Back to Back callbacks, different cities--> scheduling Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I have callbacks on back to back days in different cities. I know that if they are in the same city, generally one firm will act as the "host" while the other firm is charged for half of the expenses. Is this practice the same in regards to multiple cities?

The main issue i'm addressing is whether the first firm should act as the host and book three flights ((1) Law school--> City A; (2) City A--> City B; (3) City B--> Law school) and split the costs with the second firm, or whether I should ignore declaring one firm a "host" firm and have my first callback trip Fly from (1) Law school--> City A; (2) City A to City B, and have my second callback trip only have a one way flight from City B--> Law school.

Sorry if that was convoluted, trying to be as accommodating as possible to both firms without looking like an idiot. Thank you.

[ClubberLang]

This is not common practice and sounds like a bad idea. It's just weird. How do you sell ties and commitment to a market when the firm knows you are their only callback in the city and you're headed elsewhere for an interview tomorrow?

[Anonymous User]

This is not common practice and sounds like a bad idea. It's just weird. How do you sell ties and commitment to a market when the firm knows you are their only callback in the city and you're headed elsewhere for an interview tomorrow?

OP here. Both of them are very large markets, so I don't know how much of a difference ties would have really made. In all honesty, I realized I made a mistake after scheduling the callbacks. Not much I can do at this point but deal with it in the best manner possible.

[ymmv]

This is not common practice and sounds like a bad idea. It's just weird. How do you sell ties and commitment to a market when the firm knows you are their only callback in the city and you're headed elsewhere for an interview tomorrow?

OP here. Both of them are very large markets, so I don't know how much of a difference ties would have really made. In all honesty, I realized I made a mistake after scheduling the callbacks. Not much I can do at this point but deal with it in the best manner possible.

There is only one large market where ties don't matter. And even there they still sometimes matter.

[ClubberLang]

This is not common practice and sounds like a bad idea. It's just weird. How do you sell ties and commitment to a market when the firm knows you are their only callback in the city and you're headed elsewhere for an interview tomorrow?

OP here. Both of them are very large markets, so I don't know how much of a difference ties would have really made. In all honesty, I realized I made a mistake after scheduling the callbacks. Not much I can do at this point but deal with it in the best manner possible.

I don't think you made a mistake scheduling them, just that you should not try anything too innovative with cost splitting.

[tww909]

This is not common practice and sounds like a bad idea. It's just weird. How do you sell ties and commitment to a market when the firm knows you are their only callback in the city and you're headed elsewhere for an interview tomorrow?

I don't think this is nearly as uncommon as you think. I certainly did it and ended up with offers from both the firms. Besides, by the time the travel agency bills the law firm you will most likely have gone through the entire hiring process with nobody in recruiting knowing you did this.

OP - don't bother with the host firm thing. I did the second option. It worked just fine - you'll be talking to a travel agent at the time anyway.

[randomstudent]

I agree. This doesn't sound too unusual. I would have ended up in this situation if I didn't reschedule one of my interviews.

[Anonymous User]

I don't know if it's a nalp rule or our schools rule but they stated that all cb travel had to be: flight from city school is in to city call back is in and back.

However it also depends completely on where you're flying. If you're going DC to NY to Cali, I think you could make a firm mad if they thought you were going to take a train back to DC, but they ended up having to pay for a cross country flight.

[Anonymous User]

I'm running into this problem too. Firm A scheduled in City X and Firm B scheduled in City Y. Still need to schedule travel for Firm B in City Y. Should I . . .

(1) Contact Firm A and tell them about the callback in City Y? Maybe ask them what their protocol would be wrt rescheduling the currently split flight and splitting costs with Firm B?

(2) Don't tell Firm A, talk to Firm B's travel agent, and just fly from City X to City Y and then back to home city. Miss return flight paid for by Firm A.

This is stupid actually I'm going to call Firm A first thing Monday morning and talk them through it.

[randomstudent]

The NALP website simply states that each employer "has its own guidelines and limits with respect to travel reimbursement" and encourages us to discuss these policies with the firm "before [we] travel to meet with the employers." See http://www.nalp.org/openlettertolawstudents2.

I think Anonymous is right in noting that each firm's position may depend "on where you're flying." Is the cost of flying you to [Firm 2 City] after your first interview much higher than the cost of flying you back to [School City]?

[Anonymous User]

Anon from above I just shot e-mails to both recruiting managers who scheduled my callbacks. It's just the polite thing to do - weakening my ties to each city be damned.

I'm running into this problem too. Firm A scheduled in City X and Firm B scheduled in City Y. Still need to schedule travel for Firm B in City Y. Should I . . .

(1) Contact Firm A and tell them about the callback in City Y? Maybe ask them what their protocol would be wrt rescheduling the currently split flight and splitting costs with Firm B?

(2) Don't tell Firm A, talk to Firm B's travel agent, and just fly from City X to City Y and then back to home city. Miss return flight paid for by Firm A.

This is stupid actually I'm going to call Firm A first thing Monday morning and talk them through it.

[randomstudent]

Anon from above I just shot e-mails to both recruiting managers who scheduled my callbacks. It's just the polite thing to do - weakening my ties to each city be damned.

Kudos to you. Much respect.