firms that are hiring 3Ls Forum

[Anonymous User]

rejected from Milbank NY today

[Anonymous User]

I know that Kirkland-Chicago's restructuring department took on at least one, perhaps two, 3Ls. As far as I know, they are no longer looking for more people.

[Anonymous User]

Has any 3L without a previous biglaw SA found a full time big law offer yet? What did you do and how did you do it! (and which firm/city is it with?) Hearing some success stories will give me some motivation

[Anonymous User]

Has any 3L without a previous biglaw SA found a full time big law offer yet? What did you do and how did you do it! (and which firm/city is it with?) Hearing some success stories will give me some motivation

I worked at a firm of 25 attorneys last year and landed a job with a firm of over 200 attorneys for when I graduate. The gig I landed pays market salary ($160,000) in Chicago (different city than where I worked at during my 2L summer). Raised my grades, published my note (and another piece), networked like a mad man, went to job fairs, and mass mailed crazy. And all of this is for a non-T14, below median kid.

At this point in the game, I think it is imperative to network. Mass mailing will only get you so far. You need to look up alumni from law school and undergrad and reach out to them. Go to the networking events at your school. See if there are networking events for your school in a different city (my school has them in chicago, ny, dc, and sf). Attend job fairs whenever possible. See if your law school will pay for you go to a conference. Look and see if there are job fairs for graduate and/or professional students at your school.

Good luck!! It can be done!!

[Anonymous User]

rejected from Milbank NY today

Email or snail mail rejection? If paper, my rejection is probably on its way today. Or my app might not be processed yet because I only applied two weeks ago.

[Anonymous User]

Working at a V50 in DC after taking the bar. Networking is the key. Although I go to a T10 and have below median grades.

Still waiting on a V10 (stuck on my grades) to see if I will get an offer to work with them. The key is to get out there: mass mail, email, follow up, and follow up some more.

Edit: i'm a 3L.

[Anonymous User]

Email or snail mail rejection? If paper, my rejection is probably on its way today. Or my app might not be processed yet because I only applied two weeks ago.

email, applied 2 weeks ago

[Anonymous User]

Has any 3L without a previous biglaw SA found a full time big law offer yet? What did you do and how did you do it! (and which firm/city is it with?) Hearing some success stories will give me some motivation

I worked at a firm of 25 attorneys last year and landed a job with a firm of over 200 attorneys for when I graduate. The gig I landed pays market salary ($160,000) in Chicago (different city than where I worked at during my 2L summer). Raised my grades, published my note (and another piece), networked like a mad man, went to job fairs, and mass mailed crazy. And all of this is for a non-T14, below median kid.

At this point in the game, I think it is imperative to network. Mass mailing will only get you so far. You need to look up alumni from law school and undergrad and reach out to them. Go to the networking events at your school. See if there are networking events for your school in a different city (my school has them in chicago, ny, dc, and sf). Attend job fairs whenever possible. See if your law school will pay for you go to a conference. Look and see if there are job fairs for graduate and/or professional students at your school.

Good luck!! It can be done!!

How did this work for you? I have tried the same things, and just keep getting nothing even though I am quite active in the field and got my grades up to honors at a CCN. Feel like I am just wasting time and money (these things get pricey) for no results.

[Anonymous User]

Has any 3L without a previous biglaw SA found a full time big law offer yet? What did you do and how did you do it! (and which firm/city is it with?) Hearing some success stories will give me some motivation

I worked at a firm of 25 attorneys last year and landed a job with a firm of over 200 attorneys for when I graduate. The gig I landed pays market salary ($160,000) in Chicago (different city than where I worked at during my 2L summer). Raised my grades, published my note (and another piece), networked like a mad man, went to job fairs, and mass mailed crazy. And all of this is for a non-T14, below median kid.

At this point in the game, I think it is imperative to network. Mass mailing will only get you so far. You need to look up alumni from law school and undergrad and reach out to them. Go to the networking events at your school. See if there are networking events for your school in a different city (my school has them in chicago, ny, dc, and sf). Attend job fairs whenever possible. See if your law school will pay for you go to a conference. Look and see if there are job fairs for graduate and/or professional students at your school.

