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Should I mass-mail the firms I'll be bidding on during OCI?
Or should I use this as an opportunity to apply to the firms I'm interested in but will not be bidding on?

Would appreciate any advice. Thanks!

I don't understand why there's an "or": do both. You're not going to get every firm you bid on. Mail the ones you don't get, mail the ones you didn't bid on but are coming to OCI, and mail all firms that you would rather work at than be unemployed.

I mean you can do both... But I think where it would be most useful is mass mailing firms that you wouldn't be able to bid on because of things such as grade cutoffs.

KD35 wrote:I mean you can do both... But I think where it would be most useful is mass mailing firms that you wouldn't be able to bid on because of things such as grade cutoffs.

If you don't make the firm's actual grade cutoff, why would mass mailing be useful? I assume either way that would mean your GPA is below their floor?

DO NOT mail to any firm with whom you're doing an on-campus interview! It's unnecessary overkill and will make you look high maintenance - not the impression you want to make on any firm. If you don't get an OCI slot with a firm, feel free to contact the firm to see if they can squeeze you in or see you outside of OCI.

enibs wrote:DO NOT mail to any firm with whom you're doing an on-campus interview! It's unnecessary overkill and will make you look high maintenance - not the impression you want to make on any firm. If you don't get an OCI slot with a firm, feel free to contact the firm to see if they can squeeze you in or see you outside of OCI.

Tcr. I've gotten eye rolls when I've followed up on emails. "Oh yeah, we received your app. What was your reasoning for wanting to interview with us outside of OCI?//We're actually coming to your school for OCI. Pause."

As this poster mentioned, email them after you don't get a screener. And just let them know you bid them but couldn't get an interview. Now, if you didn't bid them, (good luck explaining) don't lie and say that you did.

Anonymous User wrote:

enibs wrote:DO NOT mail to any firm with whom you're doing an on-campus interview! It's unnecessary overkill and will make you look high maintenance - not the impression you want to make on any firm. If you don't get an OCI slot with a firm, feel free to contact the firm to see if they can squeeze you in or see you outside of OCI.

Tcr. I've gotten eye rolls when I've followed up on emails. "Oh yeah, we received your app. What was your reasoning for wanting to interview with us outside of OCI?//We're actually coming to your school for OCI. Pause."

As this poster mentioned, email them after you don't get a screener. And just let them know you bid them but couldn't get an interview. Now, if you didn't bid them, (good luck explaining) don't lie and say that you did.

Not OP here, but I had the same question. Thanks for these answers, they make perfect sense. I just have a quick follow-up question: does the rationale change if you're doing your 1L summer in your target market away from where you go to school? Like try to reach out to OCI firms ahead of OCI to try to get in for an informational interview or a phone call or coffee with a junior associate while you're already in the target market?

My sense tells me that I should maybe reach out to a junior or mid-level associate who's an alum of my law school at an OCI firm here in my target market so I have something/someone to reference in my screener during OCI if I get one or maybe have someone to help go to bat for me a little if I don't. Without there being a junior or mid-level alum, though, don't reach out. Thoughts?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

enibs wrote:DO NOT mail to any firm with whom you're doing an on-campus interview! It's unnecessary overkill and will make you look high maintenance - not the impression you want to make on any firm. If you don't get an OCI slot with a firm, feel free to contact the firm to see if they can squeeze you in or see you outside of OCI.

Tcr. I've gotten eye rolls when I've followed up on emails. "Oh yeah, we received your app. What was your reasoning for wanting to interview with us outside of OCI?//We're actually coming to your school for OCI. Pause."

As this poster mentioned, email them after you don't get a screener. And just let them know you bid them but couldn't get an interview. Now, if you didn't bid them, (good luck explaining) don't lie and say that you did.

Not OP here, but I had the same question. Thanks for these answers, they make perfect sense. I just have a quick follow-up question: does the rationale change if you're doing your 1L summer in your target market away from where you go to school? Like try to reach out to OCI firms ahead of OCI to try to get in for an informational interview or a phone call or coffee with a junior associate while you're already in the target market?

My sense tells me that I should maybe reach out to a junior or mid-level associate who's an alum of my law school at an OCI firm here in my target market so I have something/someone to reference in my screener during OCI if I get one or maybe have someone to help go to bat for me a little if I don't. Without there being a junior or mid-level alum, though, don't reach out. Thoughts?

Here's my advice: contact every firm in your market while you are home. You should be making personal contacts within the firm's. But definitely contact recruiting and tell them you know they are coming to OCI (if they are) but you will be home now and see if you can meet with them outside of OCI. It makes no sense for them to fly you back, when you are right there already. Try to get a screener at least, but go for informational stuff if you can't get that.

NYSprague wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

enibs wrote:DO NOT mail to any firm with whom you're doing an on-campus interview! It's unnecessary overkill and will make you look high maintenance - not the impression you want to make on any firm. If you don't get an OCI slot with a firm, feel free to contact the firm to see if they can squeeze you in or see you outside of OCI.

Tcr. I've gotten eye rolls when I've followed up on emails. "Oh yeah, we received your app. What was your reasoning for wanting to interview with us outside of OCI?//We're actually coming to your school for OCI. Pause."

As this poster mentioned, email them after you don't get a screener. And just let them know you bid them but couldn't get an interview. Now, if you didn't bid them, (good luck explaining) don't lie and say that you did.

Not OP here, but I had the same question. Thanks for these answers, they make perfect sense. I just have a quick follow-up question: does the rationale change if you're doing your 1L summer in your target market away from where you go to school? Like try to reach out to OCI firms ahead of OCI to try to get in for an informational interview or a phone call or coffee with a junior associate while you're already in the target market?

My sense tells me that I should maybe reach out to a junior or mid-level associate who's an alum of my law school at an OCI firm here in my target market so I have something/someone to reference in my screener during OCI if I get one or maybe have someone to help go to bat for me a little if I don't. Without there being a junior or mid-level alum, though, don't reach out. Thoughts?

Here's my advice: contact every firm in your market while you are home. You should be making personal contacts within the firm's. But definitely contact recruiting and tell them you know they are coming to OCI (if they are) but you will be home now and see if you can meet with them outside of OCI. It makes no sense for them to fly you back, when you are right there already. Try to get a screener at least, but go for informational stuff if you can't get that.

Ok, sounds good. Thank you.