Lying about landing big law?

[Anonymous User]

I recently found out one of my best friends has been lying about having an offer. It turns out he struck out at OCI and just decided to tell everyone he is going to a particularly well known firm in NYC. I have no idea how he is going to keep this lie up with everyone else but I have been sworn to secrecy.

Is this a common occurrence? Does anyone else know someone who lied about getting a big law job? How did the truth finally come out?

[09042014]

lol at that guy.

I suspect some people lie about getting an offer after their SA. "I got an offer, but there is NO WAY I'm going back, I hated it" sounds suspicious to me.

[Anonymous User]

A couple of people did this at my school. One got found out when the hiring partner of firm X (who student Y had been saying they were going to for months) came up to student Y at a mixer and asked where they ended up going in front of a group of other students.

[shock259]

lol law students

[Bronte]

Well it would be pretty shitty not to get big law and then have everyone talking about getting big law. Not saying it's justified, just saying I can empathize.

[Anonymous User]

you sound like a really good friend!!

[Anonymous User]

Well it would be pretty shitty not to get big law and then have everyone talking about getting big law. Not saying it's justified, just saying I can empathize.

Yeah, especially at some schools where 80% of the class gets it. It's bad enough at my school where only about 30% of the class gets big law or market-paying mid law.

The groupthink of law school drives certain students to go through OCI even if they came to law school not wanting to work in a big firm. Half my section came in wanting to do PI. I came in wanting to do an alternative/nonpracticing career. Yet we all went through OCI. Supposedly, working at a big firm is "the thing to do." Given this culture, it's not surprising that people would try to save face. I am sure a lot of people do it and then, eventually, hope everyone forgets what they said and then go back to whatever it was they came to law school to do.

[HeavenWood]

Not advertising your strike-out is one thing. Straight-up lying about it is another.

[romothesavior]

Not advertising your strike-out is one thing. Straight-up lying about it is another.

Yup

[crit_racer]

no sense in lying about your dick size...

[target]

no sense in lying about your dick size...

idk, lying about one's dick size has more "tangible" benefits than lying about big-law offer.

[IAFG]

That's really sad. And short-sighted. I feel bad for the guy.

[delusional]

I don't think it's a big deal. Striking out is a bitch, and you do what it takes to get you out of bed in the morning. If I suspected that someone was doing this, I would congratulate them and try not to bring it up again.
I imagine that the endgame involves getting a public interest job, or a job in another market, and the person saying that he changed his mind and wanted to do that kind of work.

[Anonymous User]

We had a guy at my school randomly wear suits to class during the OCI periods. He had no interviews.

[ms9]

He has a long life ahead of him if he doesn't mature.

Having read this board since its inception, I have always been amused as the percentage of LSAT scores reported here relative to the percentage of test takers who score in the 170s.

[TTH]

I hate that we all live in this environment that makes people feel like they have to feel ashamed and lie about shit that's not in their control.

I don't rush to talk about it, but when it comes up, I don't shirk from talking about getting no-offered. For one, it wasn't because of anything I did; second, it's a lot like taking a shit: it's not exactly a pleasant experience, but I always feel better afterward.

[androstan]

How did you find out? Did your friend just come clean to you in confidence?

[Sheffield]

I have a friend who dreaded going back to school because she did not have an offer and figured everyone else did. I certainly have empathy. I can see where someone who is sensitive to embarrassment might try to avoid a perceived humiliation. Turns out she got an offer a few weeks later and will not discuss her offer whenever someone is around who is still looking.

[traehekat]

A couple of people did this at my school. One got found out when the hiring partner of firm X (who student Y had been saying they were going to for months) came up to student Y at a mixer and asked where they ended up going in front of a group of other students.

oh man, so awkward.

[kwais]

He has a long life ahead of him if he doesn't mature.

Having read this board since its inception, I have always been amused as the percentage of LSAT scores reported here relative to the percentage of test takers who score in the 170s.

I think the maturity statement is a little over the top. As for the LSAT, I really don't buy it. For every high score on this site, you can find people who document their intense study, and then get lower than they hoped and they are open about it. There seems to be little to no incentive to lie. People stay on here and talk about applications and admissions too. If they made up their LSAT scores, this stuff would begin to unravel. Maybe you are mad that people don't need your (surely overpriced) service? Is that it?

[IAFG]

He has a long life ahead of him if he doesn't mature.

Having read this board since its inception, I have always been amused as the percentage of LSAT scores reported here relative to the percentage of test takers who score in the 170s.

I'm not at all surprised that a site made up almost entirely of T20 admits has a ton of 17Xs floating around. It would be weirder if 17Xs were rare here.

[Anonymous User]

Found out someone has been lying about landing not 1 but 2 offers...claimed they had a 1L Summer Associate job also. Friend of mine knows someone on the hiring committee...never heard of nor seen the person. Person keeps up the lie, even though 1/3 of our class knows it's total bullshit, we just nod along. Sad.

[Tanicius]

A couple of people did this at my school. One got found out when the hiring partner of firm X (who student Y had been saying they were going to for months) came up to student Y at a mixer and asked where they ended up going in front of a group of other students.

Was this mixer hosted by that firm? If so, why on Earth would you not be clever enough to avoid such a thing? Jesus.

[keg411]

I can see why someone would do that with their peers, especially at top schools. First semester 2L can be extremely rough in terms of OCI, especially when you hear about your friends getting this offer and that offer, etc. However, ultimately, it's better to just tell the truth because you never know who can help you out before it's completely too late.

I will say that I think that people in general put too much emphasis on having to do BigLaw and the "BIGLAW OR DOC REVIEW DEATH" mentality. Yes, I know it mostly has to do with high debt loads, but no one should feel inferior as a person over a type of job that makes up an extremely small percentage of legal jobs.

[kingofdara]

It's a sad thing to lie about, especially since it's so easy to figure out. Is he planning on continuing the charade through the summer?