Will my no-offer follow me? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi. I was no-offered by a firm a few years back. Suffice it to say, I landed on my feet but now I'm looking to lateral to another firm. How do I explain my summering at one firm and ending up at another? Do I mention I was no offered? Is there a way to get around that question? Any commentary or suggestions would be appreciated.

[sandwhich]

"My first firm didn't provide me with adequate opportunity for advancement."

[sandwhich]

In all seriousness, I wouldn't lie outright, but I wouldn't tell them anything more than I had to I guess. But they may not even ask about it, I know people who've ended up at different firms by choice

[Anonymous User]

I was no offered, but it ended up not sticking with me, mostly because I secured a clerkship before the firm no offered everyone in my class.

Outside of that, only one firm asked me about it (and I still received a second interview but did not proceed after I received an offer at another firm). I never volunteered that I was no offered, but I would say what I learned from my experience as far as my practice interests.

Typically, people would ask me how I liked the firm, so be prepared to say that it was great experience, but that you found the firm wasn't the right fit for you. Usually that ended the inquiry.

[Anonymous User]

I was no-offered. It was far from surprising, as that firm was a terrible fit for me. I locked up other employment prior to graduating law school, though, and I think that's key to handling this question. If anyone asks, I'm able to be honest and tell them that I worked at that firm, and it's a good firm, but that it wasn't a good fit. I can explain that I went to a different firm that proved to be a good fit.

If a person was no-offered as a 2L and trying to secure post-grad employment, it's much trickier.