Advice: Missed OCIs as a transfer - I am LOST Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hello everyone. I am currently a 2L at a T10 school. I transferred from a Tier 4 and was ranked top 5% my 1L year.

Unfortunately, I ended up missing OCIs. My wedding was that Sunday and another family wedding-event that I could not miss/reschedule was during the middle of that week, and although I tried, I was unable to move the wedding date. Also, I transferred out of my home state so there was no way I would have made it to any interviews in time let alone prepare for them. I mailed some firms that I was interested in, but I have yet to receive a response from any of them [except 1 ding].

I really want to work Biglaw, but I know my chances are very slim. I had an interview with the FTC and was referred to the selecting official and am waiting to hear back from them. I also have been offered a few public interest positions in various field [immigration and housing law, and possibly with the senate legislative counsel].

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice as to a course of action to take. Is it possible to get a position through 3L OCI? Should I mass mail around OCI time next year? If so, when should I start preparing and sending information out?

If you think OCI is pretty much a bust for me, what do you think I should do? Do you think working with the FTC would give me relevant experience so maybe, if I am offered a job, working with them for a while would help me get hired as a lateral? Do you think I should just give up and go for public interest work since that is all I have been offered?

I know that I have quite a few questions, but any help would be much appreciated. Please let me know what your thoughts are and if anyone has gone through a similar situation. I hope the semester is going well for all of you!

*** I would like to clarify that I have mailed firms, and have been since August.

[WokeUpInACar]

You got married on like a Wednesday?

[Anonymous User]

You got married on like a Wednesday?

Not very orthodox, but on a Sunday. And in my culture it is customary to have another dinner/party a few days after the wedding with the family. My in-laws came in from overseas for the wedding, so I had to be there.

[malleus discentium]

Should I mass mail around OCI time next year?

No, start now and don't stop. Meet with your career services office yesterday, because you're in a worse spot than I think you realize (Why did you wait until almost November to do something about this?).

[052220152]

yea dude, you better get crackin on the mailing. end of october is a terrible time to start

[pkraft1]

Horrible family planning brah

[Nekrowizard]

Should I mass mail around OCI time next year?

No, start now and don't stop. Meet with your career services office yesterday, because you're in a worse spot than I think you realize (Why did you wait until almost November to do something about this?).

[ballouttacontrol]

a 2L "bigLaw" SA is gone at this point dude sry. Might be some small/regional firms still looking but even that is unlikely. Many places were full in august and almost all in september.

If you kill it at your new school, you could get into biglaw through 3L OCI/massmail, or an alternative avenue like PI/Gov to BigLaw, Clerk to BigLaw, etc.

If I were you I'd try to find something good for 2L summer that would set you up to get to biglaw down the road if that's what you want. And network your ass off

[qlube]

So it wasn't even your wedding that you missed OCI, but some post-wedding family dinner? Your family seriously boned you.

[Anonymous User]

It was a big mistake to miss OCI at your new school. Don't make another mistake by waiting until 3L OCI to try and land the job you want. You need to be mass mailing now and job hunting right now. Do not stop until you get a job. Hustle, hustle, hustle.

[Anonymous User]

Horrible family planning brah

Unfortunately, I planned the wedding prior to starting my first year. I had no idea whether I would fail let alone do well and transfer.

[Anonymous User]

Should I mass mail around OCI time next year?

No, start now and don't stop. Meet with your career services office yesterday, because you're in a worse spot than I think you realize (Why did you wait until almost November to do something about this?).

I did mass mail. I have been meeting with my career office. I realize this is a horrible situation. I am simply trying to elicit other ideas people might have. I have been networking and reaching out to contacts that I have as well.

[Anonymous User]

So it wasn't even your wedding that you missed OCI, but some post-wedding family dinner? Your family seriously boned you.

Well my wedding was on Sunday and the other event stretched into the week. However, it would have been impossible to prepare for interviews before then because up until the last second I was planning the wedding. I didnt really have much time to plan due to finals and my summer internship, so the whole wedding process was last second minus booking the venue.

I should note that my new school was literally across the country, so flying out and actually being prepared for the interviews would have been impossible. The whole transfer process sucks, let alone doing it while planning a wedding.

[ManoftheHour]

Marriages come and go, but big law is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

But seriously, mass mail. Keep doing it. November is really late, but maybe a firm will bite as your stats are within range. Work any connections you have. Target all markets.

[Nekrowizard]

Should I mass mail around OCI time next year?

