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If you were given a cold offer, would it be so obvious that you would know for sure about it? Do people accept cold offers on the spot without knowing that they got cold offers?

Depends on what was said, but usually I think it's pretty obvious

I am not clear on how a cold offer exactly comes about. Does someone at the firm say you’re not a good fit but they will extend an offer as not to destroy your life but they do expect you to find another firm?
The other thing is, I can’t imagine someone receiving a cold offer and then making it public….doesn’t that defeat the objective of a cold offer?

I think part of it is an attempt to shame the firm that gave the offer. A lot of the firms that give cold offers are "100% offer" firms, and may give cold offers to pad their offer rate. Telling people about the cold offer helps people realize that the "100% offer" isn't as good as it might sound.

There are two types of cold offer.

A "we'll tell anyone who asks that you have an offer, but you can't accept it, and if you try we'll fire your ass"

B "we are giving you an offer but we think you'd be better offing looking elsewhere"



A is explicit as fuck. B might be a bit subtle but unless you are socially retarded you should know it. But if you are socially retarded to worry about getting a cold offer and not knowing, you are the type of person who could fuck it up. So maybe.

What exactly did your offer sound like?

Desert Fox wrote:There are two types of cold offer.

A "we'll tell anyone who asks that you have an offer, but you can't accept it, and if you try we'll fire your ass"

B "we are giving you an offer but we think you'd be better offing looking elsewhere"



A is explicit as fuck. B might be a bit subtle but unless you are socially retarded you should know it. But if you are socially retarded to worry about getting a cold offer and not knowing, you are the type of person who could fuck it up. So maybe.

What exactly did your offer sound like?

I wouldn't say there are two types; rather there's a sliding scale all the way from ice fucking cold, which is your A, to something as late-August brisl as "we're extending you an offer and we're happy to have you work here; but we have to let you know that we're a bit concerned about how you fit in over the summer", which is indeed ambiguous.

Anonymous User wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:There are two types of cold offer.

A "we'll tell anyone who asks that you have an offer, but you can't accept it, and if you try we'll fire your ass"

B "we are giving you an offer but we think you'd be better offing looking elsewhere"



A is explicit as fuck. B might be a bit subtle but unless you are socially retarded you should know it. But if you are socially retarded to worry about getting a cold offer and not knowing, you are the type of person who could fuck it up. So maybe.

What exactly did your offer sound like?

I wouldn't say there are two types; rather there's a sliding scale all the way from ice fucking cold, which is your A, to something as late-August brisl as "we're extending you an offer and we're happy to have you work here; but we have to let you know that we're a bit concerned about how you fit in over the summer", which is indeed ambiguous.

That's not ambiguous that is a warning to shape up.

I can see our firm going “A” if someone was on the wrong side of the bubble. Humanitarian I guess. While I have never met a “no offer, no way” candidate, I guess they’re out there. What I now have sympathy for are the screeners who recommended these “no offered” candidates for a callback.

twenty 8 wrote:I can see our firm going “A” if someone was on the wrong side of the bubble. Humanitarian I guess. While I have never met a “no offer, no way” candidate, I guess they’re out there. What I now have sympathy for are the screeners who recommended these “no offered” candidates for a callback.

Why? Do you think anyone remembers or holds it against them? And shouldn't the all-knowing partners etc. who conducted the callbacks have seen problems, if there were any to see?

Oh yeah, for sure. Some years ago (before I was even in law school) a (now retired) partner screened and recommended a couple of candidates and I guess it was a total disaster (given that hanging is illegal in this state the only recourse was “no offered”). The folks who are still around since those days keep the legend alive. So yes, “no offered” can embarrass those giving the recommendations. Especially the front line screeners.

Desert Fox wrote:There are two types of cold offer.

A "we'll tell anyone who asks that you have an offer, but you can't accept it, and if you try we'll fire your ass"

B "we are giving you an offer but we think you'd be better offing looking elsewhere"



A is explicit as fuck. B might be a bit subtle but unless you are socially retarded you should know it. But if you are socially retarded to worry about getting a cold offer and not knowing, you are the type of person who could fuck it up. So maybe.

What exactly did your offer sound like?

I had an overall positive final review with some constructive criticisms. I was then handed the offer letter. I don't remember what was said during the minute between when I got the letter and when I accepted. Just remember people congratulating me and my mentors right after I accepted.

How is that a cold offer?

WHJTMG178 wrote:How is that a cold offer?

OP get some fucking Zoloft.

Desert Fox wrote:There are two types of cold offer.

A "we'll tell anyone who asks that you have an offer, but you can't accept it, and if you try we'll fire your ass"

B "we are giving you an offer but we think you'd be better offing looking elsewhere"



A is explicit as fuck. B might be a bit subtle but unless you are socially retarded you should know it. But if you are socially retarded to worry about getting a cold offer and not knowing, you are the type of person who could fuck it up. So maybe.

What exactly did your offer sound like?

There's a third:

C "we know you have only expressed an interest in litigation and that your curriculum is completely litigation focused and that you only worked on litigation assignments this summer, but we're giving you an offer in ERISA, which has never hired a junior. Congratulations."

Anonymous User wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:There are two types of cold offer.

A "we'll tell anyone who asks that you have an offer, but you can't accept it, and if you try we'll fire your ass"

B "we are giving you an offer but we think you'd be better offing looking elsewhere"



A is explicit as fuck. B might be a bit subtle but unless you are socially retarded you should know it. But if you are socially retarded to worry about getting a cold offer and not knowing, you are the type of person who could fuck it up. So maybe.

What exactly did your offer sound like?

There's a third:

C "we know you have only expressed an interest in litigation and that your curriculum is completely litigation focused and that you only worked on litigation assignments this summer, but we're giving you an offer in ERISA, which has never hired a junior. Congratulations."

That is not necessarily a cold offer. ERISA group might have needed someone and they picked you at random. My firm does it to a lot of people. If there are 10 summers and we need 5 corp associates, well 5 of them are going to corp whether they like it or not.

twenty 8 wrote:Oh yeah, for sure. Some years ago (before I was even in law school) a (now retired) partner screened and recommended a couple of candidates and I guess it was a total disaster (given that hanging is illegal in this state the only recourse was “no offered”). The folks who are still around since those days keep the legend alive. So yes, “no offered” can embarrass those giving the recommendations. Especially the front line screeners.

I'm struggling to imagine it going that badly if you picked at random.