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Rising 2L at Berkeley. Hard to calculate but pretty sure my grades are below median (i think) - more P's than H's. Still hoping to land something in Biglaw at OCI.

Besides my grades, I have semi diverse work exp. I managed to land a good internship this summer as well. Although I haven't practiced interviewing much, in general I'm pretty personable I just get nervous sometimes and fumble over my words.

So far my bidlst is centered around NYC with some LA - targeting what I've heard are less selective firms or firms that have huge class sizes (cadwadaler, Dechert, pillsburry, Weil, Hughes hubbard reed, simpson thatcher, etc)

Any advice? Particular firms that may be less selective/personality based in the LA or NYC area (or elsewhere)? I know mass mailing is important and I've started the process but have been consumed with OCI as of late.

Thanks for the help!! Goodluck to all

When you say "mostly P's" what do you mean exactly? I only ask because for the advice given to be the most helpful, the info you provide needs to be as specific as possible.

I will commend you on one thing though, and that's bidding New York; I can't believe how many below-median kids at Boalt refuse to target less selective NY firms and instead go all-in on California, only to wonder why they strike out. If you're below median, NY is absolutely the market you should be targeting.

The V10 firms you listed (Weil and Simpson) may have huge class sizes, but they are extremely unlikely to take someone below median from Boalt. I do think the general advice to bid on firms that have large class sizes is correct (and that's what gets so many kids at Boalt in trouble since they target SF firms with 2 SA spots), but you have to be in the firm's grade range to begin with.

I think you are correct in bidding Cadwalader, Dechert, Pillsbury, and Hughes Hubbard. I think some others to consider are Alston & Bird, Bryan Cave, Holland & Knight, King & Spalding, Nixon Peabody, Proskauer, Vinson & Elkins, and Winston & Strawn.

It's not a totally lost cause for you, but you really should have started on this a while ago. The bids are due tomorrow and you're asking what firms to consider now? You also should have started mass mailing weeks ago. Some of the less grade selective firms -- Paul Hastings, Brown Rudnick, Bingham, etc. -- have already posted resume collections for their NYC offices on b-Line, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them have already removed them.

SLS_AMG wrote:When you say "mostly P's" what do you mean exactly? I only ask because for the advice given to be the most helpful, the info you provide needs to be as specific as possible.

I will commend you on one thing though, and that's bidding New York; I can't believe how many below-median kids at Boalt refuse to target less selective NY firms and instead go all-in on California, only to wonder why they strike out. If you're below median, NY is absolutely the market you should be targeting.

The V10 firms you listed (Weil and Simpson) may have huge class sizes, but they are extremely unlikely to take someone below median from Boalt. I do think the general advice to bid on firms that have large class sizes is correct (and that's what gets so many kids at Boalt in trouble since they target SF firms with 2 SA spots), but you have to be in the firm's grade range to begin with.

I think you are correct in bidding Cadwalader, Dechert, Pillsbury, and Hughes Hubbard. I think some others to consider are Alston & Bird, Bryan Cave, Holland & Knight, King & Spalding, Nixon Peabody, Proskauer, Vinson & Elkins, and Winston & Strawn.

It's not a totally lost cause for you, but you really should have started on this a while ago. The bids are due tomorrow and you're asking what firms to consider now? You also should have started mass mailing weeks ago. Some of the less grade selective firms -- Paul Hastings, Brown Rudnick, Bingham, etc. -- have already posted resume collections for their NYC offices on b-Line, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them have already removed them.

Thanks for the help - I'll take weil off the list, or at least put it towards the bottom. I have a decent amount of LA firms too as the market is still much bigger than SF, and I am a california native so I'd love to stay there, although getting job is the priority right now.

Some LA firms on the list include: Paul Hastings, Sheppard Mullin, Simpson Thatcher, Skadden, Millbank tweed, DLA Piper, Akin Gump, Proskauer Rose. I realize some of these are grade selective but most of them will be towards the bottom of my list.

Other Ny firms: Simpson Thatcher, Baker Botts, Cooley, Proskauer Rose, Wilmer Hale, Millbank tweed.

It seems some of the firms known for being less grade selective have much smaller class sizes, which may mean they end up being more selective with fewer spots to fill. This is why I've planned on bidding large home offices for semi-selective firms - because Ive heard they may have some flexibility with such large summer classes.

Just a side note since you so kindly offered one as well - I did start on this weeks ago. Ive been researching firms for the last month. Im just anxious and looking for confirmation really. My bid list is pretty much done I am just asking for advice without posting the entire thing onto a message board. As I also said, I started mailing already, I just need to get cracking on the "mass" aspect of it.

LostByOne wrote:Current rising 2L at Berkeley. Grades are below median (i think) - almost all P's. Still hoping to land something in Biglaw at OCI.

Besides my grades, I have pretty diverse work exp ranging from management to waiting tables; and I managed to land an awesome honors internship this summer that fits my target practice area well. Although I haven't practiced interviewing much, in general I'm pretty personable, I like people and can read them well. I just get nervous sometimes and fumble over my words is all.

So far my bidlst is centered around NYC with some LA - targeting what I've heard are less selective firms or firms that have huge class sizes (cadwadaler, Dechert, pillsburry, Weil, Hughes hubbard reed, simpson thatcher, etc)

Any advice? Particular firms that may be less selective/personality based in the LA or NYC area (or elsewhere)? I know mass mailing is important and I've started the process but have been consumed with OCI as of late.

Thanks for the help!! Goodluck to all

Include hogan lovells LA and Jeffer Mangels LA. They do not care about your grades if you're friendly, competent person in the interview.

