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Inspired by "NYC is a great place to be as a 1L to be because you're near NYC biglaw firms in anticipation of OCI."

I don't know if NYC biglaw firms have the same travel reimbursement policies as they do for 2L CBs, but I'd imagine that if they saw that you're mass mailing while still summering on the West Coast/flyover country, the hassle inherent in just getting the candidate to NYC might filter my mass mails out.

Vs being a short Amtrak ride away on the East Coast.

Or will the timeline allow candidates to be near NYC on their own initiative? (i.e., finish summer 2L job late July; they're busy doing 2L OCI thru most of Aug, so they'll get around to you late Aug/early Sept).

Or can I get the jump by being available nearby in early July?

I know of some firms that give out most of their interviews (for 2L OCI) to people in NYC because they want to cut down the expense of interviewing and feel there's enough of a solid candidate pool. That being said, you can probably just include a line in your cover letter to the affect of "I will be in NYC throughout X month, and would welcome an interview." and if you need to make a trip down, you make a trip down. May be more expensive, but at least you'll only be uprooted for when you have an interview rather than for that chance that you may possibly have an interview.

I have friends who were in this position. Once they got one CB in NYC, they had an easier time getting screeners elsewhere during their visit. I don't think it was about conserving travel expenses, but more about them being able to just do a one 20 minute interview before reassessing whether to do a callback. The $1,000 for your plane and hotel is so trivial to a near billion dollar company that I don't think it's a serious consideration.

My personal experience is that the firms who want to interview you, will. Firms are more than willing to do phone or Skype screeners. So I'm not sure location matters. I might have gotten a couple more screeners by mentioning that I would be in NYC on a trip in cover letters, e.g., but I didn't see a substantial gain by doing so.