1L 4.0. What do I do now? Forum

[Anonymous User]

So somehow I got straight A's 1L semester at VP. Have an offer from a federal magistrate judge but he told me I don't have to accept right away. Wondering if I still have any chance at a SA. Have an interview with a regional firm who does a good 1L SA program at the end of he month. Basically I'm shocked and lost and wondering if it's too late to find a summer gig that will let me pay my debt down. Targeting NY and have a place to stay right outside the city for free. Meeting with career services next week but would love some feedback. Thank you!

Edit: also interviewing for DLA Pipers two week 1L program on Friday if that is relevant.

[Anonymous User]

Jesus. Start applying to SA positions literally right now. If you can find a firm that hasn't finished hiring yet, which may be hard, you should be a lock.

[BigZuck]

Quite the pickle. This is why people shouldn't apply to judicial internships on December 1st (or, as some would say, at all)

So this judge is ok with you not accepting the offer and your career services is as well? That's pretty cool.

Yeah, I would apply to literally all of the firms right now and see what happens.

[Anonymous User]

I was in a similar position last year and your best bet is to apply ASAP to every firm you can find. Some will interview you based solely on your grades and/or you might get pre-OCI callbacks out of it. Get on the radar of every firm you're interested in, even if they tell you they've finished hiring/don't hire 1Ls as it can only help you going forward.

[Anonymous User]

Quite the pickle. This is why people shouldn't apply to judicial internships on December 1st (or, as some would say, at all)

So this judge is ok with you not accepting the offer and your career services is as well? That's pretty cool.

Yeah, I would apply to literally all of the firms right now and see what happens.

Also, don't wait a week to talk to OCS. Get them on the phone tomorrow and see what they can do for you. You have won 1L and you need to be rewarded. VP OCS should be able to do something for you.

[stretchedtoothin]

VP OCS should be able to do something for you.

This is not how hiring works.

OP, you need to just massmail the v100 + any and all midlaw (and shit, even small law firms willing to take 1Ls) in markets you have ties too. Really, you should blanket all the biglaw offices in major cities even if you don't have ties (e.g., LA/San Fran/Chicago/Philly/Atlanta/DC/NYC). You should also start applying to in-house positions. You're still hella early in the 1L SA job season. You'll get something.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for all the responses. Will definitely hustle and try to snag a SA gig. @BigZuck the clerk told me he realized I didn't even have grades and I could get back to him whenever. I'll check with Career Services before I do anything. Does anyone have any specific NY firms that might still be hiring?

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for all the responses. Will definitely hustle and try to snag a SA gig. @BigZuck the clerk told me he realized I didn't even have grades and I could get back to him whenever. I'll check with Career Services before I do anything. Does anyone have any specific NY firms that might still be hiring?

Contrary to the above response, OCS should be able to help you in determining which firms, from past experience, may still be hiring.

[Anonymous User]

VP OCS should be able to do something for you.

This is not how hiring works.

OP, you need to just massmail the v100 + any and all midlaw (and shit, even small law firms willing to take 1Ls) in markets you have ties too. Really, you should blanket all the biglaw offices in major cities even if you don't have ties (e.g., LA/San Fran/Chicago/Philly/Atlanta/DC/NYC). You should also start applying to in-house positions. You're still hella early in the 1L SA job season. You'll get something.

When you're at the very very top of your class, this kind of thing does happen (or at least it does at my T14). There are some firms that have relationships with schools to hire 1Ls and only interview/hire from the very top of the class. OCS might also give you an idea of where to apply, but you need to move quickly because a lot of firms were just waiting for grades to hire and so you need to get your transcript/resume in front of them before they do. Applying right now should be your #1 priority if you want a 1L SA.

[BigZuck]

OP here. Thanks for all the responses. Will definitely hustle and try to snag a SA gig. @BigZuck the clerk told me he realized I didn't even have grades and I could get back to him whenever. I'll check with Career Services before I do anything. Does anyone have any specific NY firms that might still be hiring?

You're not understanding the part about applying to literally all of the firms. Don't worry about who is hiring and who isn't because that list doesn't exist and isn't a real thing. Just apply to all of the firms.

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The V100 is a great start. Choose the one office from each firm that makes the most sense for you. Make it a goal to be done with that in 24 hours.

[stretchedtoothin]

OP here. Thanks for all the responses. Will definitely hustle and try to snag a SA gig. @BigZuck the clerk told me he realized I didn't even have grades and I could get back to him whenever. I'll check with Career Services before I do anything. Does anyone have any specific NY firms that might still be hiring?

Contrary to the above response, OCS should be able to help you in determining which firms, from past experience, may still be hiring.

You, or whatever anonymous, made it seem like OCS would magically be able to make phone calls and get you an interview at SullCrom or something.

Yeah, maybe an adjunct professor coming fresh off a firm might, but OCS will almost undoubtedly direct OP to symplicity and/or forward you emails of listings they've received for firm positions. Yeah, it's helpful, but it shouldn't be solely relied upon (and if OP actually researches/sends out apps to every BL firm in major cities, he'd undoubtedly come across the same thing).

[stretchedtoothin]

You're not understanding the part about applying to literally all of the firms. Don't worry about who is hiring and who isn't because that list doesn't exist and isn't a real thing. Just apply to all of the firms.

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The V100 is a great start. Choose the one office from each firm that makes the most sense for you. Make it a goal to be done with that in 24 hours.

The point that needs to really get across.

[Anonymous User]

.

[BigZuck]

I think talking to career services is fine and probably a good idea but I wouldn't let that impede you from applying to all of the firms

[Anonymous User]

Alright got it. I suppose I can save celebrating until I snag something. I'm looking at firms now and many of them seem to just have diversity 1L gigs. Should I apply to them too? Do I just email recruiting? So many questions. NY would be ideal because i have a place to stay for free right there.

[BigZuck]

Less posting in this thread, more reading in the legal employment sub forum (start with the mass mailing thread IMO)

Get to blasting

[Anonymous User]

Alright got it. I suppose I can save celebrating until I snag something. I'm looking at firms now and many of them seem to just have diversity 1L gigs. Should I apply to them too? Do I just email recruiting? So many questions. NY would be ideal because i have a place to stay for free right there.

Yea definitely apply to these too. I knew some people at my T6 who got a 1L diversity spot and weren't URM in the traditional sense. Also, this might go without saying, but make sure your resume doesn't suck and that it has your GPA on it (even if your school tells you not to or something).

[Anonymous User]

Yes you should apply to every firm even if it is only diversity (I was given this advice by my OCS with top 1L grades). Go on NALP/Vault/their website and you should be able to figure out who to email. I would go down the list of the Vault 100 and apply to all their NY offices

[kellyfrost]

Very well done on the 4.0. Where/what is VP law school?

[Mullens]

Very well done on the 4.0. Where/what is VP law school?

It means they go to Virginia or Penn and don't want to say for anonymity purposes

[Anonymous User]

Virginia/Penn.

[kellyfrost]

So Virginia and Penn must be ranked next to each other?

[Anonymous User]

I had a 4.0 at a T14. Didn't get a firm gig 1L because I didn't apply to enough firms fast enough. By the time I did it was too late. Don't be me.

[Anonymous User]

How late is late? In similar position here. What about those whoss program deadline has already passed?

[Anonymous User]

I applied end of January 1L with a 4.0 fall GPA to every single firm that would take an application (and even some that didn't want them). Got about 15 interviews, but pretty much everyone said "sorry, we're full". Did snag many pre-OCI callbacks (and my eventual offer pre-OCI) from that hustling. But point is, hustle NOW.