Good luck!! It can be done!!

How did this work for you? I have tried the same things, and just keep getting nothing even though I am quite active in the field and got my grades up to honors at a CCN. Feel like I am just wasting time and money (these things get pricey) for no results.

Can you qualify what "have you done?" I got a 3L job by doing those things....

[Anonymous User]

Has any 3L without a previous biglaw SA found a full time big law offer yet? What did you do and how did you do it! (and which firm/city is it with?) Hearing some success stories will give me some motivation

I worked at a firm of 25 attorneys last year and landed a job with a firm of over 200 attorneys for when I graduate. The gig I landed pays market salary ($160,000) in Chicago (different city than where I worked at during my 2L summer). Raised my grades, published my note (and another piece), networked like a mad man, went to job fairs, and mass mailed crazy. And all of this is for a non-T14, below median kid.

At this point in the game, I think it is imperative to network. Mass mailing will only get you so far. You need to look up alumni from law school and undergrad and reach out to them. Go to the networking events at your school. See if there are networking events for your school in a different city (my school has them in chicago, ny, dc, and sf). Attend job fairs whenever possible. See if your law school will pay for you go to a conference. Look and see if there are job fairs for graduate and/or professional students at your school.

Good luck!! It can be done!!

How did this work for you? I have tried the same things, and just keep getting nothing even though I am quite active in the field and got my grades up to honors at a CCN. Feel like I am just wasting time and money (these things get pricey) for no results.

Can you qualify what "have you done?" I got a 3L job by doing those things....

Reaching out to alumni and lawyers in particular fields and industry, attending networking and bar events and panels, working on bar publications, etc. At this point it has not been lack of effort and have become relatively known among certain practices.

[Anonymous User]

Try harder. I got my gigs through having networking lunches and coffees with about 43 partners.

[nevdash]

Try harder. I got my gigs through having networking lunches and coffees with about 43 partners.

"Oh, you haven't won the lottery yet? Just buy more tickets, bro!"

[Anonymous User]

Try harder. I got my gigs through having networking lunches and coffees with about 43 partners.

How the fuck do you get a job from a random partner at a decent firm? I have multiple lunches/coffee w/ partners, and all I kept getting was keep searching and too late b/c I struck out.

[rad lulz]

Try harder. I got my gigs through having networking lunches and coffees with about 43 partners.

"Oh, you haven't won the lottery yet? Just buy more tickets, bro!"

Whelp, getting a legal job these days is, in fact, like winning the lottery.

[Anonymous User]

[Anonymous User]

Try harder. I got my gigs through having networking lunches and coffees with about 43 partners.

How the fuck do you get a job from a random partner at a decent firm? I have multiple lunches/coffee w/ partners, and all I kept getting was keep searching and too late b/c I struck out.

They were not random. In the end a network is a connection. I was very focused in terms of my practice area. Also, I go to a T14 (with a strong alum base) so it maybe different. You also have to be smart with who you network with. Associates are not going to do anything for you. You only need to approach partners that are either a) very old b) practice group leaders c) or anyone that seems to be a partner for at least 10 years. Basically, anyone who has a pull.

Also, you are supposed to ask... "who I should be talking too that you know." Or ask "who is hiring." I ended up speaking to a managing partner at a big firm that gave me 20 names at different firms to follow up with. I name dropped his name which lead to something else, which leads to something else. Your not trying hard enough. period.

The job offers that I got were not even advertised. They were very specific in practice area that was projected to grow in a few months. That makes it a ton times easier, b/c you are only competing with yourself. Informational interviews are interviews. If a partner is willing to take the time to meet you, he or she knows what you are after. You may not be interviewing right informally. That could also be another issue. You need to figure out what it is and work on it. It could also be the reason why you were no offered the first time around.

