How big of a turnaround to go from 2L OCI strikeout to V10? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm at one of H/S. 1st term (whether quarter or semester) was a disaster. Things improved so that the overall year was respectable, but not enough to overcome striking out among the ~V15. It could be I'm a bad interviewer, but I'm told I'm an above average interviewer, and I'm pretty sure my grades simply didn't cut the firms' grade cutoffs.

Is there any way to be back in the running for those firms, whether via 3L OCI/mass mailing, or via a clerkship (although I'm not particularly keen on litigation)?

H/S awards Dean's Scholar/Book Prizes in individual courses, and Sears/Nathan Abbott prizes to the student who finishes 1st. To put things into perspective, if I'm anywhere in contention for the cumulative prize during 2L, I'll be back in the top 10% across 1L and 2L combined.

Now, I'm not so deluded to think "just do Sears/Nathan Abbott." But it'd be relevant to know whether it's at all possible to get V10 firms to notice either a year from now (3L) or a few years later (post clerkship). Because if the answer is that once the ship leaves the dock during 2L OCI, it's gone, then it wouldn't make sense to run myself ragged and allow for no margin of error whatsoever.

But if there's a realistic probability that a 2L transcript of Dean's Scholars or Book Prizes or Sears/Nathan Abbott as a resume line can get a foot in the door, then that changes the calculus.

Please note that I'm not interested in the V10/V15 just because they're V10, as if any V15 will do. Rather, there are some specifically appealing firms (e.g., K&E Chicago, Covington DC) that I didn't have the grades for.

[Neff]

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

[DELG]

Wait you're not just mindlessly prestige-whoring but you want Cov DC for some practice where a clerkship wouldn't help/isn't litigation-y? Well, okay. KE Chi is prone to hire 3Ls, gun away.

[Anonymous User]

I can't help but think this is not about grades, but about interview.

I am barely top 10% at a school ranked 15-18 and got offers from V10 firms. I know folks at HYS who were just at median who got offers at V10 firms. From what you explain, if you'll be top 10% by the end of 2L year, you were at least around median? More context would be helpful, esp. since you are anon.

[Desert Fox]

[existenz]

the overall year was respectable, but not enough to overcome striking out among the ~V15.

So in other words you are not a real 2L OCI strikeout, just a goddamn douche.

[rpupkin]

As you millennials like to say, I don't even.

[bearsfan23]

Why do Harvard students always say HYS or H/S?

We know you go to Harvard dude

[rpupkin]

Why do Harvard students always say HYS or H/S?

We know you go to Harvard dude

No dude. He goes to law school in Palo Alto/Cambridge. Although his dreams of following in the footsteps of Rehnquist/Roberts have been dashed, perhaps he can still land a clerkship in N.D. Cal/D. Mass and end up at a semi-prestigious law firm.

[Anonymous User]

What firm are you at?

I had a friend that was thinking about leaving Boies and had a CB with nearly all the v10 (including firms that initially rejected him/her).

It really depends how far you are down and what practice area you're shooting for. If there's a need for 3Ls, firms typically hire those with offers first, so you're in a decent position -- but the need has to be there.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Whether or not it's actually Harvard, in the 3L OCI thread and other threads, there are a bunch of people who say they're mass mailing from HYS. I don't know whether they're all HLS 3Ls, but if they're not, then grouping the schools by tier invites more people (i.e., non-HLS) to respond.

It's like asking for CCN advice instead of NYU specific advice.

I actually want K&E non-lit. Instead of providing another firm I actually want for reasons other than its V15 status, I just used Covington DC as an example of a firm everyone agrees is coveted for reasons other than its V ranking. I don't want Covington DC specifically. I obviously don't want both K&E Chicago/NYC and Covington DC, as they share little besides their V ranking.

With that hopefully cleared up, everything else is completely genuine.

It really depends how far you are down and what practice area you're shooting for.

.

How far down: I still have CBs/am post-CB at a few V50s. Nothing close to Boies. Unless I find what's so endearing about litigation thru courses this year, I'll mostly be shooting for non-lit as a 3L.

[baal hadad]

lol

[Anonymous User]

Look, 3L hiring is basically random. I did a CB with Davis Polk with top 1/3 grades from GW. How? Who the fuck knows.

You'll have opportunities. Put yourself in the best place to nab them. Humble yourself, work hard, and hope. All I got for you.

[Anonymous User]

Look, 3L hiring is basically random. I did a CB with Davis Polk with top 1/3 grades from GW. How? Who the fuck knows.

You'll have opportunities. Put yourself in the best place to nab them. Humble yourself, work hard, and hope. All I got for you.

Well if it's basically random, then I could be running myself into the ground for nothing. But I guess that's always the case. A huge grade swing can only be good, all else equal, even given randomness, right?

[Desert Fox]

[Anonymous User]

Above anon: I raped myself 2L to do better and didn't do better. YMMV.

[rpupkin]

Have you just been slacking off for two semesters. Why do you suddenly think you'll beat the class that just spent 9 months raping ur anus on the curve?

When the bright light of K&E is at the end of the tunnel, man can do amazing things.

[Desert Fox]

[Anonymous User]

Desert Fox: PM'd you.

Above anon: I raped myself 2L to do better and didn't do better. YMMV.

Didn't do better gradewise? Or you did do better gradewise, but it didn't matter for 3L/post-grad/post-clerkship hiring?

[84651846190]

love Love LOVE this thread. A+

[Anonymous User]

Did exactly the same, haha.

[rpupkin]

Desert Fox: PM'd you.

I've quietly chuckled a few times during this thread, but this was the first ljl.

[FSK]

This thread to 190

[Anonymous User]

If this about having an offer and "trading up," sure it's possible. I think 8/10 of the V10 (to use your example) firms were hiring 3Ls this fall. Improve your grades, interviewing skills, etc. as much as you can and take a shot.

If you actually legit struck out at OCI, my sense is it will be tougher.

[Cogburn87]

lol