Rescinded offers Forum

[Anonymous User]

Had 5 cbs and 1 offer, waiting on the other 4.

Its been two weeks since the offer, and I have not accepted it yet. If the firm receives more than the expected acceptances - - is there a chance that it can be rescinded before the deadline? Dont want to end up with nothing in the anticipation of others.

Is it even remotely advisable that I accept the offer in hand, and then reject it if and when a better one comes along?

Many thanks!

[FKASunny]

Have you contacted them since they extended the offer?

[wwwcol]

By two weeks do you mean more or less than 14 days?

[Anonymous User]

also curious

-AJ

[Tiago Splitter]

Kasowitz Benson called people last year and made them accept on the spot when it turned out the firm had over-offered, so if you get that call you know what to do.

[Anonymous User]

I didn't summer at Kasowitz, but think that if OP was in that position they would be better off to have another offer on the table. If it's accept on the spot or lose the offer, even if OP accepted 2 weeks earlier they are no better off. That firm is going to wind up either no offering people, or the yearly retention is going to be lower than other firms. They're not going to no offer based on how long it took you to accept.

Also, it was news when this happened to Kasowitz. The odds of this happening are very low of your firm pulling a Kasowitz situation, but some letters say "until the firm receives x number of associates." Over offers only happen when a firm miscalculates the legal economy or by sheer statistical anomalies. Back in 2006, median at Columbia would have received 10 offers from 20 screeners. Today, they're getting 0-4. The acceptance rates are obviously very different in these two situations. Over offers are either the firm miscalculating how offer happy their peers are, or a result of happening to offer a bunch of people with only 1 offer or people who love their firm. Kasowitz didn't really do anything reprehensible, and the odds of any one firm being 2013 Kasowitz are pretty small. I wouldn't stress it.

That all said, it wouldn't hurt to update recruiting on where you are on your end. You've already been offered so clearly they like you. Also, your decision or yay or nay helps them do their job. You wouldn't be hurt by saying you're really interested, but have x number of callbacks remaining, and will tell them as soon as possible.

[Tiago Splitter]

Yeah I should have added that Kasowitz was a rare situation. But if for some reason that rare situation happens to you you can just accept then. Renege if something better comes along.

[Anonymous User]

OP here

By two weeks do you mean more or less than 14 days?

Its been 10 business days and 4 weekends. Not sure why such a precision matters?

Have you contacted them since they extended the offer?

Yes I contacted right after the offer email - although just sent a thank you reply, and nothing substantive.

The offer said something along the lines that I have one month to accept, but its not a binding contract which can be rescinded anytime.

[nsideirish]

OP here

By two weeks do you mean more or less than 14 days?

Its been 10 business days and 4 weekends. Not sure why such a precision matters?

Precision matters because, according to NALP guidelines, you must reaffirm your interest in an outstanding offer 14 days after it has been extended.

[FKASunny]

OP here

By two weeks do you mean more or less than 14 days?

Its been 10 business days and 4 weekends. Not sure why such a precision matters?

Precision matters because, according to NALP guidelines, you must reaffirm your interest in an outstanding offer 14 days after it has been extended.

This is exactly what I was getting at, OP. You need to call them tomorrow and just check in.

[Anonymous User]

OP here

By two weeks do you mean more or less than 14 days?

Its been 10 business days and 4 weekends. Not sure why such a precision matters?

Have you contacted them since they extended the offer?

Yes I contacted right after the offer email - although just sent a thank you reply, and nothing substantive.

The offer said something along the lines that I have one month to accept, but its not a binding contract which can be rescinded anytime.

Because for certain offers for 2L Summer Associate positions, NALP requires that you reaffirm interest at the end of the first 14 days, or the offer can be rescinded. Every offer I received stated this in the letter.

[Anonymous User]

OP again

Thanks all for the above advice.

Going to call them tomorrow and say something along the lines - "I remain highly interested in the firm, and would be able to make a decision by end of next week"

You guys think I should express the interest more strongly than the above?

[FKASunny]

OP again

Thanks all for the above advice.

Going to call them tomorrow and say something along the lines - "I remain highly interested in the firm, and would be able to make a decision by end of next week"

You guys think I should express the interest more strongly than the above?

Are you actually more interested than that in the firm?

[wwwcol]

OP again

Thanks all for the above advice.

Going to call them tomorrow and say something along the lines - "I remain highly interested in the firm, and would be able to make a decision by end of next week"

You guys think I should express the interest more strongly than the above?

You've sat on their offer beyond the NALP period to reaffirm and you're basically asking for another two weeks... that's getting into dangerous territory IMO (especially if these firms do not have NYC-style mega classes). I would call/email all of the other firms tomorrow morning to let them know you're reaching the end of the decision-making process and to ask when they expect they'll be able to make a decision on your app

[Micdiddy]

OP again

Thanks all for the above advice.

Going to call them tomorrow and say something along the lines - "I remain highly interested in the firm, and would be able to make a decision by end of next week"

You guys think I should express the interest more strongly than the above?