Also, these connections will help in the future if you want to lateral. People remember who you are. I had many people say "come back to me in a few years" after doing x or y. Law is a profession that is very personal. It's better to learn the game early on (from talented people) rather than later on. In fact, I am glad that I ended up getting my job like this, the people that I am going to work with are actually "nice" and a good fit. I know going into a practice group what the people are like and I have some support (b/c a partner who brings you in will vouch for you).

Tried similar shit from a CCN. Met these partners and have gotten commendations, but just get told that field is down and no one is hiring. I'm looking in a specific practice area, and meeting partners isn't working. Feel like you just got lucky. I've met almost every partner in the field who is willing to meet or speak with me, and have gotten nowhere. Best I got was a suggestion to take on a risk management position for some time at a company and maybe will have something turnaround in some time. At this point, not sure if can even keep trying for my desired field. So much for CCN having the best employment prospects. I am getting to the point that if I don't secure actual employment (school welfare doesn't count), I will have to just face facts and kill myself.

[Anonymous User]

Then take the position of being in risk management and stay in touch with that partner. Also, try and reach out to people that are not alums from your school to expand your network. Something will work out.

[Anonymous User]

any updates? no symplicity postings?

[quakpond]

Any 3L's out there got big law offers? Is the 3L market really dead, or is it just me? When is the season for 3L hiring.. is it possibly going to pick up later on in the school year?

[Anonymous User]

Any 3L's out there got big law offers? Is the 3L market really dead, or is it just me? When is the season for 3L hiring.. is it possibly going to pick up later on in the school year?

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no "season" for hiring 3ls. It's all based on retention from the summer class and current needs. I went thru it last year and got a job. It's like previous posters said...network

[quakpond]

Any 3L's out there got big law offers? Is the 3L market really dead, or is it just me? When is the season for 3L hiring.. is it possibly going to pick up later on in the school year?

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no "season" for hiring 3ls. It's all based on retention from the summer class and current needs. I went thru it last year and got a job. It's like previous posters said...network

Yea, that's what I thought. sigh..

Do you mind me asking when you got a job last year (which month)? And what networking method got you the job (was it coffee with alumni type of networking)?

Thanks!

[ehshornet]

Searched Symplicity for you guys (3Ls):

Belin McCormick, P.C., - Iowa (Tax Associate)
Perkins Coie - Portland (Business Associate)
Merchant & Gould - Minneapolis (IP Associate - Mechanical)
Antone, Casagrande & Adwers, P.C - Michigan (Immigration Associate)
Fogg & Powers - Bloomington, MN (IP Associate - EE, Physics, Computer Science)

Hope this helps!

[Anonymous User]

Any 3L's out there got big law offers? Is the 3L market really dead, or is it just me? When is the season for 3L hiring.. is it possibly going to pick up later on in the school year?

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no "season" for hiring 3ls. It's all based on retention from the summer class and current needs. I went thru it last year and got a job. It's like previous posters said...network

Yea, that's what I thought. sigh..

Do you mind me asking when you got a job last year (which month)? And what networking method got you the job (was it coffee with alumni type of networking)?

Thanks!

I got mine in march. Pretty much alumni outreach and coffees. Also grabbed coffees with firm recruiters. Good luck!

[quakpond]

Any 3L's out there got big law offers? Is the 3L market really dead, or is it just me? When is the season for 3L hiring.. is it possibly going to pick up later on in the school year?

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no "season" for hiring 3ls. It's all based on retention from the summer class and current needs. I went thru it last year and got a job. It's like previous posters said...network

Yea, that's what I thought. sigh..

Do you mind me asking when you got a job last year (which month)? And what networking method got you the job (was it coffee with alumni type of networking)?

Thanks!

I got mine in march. Pretty much alumni outreach and coffees. Also grabbed coffees with firm recruiters. Good luck!

Thanks!

And thanks ehshornet for searching your symplicity for us!!

[Anonymous User]

Does anybody know if Kirkland-Chicago is done hiring? Heard through the grapevine that a couple 3Ls got hired for K&E's restructuring group.