You're making the right call by prioritizing NYC and then LA.

Tanicius wrote:

LostByOne wrote:Current rising 2L at Berkeley. Grades are below median (i think) - almost all P's. Still hoping to land something in Biglaw at OCI.

Besides my grades, I have pretty diverse work exp ranging from management to waiting tables; and I managed to land an awesome honors internship this summer that fits my target practice area well. Although I haven't practiced interviewing much, in general I'm pretty personable, I like people and can read them well. I just get nervous sometimes and fumble over my words is all.

So far my bidlst is centered around NYC with some LA - targeting what I've heard are less selective firms or firms that have huge class sizes (cadwadaler, Dechert, pillsburry, Weil, Hughes hubbard reed, simpson thatcher, etc)

Any advice? Particular firms that may be less selective/personality based in the LA or NYC area (or elsewhere)? I know mass mailing is important and I've started the process but have been consumed with OCI as of late.

Thanks for the help!! Goodluck to all

Include Hogan Lovells LA and Jeffer Mangels LA. They do not care about your grades if you're friendly, competent person in the interview.

You're making the right call by prioritizing NYC and then LA.

Thanks! I appreciate it. Jeff Mangels will definitely be up there. Hogan looks like it only has a class of 2-4 SA though, may be difficult to snag a spot.

LostByOne wrote:

Tanicius wrote:

LostByOne wrote:Current rising 2L at Berkeley. Grades are below median (i think) - almost all P's. Still hoping to land something in Biglaw at OCI.

Besides my grades, I have pretty diverse work exp ranging from management to waiting tables; and I managed to land an awesome honors internship this summer that fits my target practice area well. Although I haven't practiced interviewing much, in general I'm pretty personable, I like people and can read them well. I just get nervous sometimes and fumble over my words is all.

So far my bidlst is centered around NYC with some LA - targeting what I've heard are less selective firms or firms that have huge class sizes (cadwadaler, Dechert, pillsburry, Weil, Hughes hubbard reed, simpson thatcher, etc)

Any advice? Particular firms that may be less selective/personality based in the LA or NYC area (or elsewhere)? I know mass mailing is important and I've started the process but have been consumed with OCI as of late.

Thanks for the help!! Goodluck to all

Include Hogan Lovells LA and Jeffer Mangels LA. They do not care about your grades if you're friendly, competent person in the interview.

You're making the right call by prioritizing NYC and then LA.

Thanks! I appreciate it. Jeff Mangels will definitely be up there. Hogan looks like it only has a class of 2-4 SA though, may be difficult to snag a spot.

That's a fair point. HL LA hired only one Boaltie my year.

LostByOne wrote:

SLS_AMG wrote:When you say "mostly P's" what do you mean exactly? I only ask because for the advice given to be the most helpful, the info you provide needs to be as specific as possible.

I will commend you on one thing though, and that's bidding New York; I can't believe how many below-median kids at Boalt refuse to target less selective NY firms and instead go all-in on California, only to wonder why they strike out. If you're below median, NY is absolutely the market you should be targeting.

The V10 firms you listed (Weil and Simpson) may have huge class sizes, but they are extremely unlikely to take someone below median from Boalt. I do think the general advice to bid on firms that have large class sizes is correct (and that's what gets so many kids at Boalt in trouble since they target SF firms with 2 SA spots), but you have to be in the firm's grade range to begin with.

I think you are correct in bidding Cadwalader, Dechert, Pillsbury, and Hughes Hubbard. I think some others to consider are Alston & Bird, Bryan Cave, Holland & Knight, King & Spalding, Nixon Peabody, Proskauer, Vinson & Elkins, and Winston & Strawn.

It's not a totally lost cause for you, but you really should have started on this a while ago. The bids are due tomorrow and you're asking what firms to consider now? You also should have started mass mailing weeks ago. Some of the less grade selective firms -- Paul Hastings, Brown Rudnick, Bingham, etc. -- have already posted resume collections for their NYC offices on b-Line, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them have already removed them.

Thanks for the help - I'll take weil off the list, or at least put it towards the bottom. I have a decent amount of LA firms too as the market is still much bigger than SF, and I am a california native so I'd love to stay there, although getting job is the priority right now.

Some LA firms on the list include: Paul Hastings, Sheppard Mullin, Simpson Thatcher, Skadden, Millbank tweed, DLA Piper, Akin Gump, Proskauer Rose. I realize some of these are grade selective but most of them will be towards the bottom of my list.

Other Ny firms: Simpson Thatcher, Baker Botts, Cooley, Proskauer Rose, Wilmer Hale, Millbank tweed.

It seems some of the firms known for being less grade selective have much smaller class sizes, which may mean they end up being more selective with fewer spots to fill. This is why I've planned on bidding large home offices for semi-selective firms - because Ive heard they may have some flexibility with such large summer classes.

Just a side note since you so kindly offered one as well - I did start on this weeks ago. Ive been researching firms for the last month. Im just anxious and looking for confirmation really. My bid list is pretty much done I am just asking for advice without posting the entire thing onto a message board. As I also said, I started mailing already, I just need to get cracking on the "mass" aspect of it.

I go to NYU and based on the numbers I've seen, you should cut Simpson Thacher and WilmerHale. They're both very selective. Milbank is probably a reach for you.

Best of luck, OP. If I were you I'd open the Vault 100 guide and just send a cold mass mail to every firm that isn't coming to OCI, like Stroock, Fried Frank, Cahill, etc.

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