You've sat on their offer beyond the NALP period to reaffirm and you're basically asking for another two weeks... that's getting into dangerous territory IMO (especially if these firms do not have NYC-style mega classes). I would call/email all of the other firms tomorrow morning to let them know you're reaching the end of the decision-making process and to ask when they expect they'll be able to make a decision on your app

I don't think this is dangerous territory at all. In fact, when you call tomorrow I would not even say "by the end of the week" because that cuts you far short. After you re-affirm your interest you have another two weeks to make a decision and still be within the NALP 28 days rule. The firms will (almost) always abide by this 28 day rule because they don't want to be on ATL.

[bearsfan23]

If I were you, I'd send them an email ASAP, given the 14 day "guideline": Here's a template:

Dear (Legal Recruiter at backup firm):

Hello, I’m sending this email to follow up on the offer I received to join (backup firm's) 2015 Summer Program. As your letter requests, I wanted to reiterate my interest and let you know that I am strongly considering your firm’s offer. I am still going through the interviewing process elsewhere and therefore am not ready to make a final decision at this time, but I will let you know as soon as possible. Please let me know if any additional information is needed from me at this time.

Sincerely,

Aspie Law Student who doesn't want to end up jerbless

[ze2151]

check in with that firm asap. and be humble in your communication w/ the firm. it's true you will never have more leverage with these employers than you do right now, but even so, show them your maturity through your humility. i'm in a southern market, so this may not hold for your offers, depending where you are looking, OP. but time and again i've seen decent, humble people rewarded for their attitudes here.

maybe in your email (and your follow-up call tomorrow), you let your contact know that you are very excited at the opportunity to work at firm X, and you are very near making a final decision (firm X doesn't know you don't have any other offers).

also, contrary to earlier comments, i think there is some value to promising a decision in 7 days, even though you have 14. that type of courtesy could come back to you, especially if you end up working there.

[Anonymous User]

Not OP, but someone in a similar position.

How bad does it look if I accept the offer and then renege if sth better comes along?

[FKASunny]

Not OP, but someone in a similar position.

How bad does it look if I accept the offer and then renege if sth better comes along?

This is a really vague question, but your situation is likely best answered by using the search function. There are a ton of threads about this.

[ze2151]

imo if both the offers are paying market, it's one of those things you don't do. obviously your cso will tell you it's something you CAN'T do in any case, but you can surely imagine scenarios that would justify going back on a promise to work somewhere.

if i were you, i'd think of this as your first ethical decision as a professional in business. if you were the partner who extended the offer, would you understand the circumstances causing the prospective summer to renege? (examples: my wife just got pregnant unexpectedly, and i am now recalibrating my job search closer to her family for childcare reasons; ms. hiring partner, your firm was recently in the news for laying off 50 associates, and this new information has caused me to rethink my commitment) I don't think "i know i committed to you, but i got a better offer" should ever play, unless the job you previously accepted paid nothing or next to nothing, because then the employer you're turning down really isn't put in a worse position by you reneging.

[Anonymous User]

imo if both the offers are paying market, it's one of those things you don't do. obviously your cso will tell you it's something you CAN'T do in any case, but you can surely imagine scenarios that would justify going back on a promise to work somewhere.

if i were you, i'd think of this as your first ethical decision as a professional in business. if you were the partner who extended the offer, would you understand the circumstances causing the prospective summer to renege? (examples: my wife just got pregnant unexpectedly, and i am now recalibrating my job search closer to her family for childcare reasons; ms. hiring partner, your firm was recently in the news for laying off 50 associates, and this new information has caused me to rethink my commitment) I don't think "i know i committed to you, but i got a better offer" should ever play, unless the job you previously accepted paid nothing or next to nothing, because then the employer you're turning down really isn't put in a worse position by you reneging.

OP here - the offer is from a big law firm paying $160k in a primary market, so the chances of bettering it are pretty low.

Also just checked the offer email - its actually been 13 days (instead of 14 I had mentioned earlier).

[Micdiddy]

imo if both the offers are paying market, it's one of those things you don't do. obviously your cso will tell you it's something you CAN'T do in any case, but you can surely imagine scenarios that would justify going back on a promise to work somewhere.

if i were you, i'd think of this as your first ethical decision as a professional in business. if you were the partner who extended the offer, would you understand the circumstances causing the prospective summer to renege? (examples: my wife just got pregnant unexpectedly, and i am now recalibrating my job search closer to her family for childcare reasons; ms. hiring partner, your firm was recently in the news for laying off 50 associates, and this new information has caused me to rethink my commitment) I don't think "i know i committed to you, but i got a better offer" should ever play, unless the job you previously accepted paid nothing or next to nothing, because then the employer you're turning down really isn't put in a worse position by you reneging.

This is pretty solid advice.

The whole point of NALP guidelines are so that you have plenty of time to make an informed decision (and thus do not ever have to renege). There is NO reason you should decide before 28 days are up unless you're 100% sure that's where you want to go (and if the 28 days are almost up and you're still waiting on a firm, you should ask for an extension from the one you have an offer from before you consider declining or accepting).