Thank You Notes Forum

[Anonymous User]

What regions are of the country are they required in after callbacks? I.e. NYC v. LA v. Chicago

Also, if you meet with like 4 or more laywers in one callback do you need to write each one a thank you email, or is it fine to just email the recruiter?

[mylifeis24]

What regions are of the country are they required in after callbacks? I.e. NYC v. LA v. Chicago

What...?

Also, if you meet with like 4 or more laywers in one callback do you need to write each one a thank you email, or is it fine to just email the recruiter?

Quick search would reveal that the CR is no thank you notes at all.

[Anonymous User]

I meant like are thank yous expected in a place like La and Chicago but not in New York, for example

[mylifeis24]

I meant like are thank yous expected in a place like La and Chicago but not in New York, for example

They are not expected, no decisions are ever made based on whether or not a thank you note has been received or not, and if anything, you could create an opportunity to make a substantive or spelling mistake in the thank you, doing harm rather than good (i.e. mixing up names of attorneys, grammar error.)

[handsonthewheel]

As a general rule, do not send thank you notes. If you send paper notes, the chances are the person will have already sent the email response to recruiting before they ever see your card and, beyond that, I doubt anyone will respond differently because they receive a nice note.

I actually cannot think of a circumstance where a "thank you" note makes any sense. If you have a serious, real connection with a senior attorney/partner, and the note is really just continuing a discussion you were having and is expected from both sides, then send it by all means. But a "thank you" note? No.

[Anonymous User]

The reason why OP asked (and I am curious too) is that many schools career services seem to stress sending thank you notes after callbacks. Plus, it meshes with the whole "Network network network network" mantra that you hear all the time.

So there really is no downside to not sending a thank you letter after a callback? Even in semi-major markets like Boston?

[OutoftheWoods]

the answer you get depends on who replies to endless threads like this.

When it comes to anything but big law, always send a thank you (after callbacks, of course, only), not because they are necessary, but because firms are so across the board here you might as well play it safe.

When big law, it really doesnt matter, but it doesn't hurt to send. Note that big law does NOT mean regional big law - i.e. Pepper Hamilton. For regional powerhouses like that, thank yous are probably necessary for the same reasons above.\

caveat, of course, is no typos, and no stupid 3 sentence thank yous. those will kill ya

[BigZuck]

As a general rule, don't send thank you notes and don't listen to anything career services says

There are potential exceptions to the above but that's a judgment call

[Anonymous User]

How small are we talking before a firm is "regional"? less than 250? less than 100? Any firm in a nonmajor market, even if huge?

[handsonthewheel]

The reason why OP asked (and I am curious too) is that many schools career services seem to stress sending thank you notes after callbacks. Plus, it meshes with the whole "Network network network network" mantra that you hear all the time.

So there really is no downside to not sending a thank you letter after a callback? Even in semi-major markets like Boston?

I'm a somewhat recent grad, I did OCI, I did some notes, and I remember career services stressing the importance of notes. I am now a biglaw associate and have done interviews and gotten notes.

The problem here is that law students fail to understand what networking actually means. I think it is part that a lot of law students did not really have to deal with it prior to school as well as the relative inaccessibility of the attorneys they want to network with.

Sending a thank you letter has absolutely nothing to do with networking. If I had a nice conversation with a law student and then got a thank you note, I'd actually probably feel weird about that. However, if I truly had a meaningful discussion with a law student and they shot me an informal email saying hey, that would simply just be a follow-through on the discussion (however it's probably not going to make me jump out of my chair and run to the partner's office and exclaim "WE HAVE TO HIRE THEM").

So, if you want to network - make a real connection. Standing around at an organized event and awkwardly chatting about the things career services tells you to talk about is not networking.

I get unsolicited emails from law students at my alma mater around OCI saying that they saw I also attended that school and they would love to talk to me about my firm. The thing is, they never say anything in the email worth responding to. No, I don't really want to go get coffee and chat about my firm's marketing materials. However, if you have real questions, I'd love to expound on that.

Law students are coached to "network" without ever being taught or mentored on how to really network. Going through the motions does nothing and can make you seem awkward and uncomfortable.

[Anonymous User]

What about west coast firms specifically? also how long after the callback?

[OutoftheWoods]

To clarify, in reference to posts above, its def weird to send thank yous to the interviewers after cb. You send to the recruiter and at the end say extend your thanks to the interviewers.

[Anonymous User]

Also curious about the west coast and timeline question

[Anonymous User]

Well, I'm still in the process, so I have no clue what really works. My career office said "Thank you" notes are really important, but I'm not sure. I had back-to-back callback interviews one day, so I sent out 12 "Thank you" emails. It took a couple hours to personalize them, and get them out. It felt a little bit awkward. Some people responded pleasantly, but I really don't think it is going factor into the hiring decision. For my last call back I just sent a "Thank you" to the recruiting coordinator with whom I had been in contact and asked her to relay my "Thanks" to the attorneys I met with. It really seemed so much simpler and natural. That's just me though, I'm sure some people like the personal touch, and others just see it as another item in their inbox, especially if they participate in a lot of the callback interviews at their firm. Anyway, I don't think it is going to have any real impact on their hiring decisions, so I'm sticking with the one message idea.

[BigZuck]

West coast, east coast, no coast all = don't send thank yous.

Seriously, I can think of at least 3 practicing big lawyers on this site who have said they are a bad idea and 0 practicing big lawyers who have said they are a good idea. That's good enough for me.

The only people who say they are good ideas are career services or other law students. That's not good enough for me.

[Anonymous User]

I would say the region matters. Biglaw in Atlanta would expect thank you notes. NY and Chicago - no.

[felinafelina]

If thank you notes really aren't required and are possibly a bad thing - why do career services seem to stress them so much? At my T6 I received a packet full of thank you note material and examples and saying to definitely send them after CBs. Is career services really that out of the loop, or...?

[Anonymous User]

What you really want to do is write a witty note, maybe "I know where you live HAHA" or something equally sarcastic yet serious that shows youre dedicated to the job, then you want to paint your lips a joan crawford red, pop on a little blue eyeliner and then plant a lipstick kiss on every sealed envelope. Make sure to stuff with glitter.