Gameplan for Atlanta (Spring 2016) Forum

[top_gun]

Still looking for a job in Atlanta. Very very little interest in public work and I really need to make some money this summer so I'm putting all of my eggs into the "get a real job" basket. Top 33% at UGA with good connections to the local legal market. What would be the best course of action in my case? Mass-mailing? Hold out for job postings? Spring OCIs? Start thinking about an LLM and how nice another year of student tickets will be? For mass mailings, what steps should I take to identify firms that might need summer associates and, after that, who should I direct my correspondence to? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous User]

Go talk to David O'Brien in career services. He is very helpful.

[Anonymous User]

You're well past too late for biglaw summer associate positions though sometimes a local connection can pull some strings. Use any connections you have NOW before someone else swoops in.

You also should consider a targeted mass mail to firms that practice an area you have a background in or would consider exploring. Otherwise, you're shooting yourself in the foot if you wait for OCIs or job postings.

[top_gun]

You're well past too late for biglaw summer associate positions though sometimes a local connection can pull some strings. Use any connections you have NOW before someone else swoops in.

You also should consider a targeted mass mail to firms that practice an area you have a background in or would consider exploring. Otherwise, you're shooting yourself in the foot if you wait for OCIs or job postings.

I know that Big Law is out of the picture. I went through Fall OCIs and got a few interviews but ultimately no offers. I'm going to send out a mailing to the firms I have a connection with later this week but I'm more or less wondering how to gauge what firms will have any interest in a summer associate. I figure the best plan is to mass mail by desired practice area (civil litigation or family law) and just hope someone is looking for one. Any idea who I should contact if a firm's website doesn't single out a hiring manager?

[Anonymous User]

I know that Big Law is out of the picture. I went through Fall OCIs and got a few interviews but ultimately no offers. I'm going to send out a mailing to the firms I have a connection with later this week but I'm more or less wondering how to gauge what firms will have any interest in a summer associate. I figure the best plan is to mass mail by desired practice area (civil litigation or family law) and just hope someone is looking for one. Any idea who I should contact if a firm's website doesn't single out a hiring manager?

My practice (and what also would be good practice for someone cold mailing my firm) was to try to identify either an alumnus or a newish partner if a website doesn't expressly identify a contact person. But, nine times out of ten it really doesn't matter and I would caution you against letting the hunt for the right person hold you up from making this a relatively urgent priority.

[top_gun]

Deleted

[Anonymous User]

Thank you. So, in your opinion, it wouldn't seem out of line to send an email to a partner from my school and include something along the lines of "i am a 2l at your alma mater, I am interested in your firm if there are any spots for a summer associate, I didn't see a hiring manager listed on your website but please let me know if there is a more appropriate party to direct this to, etc?"

I personally see no problem with that email. Very well written intro, actually.