in others, so check again after Wed.

Eh, I didn't even get an alternate, so that won't help me much. I'm pretty thrilled with my other Austin options.

[Anonymous User]

Anything else from the NY firms? BLAH

[Anonymous User]

Paul Weiss? Davis Polk? Allen Overy? Anyone hear from these?

[Anonymous User]

Paul Weiss? Davis Polk? Allen Overy? Anyone hear from these?

i interviewed with these three and also haven't heard anything, though i think at least one of them sent callbacks (check upthread).

[Anonymous User]

Paul Weiss? Davis Polk? Allen Overy? Anyone hear from these?

i interviewed with these three and also haven't heard anything, though i think at least one of them sent callbacks (check upthread).

I think you remember me asking about these firms earlier. There is nothing on this thread about callbacks from these firms going out.

BTW, ding from Cleary via email just a moment ago. I am going 2/14. This does not bode well for OCI. Does 2/14 = 3/25?

Firms I interviewed with which this thread has not mentioned regarding callbacks:

Baker Botts
Paul Weiss
Akin Gump
Allen & Overy
Davis Polk
Cahill
King & Spalding

At least two of these mentioned callbacks coming middle of this week, but I can't remember which ones. I am thinking Paul Weiss was one, but I could very well be wrong.

[Perseus_I]

Paul Weiss? Davis Polk? Allen Overy? Anyone hear from these?

i interviewed with these three and also haven't heard anything, though i think at least one of them sent callbacks (check upthread).

I think you remember me asking about these firms earlier. There is nothing on this thread about callbacks from these firms going out.

BTW, ding from Cleary via email just a moment ago. I am going 2/14. This does not bode well for OCI. Does 2/14 = 3/25?

Firms I interviewed with which this thread has not mentioned regarding callbacks:

Baker Botts
Paul Weiss
Akin Gump
Allen & Overy
Davis Polk
Cahill
King & Spalding

At least two of these mentioned callbacks coming middle of this week, but I can't remember which ones. I am thinking Paul Weiss was one, but I could very well be wrong.

Have any of the Texas-based firms at the NY Job Fair given callbacks?

[Anonymous User]

I have a few questions:

1. Can someone tell me more about Fulbright & Jaworski's reputation and any interview/CB tips?

2. If I start at a NY firm (V50), can I lateral back to TX eventually? What are the advantages/disadvantages of NY big law vs. TX big law? Does anyone know if lockstep is better at NY firms to compensate for the high cost of living?

[Anonymous User]

I have a few questions:

1. Can someone tell me more about Fulbright & Jaworski's reputation and any interview/CB tips?

2. If I start at a NY firm (V50), can I lateral back to TX eventually? What are the advantages/disadvantages of NY big law vs. TX big law? Does anyone know if lockstep is better at NY firms to compensate for the high cost of living?

Interested in info about F&J as well. They called and offered me a callback yesterday after I mass mailed them my stuff

[Anonymous User]

Anyone interviewed with Bickel & Brewer? Tips, tricks, anything?

[nonprofit-prophet]

Anyone interviewed with Bickel & Brewer? Tips, tricks, anything?

instead of shaking hands, make sure you slap both interviewers across the face. That's the type of aggressive personality they look for.

full disclosure: I'll be interviewing with them too, so my advice may not be in your best interest

[Anonymous User]

Any additional NY fair news? A&O or K&S?

[Anonymous User]

Yeah any news from a&o, Paul Weiss, k&s or akin gump?

[Anonymous User]

Yeah any news from a&o, Paul Weiss, k&s or akin gump?

Or Baker Botts?

Paul Weiss's recruiter was out of the office till Wednesday. No idea about A&O.

I wonder if the Texas firms are waiting till after OCI. Is it possible?

[nonprofit-prophet]

So if I got two offers prior to OCI, do they follow the NALP guidelines? Will they expire on the 28th of august? That's only 6 days after interviews with some boutiques i like. Will I have to let one offer expire and just hope I get one of the lit boutiques?

At first I was happy I got offered early, but I'm starting to think it just hurts me.

[nouseforaname123]

So if I got two offers prior to OCI, do they follow the NALP guidelines? Will they expire on the 28th of august? That's only 6 days after interviews with some boutiques i like. Will I have to let one offer expire and just hope I get one of the lit boutiques?

At first I was happy I got offered early, but I'm starting to think it just hurts me.

Unless Susman, the boutiques you're interested in probably have second-half programs that shouldn't conflict with first-half firms.

In the alternative, just talk to the recruiting department and ask for an extension on the offer (although I would probably discuss directly with hiring manager).