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Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 9:38 pm
by Anonymous User
2L, top 20%, LR, published, school in 30-40 range. I struck out at oci, so I basically mass mailed.

I got an interview and offer with a large pi firm, and took it fearing I wouldnt get anything else. I've been working there part-time for a few weeks. Although I didn't sign formal agreement as to the time period, the understanding is that it will continue part-time through summer.


I was contacted by another firm today and they asked to interview me for a SA position. Its a mid size (30-40) litigation firm that does insurance work and is really well respected in the area.

So do I interview? If so and assuming they offer me a job, do I take it?

Some other facts: firm i started working for part-time isnt listed on resume as I just started, so firm 2 doesn't know im there at the moment, but im assuming they'd need to know if I took a job (assuming they offer) for the purposes of a conflict check. Also, the SA position could turn into full time offer, although I already have a clerkship secured.

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Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:09 pm
by Myself
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Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:43 pm
by NYstate
I think you need to do the interview. If you get the job offer explain to the part-time firm that you need a full time job. They should understand it if you approach it correctly. They won't be happy but they can't give you a fulltime job. Everyone needs money. This shouldn't be too hard.

Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:48 pm
by Anonymous User
Thanks for the advice, I'll go ahead with the interview and go from there.

Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:03 pm
by lolfranks51
yea, you definitely need to go on the interview.

interview, see what happens, then worry about this. but full time > part time.

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Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:56 pm
by Myself
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Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 12:07 am
by Scotusnerd
ajax adonis wrote:Yeah, I agree. Any employer that gets mad at a "kid" for choosing full-time over part-time has forgotten what it's like to be a poor college or law student.

This. And, if they do get mad, you just saved yourself some real problems down the line. This sorta stuff happens more often than people think. Don't sweat it.

Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:22 am
by Anonymous User
OP here

Do I need to put the job i've been at for 2 weeks on my resume? I worried if I do, they'll call the employer and ask about me. And at the same time, I know I'll need to say who my previous employers have been if I got the job at firm 2 so they can make sure no conflicts exist

So do I put it on now, and tell the interviewer its part-time/etc, or wait till I get the job and explain?

Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:32 am
by Scotusnerd
Anonymous User wrote:OP here

Do I need to put the job i've been at for 2 weeks on my resume? I worried if I do, they'll call the employer and ask about me. And at the same time, I know I'll need to say who my previous employers have been if I got the job at firm 2 so they can make sure no conflicts exist

So do I put it on now, and tell the interviewer its part-time/etc, or wait till I get the job and explain?
Those are probably questions for career services rather than an online forum. Those are etiquette questions that will have a lot to do with your location and the expectations of the local legal community.

Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:44 am
by Anonymous User
Scotusnerd wrote:
Those are probably questions for career services rather than an online forum. Those are etiquette questions that will have a lot to do with your location and the expectations of the local legal community.

I have a feeling the career services is going to say "why the hell did you accept an interview when you already have a job, you can't do that," I feel like they are more concerned about their own image than my future, which is ironic for a career services office

Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:24 am
by Danteshek
You don't have to put that on your resume. In fact, you don't have to put anything that short-term on your resume.

Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:33 am
by cinephile
Anonymous User wrote:
Scotusnerd wrote:
Those are probably questions for career services rather than an online forum. Those are etiquette questions that will have a lot to do with your location and the expectations of the local legal community.

I have a feeling the career services is going to say "why the hell did you accept an interview when you already have a job, you can't do that," I feel like they are more concerned about their own image than my future, which is ironic for a career services office
Seriously. You never, EVER contact career services about a dilemma. It's in their best interest to screw you over to save themselves. Also, career services never, EVER cares about you getting a job that fits your interests or is right for you, they only care about getting you employed in a JD required job for their stats. If you hate what you do or aren't making as much as you could, that's not their problem.

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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 1:13 pm
by Myself
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Re: Interview Dilemma (2L summer)

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 1:51 pm
by Anonymous User
OP here,

Yeh I'm not going to go to the career services office, I already know what they'll say.

One of my friends got an offer and accepted on the spot, but then said, can I actually have a few days. The career services office called him in and told him he had to call them right now and accept because it makes them look bad.

I will just do the interview and, if offered, let the current firm know I will be leaving at the end of may. The current firm can't guarantee any more than 3 days (and so i'd probably only work 2) during the summer so i don't think its like a huge deal, I'm just worried they will bad mouth me (not that I want to go into the area of law they do).