No, start now and don't stop. Meet with your career services office yesterday, because you're in a worse spot than I think you realize (Why did you wait until almost November to do something about this?).

I did mass mail. I have been meeting with my career office. I realize this is a horrible situation. I am simply trying to elicit other ideas people might have. I have been networking and reaching out to contacts that I have as well.

How thorough was your mass mailing? Did you do it half-heartedly, or did you send something to every firm in existence? I've heard that the success rate for mass mailing is incredibly low, and no doubt lower now that we're approaching November. Aside from that and doing whatever you can with networking, I don't really know if there's anything you can do. Maybe try targeted mass mailing if you can.

[Anonymous User]

For future transfers that may find themselves in a similar situation of being "unprepared" for OCI and just not going because of that, don't. There is very little preparation you actually need to do, and all of which can be accomplished in 20 minutes before each interview in a pinch. If you have to miss a day for a life event, whatever. But, try not to and definitely don't miss the entire week. One of the main reasons to transfer is access to the new school's OCI, so move mountains to not miss that.

OP, in addition to mass-mailing and networking, I'd suggest making connections at the law school with profs, get on LR or a journal, and try setting clerking as a secondary goal.

[Anonymous User]

Another lesson in creating good boundaries with spouses and in-laws. "Hey guys, my future spouse and I want to be able to eat after we are married. So yea, I'm going to have to move the wedding. Sorry."

If your spouse/in-laws gave you a hard time about that, you're marrying the wrong person, especially for a big law attorney.

Anyways, good luck on your search.

[JustHawkin]

Well my wedding was on Sunday and the other event stretched into the week. However, it would have been impossible to prepare for interviews before then because up until the last second I was planning the wedding. I didnt really have much time to plan due to finals and my summer internship, so the whole wedding process was last second minus booking the venue.

I should note that my new school was literally across the country, so flying out and actually being prepared for the interviews would have been impossible. The whole transfer process sucks, let alone doing it while planning a wedding.

Stop justifying why you missed OCI. I understand how important family and the significant other is, but that's not going to help you find a job. Email literally every firm, and every office of every firm, everywhere. Fill out those stupid online applications if they have them, and then email the recruiter your resume. Then, if you don't hear back in 10 days, follow up. Repeat until you have a job. Anyone that you think might be able to connect you to have coffee with a lawyer, make that connection.

I got an interview and offer from following up to mass mail, so pushing the envelope a bit can work, YMMW.

[RaceJudicata]

Hopefully your new school is in a large market.... If it is, in addition to mass mailing firm HR, email partners of every firm in your area who were graduates of your school, and try to set up coffee/telephone calls. Many will ignore you, others will meet with you and rudely (but accurately) tell you that its a long shot, but maybe, just maybe, one will like you and help you out for 3L post grad hiring.

[CanadianWolf]

You went to the wrong wedding.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

I think this takes the cake for the dumbest/most preventable way I've seen someone fuck up their legal career. You skipped the ONE important thing you do in law school to go some fucking days-long after party?

If someone interviews you and asks why, if you absolutely couldn't move the date to make room for this absolutely-can't-miss thing, you weren't on a Sunday red eye, you'd be left stammering and the ding would be forthcoming. Sorry man.

[Anonymous User]

Besides mass mailing, you *might* have a shot if your school gets "late-add employers." My school (Texas) would often have firms miss the OCI schedule and request resumes and award interviews throughout the fall and spring. We also had a Spring OCI, if I remember correctly. Check Symplicity or wherever your jobs are posted. In the meantime, try to get an internship with a state government agency (idk what city your school is in) or legal aid to boost your experience. You could also try for federal agency jobs, since those timelines are a little different. Public service and public interest jobs are not Biglaw but they are better than nothing. And, of course, just network. Email/visit your career counselor, join some student groups, etc. You can also try talking to adjunct faculty who work at law firms. If you are going to do 3L OCI, try to do part-time work at a law firm this year so you have at least some experience in a law firm environment on your resume.

FWIW my class had tons of transfer students and all of them got jobs, most of which were in Biglaw. Some of them got them without OCI and interviewed during 3L year.

[emkay625]

Other potential option is clerk, and then go from clerkship to big law.

But clerkship applications are happening now, so you'll need to get that stuff done asap and start submitting.

[L’Étranger]

I say troll. No one could truly do this.

[Winter is Coming]

Agreed with the mail mass right now, its possible a spot or two might open in a major market (I know of people doing screeners last week for NY firms).

If your interested in litigation, start on the clerkship path and obviously do 3L OCI.

Not a great spot to be in, good luck.