Top Law Schools

Any advice on how to say no to an offer?

Dear [FIRM],

Thank you for taking the time to interview me in [CITY]. I sincerely enjoyed meeting your attorneys.

As I am sure you understand, the interview process is very difficult and I am only able to accept one offer. I faced a difficult decision in your case. Reluctantly, I am unable to accept your offer for a summer associate position. Please accept my sincere wishes for continued success with other candidates.

Very truly yours,

[ME]

Anonymous User wrote:Any advice on how to say no to an offer?

Dear [FIRM],

Thank you for taking the time to interview me in [CITY]. I sincerely enjoyed meeting your attorneys.

As I am sure you understand, the interview process is very difficult and I am only able to accept one offer. I faced a difficult decision in your case. Reluctantly, I am unable to accept your offer for a summer associate position. Please accept my sincere wishes for continued success with other candidates.

Very truly yours,

[ME]

That sounds like many rejection letters I have received...

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Any advice on how to say no to an offer?

Dear [FIRM],

Thank you for taking the time to interview me in [CITY]. I sincerely enjoyed meeting your attorneys.

As I am sure you understand, the interview process is very difficult and I am only able to accept one offer. I faced a difficult decision in your case. Reluctantly, I am unable to accept your offer for a summer associate position. Please accept my sincere wishes for continued success with other candidates.

Very truly yours,

[ME]

That sounds like many rejection letters I have received...

OP here. In fact, it probably is drawn from many rejection letters you have received.

.

Eh, I'd cut it down a little. They're not gonna shed any tears over you, and your letter sorta sounds like you don't know that.

Just call. 30 seconds.

Dear Loser Firm,
Sometimes, as a man, I need to make difficult decisions. A recent decision I had to make that was difficult was deciding to go to Winner Firm rather than your Firm. This letter serves as notice that I am declining your offer of employment.

To make this decision, I made a venn diagram. In this venn diagram, I put the strengths of each firm in two corresponding large circles, and in the interlocked circle, I put the attributes which I felt you were tied on. In the interest of communicating to you my decision-making process so that you can respect my decision, and maybe reconsider your weaknesses, I have enclosed a photocopy of this venn diagram.

Very truly yours,
Lacrosse Brother

thesealocust wrote:Just call. 30 seconds.

Calling and written notice is best. Would you only call a client? You need documentation that your engagement has terminated.

laxbrah420 wrote:

thesealocust wrote:Just call. 30 seconds.

Calling and written notice is best. Would you only call a client? You need documentation that your engagement has terminated.

I frequently only call my clients. Lots of stuff is best not memorialized in writing

thesealocust wrote:

laxbrah420 wrote:

thesealocust wrote:Just call. 30 seconds.

Calling and written notice is best. Would you only call a client? You need documentation that your engagement has terminated.

I frequently only call my clients. Lots of stuff is best not memorialized in writing

Let this serve as the lawyers forum now:

In what situations would you not want to memorialize the end of your representation?

Pretending for a moment that this was a serious question, let me suggest that you should call both the legal recruiting office of the firm and also the attorney who was the most involved with recruiting you.

Don't be a sperglord. Just say "I really appreciate it but I decided to go with another firm."

So is it considered bad form if I just email them without calling?

Anonymous User wrote:So is it considered bad form if I just email them without calling?

That's what I did. Ultimately I suspect you care more than they do. Just be polite and you're fine.

Anonymous User wrote:So is it considered bad form if I just email them without calling?

When you accept an offer the SOP is to email all other suitors. I will say that with a couple firms I had an especially good connection with I phoned.
BTW: they always asked what firm I selected. I would answer their question. I never mentioned that it was because of the money (but it was always because of the $).