Low firm reception attendance - firms skipping OCI? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hey all,

I'm a 1L at CCNMVP. Today we had a "mandatory" career services event which was not only useless but also provided a poor lunch. Which was free so I can't complain but still. Anyways, one of the career services officials insinuated that many of the firms were disappointed in the turn-outs for their reception events this semester, which could lead some of them to skip OCI this summer.

I think that's horseshit. Would a low turn out for a firm event be a reason they might not come to a T14 school where they come every year? Is our career services office blatantly trying to scare 1L's into attending events and placating the firms while developing our social skills? Whatta ya think?

[Bildungsroman]

I don't want to accuse your career-services office of lying or anything.

[RaceJudicata]

I think its CSO trying to get out in front of a potential issue. No real basis for this, but if one of the lower schools on that list, then maybe some firms are showing reluctance about attending OCI this year and the CSO is making a play to turn this around on the students for not showing up at firm receptions. Just my $0.02

[Tls2016]

Why wouldn't 1Ls go to events where they could meet lawyers who could potentially give them a job?

[Anonymous User]

I was at this meeting. There is simply no way that firms will skip OCI over it. These receptions, at least those that I have attended, have been quite well-attended. My bet is that they are just trying to scare students who have been hesitant to network into doing so.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

Reminder: A decent chunk of CSO employees are absolutely terrible at their jobs and offer advice that is not only useless, but actively counterproductive.

[landshoes]

Nonsense and it is their job to make sure this doesn't happen

firms are getting really desperate for us to come to their receptions but I think it's because they don't understand the quarter system

[rnoodles]

Today we had a "mandatory" career services event which was not only useless but also provided a poor lunch.

lol

[zot1]

FWIW I know way too many people who got "pre-selected" during OCI because they had made a good impression at one of these networking events. If you want a firm job, skip at your peril.

[acr]

Reminder: A decent chunk of CSO employees are absolutely terrible at their jobs and offer advice that is not only useless, but actively counterproductive.

hahaha so much this

[zot1]

Reminder: A decent chunk of CSO employees are absolutely terrible at their jobs and offer advice that is not only useless, but actively counterproductive.

hahaha so much this

Unfortunately...

[bearsfan23]

What was for lunch OP?

[cron1834]

FWIW I know way too many people who got "pre-selected" during OCI because they had made a good impression at one of these networking events. If you want a firm job, skip at your peril.

Wait, there's preselect at T14s? I thought that was a TTT thing?

[zot1]

FWIW I know way too many people who got "pre-selected" during OCI because they had made a good impression at one of these networking events. If you want a firm job, skip at your peril.

Wait, there's preselect at T14s? I thought that was a TTT thing?

I went to UCI FWIW, but I know a couple of friends from UCLA and Boalt who had this happen to them.

[BmoreOrLess]

FWIW I know way too many people who got "pre-selected" during OCI because they had made a good impression at one of these networking events. If you want a firm job, skip at your peril.

Wait, there's preselect at T14sT13s? I thought that was a TTT thing?

GULC does 30% preselect.

[Tls2016]

FWIW I know way too many people who got "pre-selected" during OCI because they had made a good impression at one of these networking events. If you want a firm job, skip at your peril.

It's not just pre select. It's meeting people who you might work with, making connections, etc. I don't really understand why people would avoid meeting lawyers from firms who make the time and effort to meet with students. Getting a job is the most important thing for your career. What are students doing that is more important than meeting with potential employers who are coming to their door?

[BigZuck]

FWIW I know way too many people who got "pre-selected" during OCI because they had made a good impression at one of these networking events. If you want a firm job, skip at your peril.

Wait, there's preselect at T14s? I thought that was a TTT thing?

UTTT is like 70% preselect IIRC but they're only occasionally a T14 so your point stands

[Anonymous User]

I've been to my firm's reception at more than half of the schools OP lists and attendance has been legitimately weak. It wouldn't surprise me if recruiting had noticed and pointed it out. We are asked for feedback on 1Ls and to identify those who might be of interest come EIW/OGI/OCI time so that people are "pre-selected" (or more likely allowed to do early call backs) is not totally surprising.

I didn't show up to many of these as a 1L either but in hindsight I probably would have gone to more.

[Anonymous User]

The only thing close to like this I have heard about: I interviewed at a firm in a regional office that does not come to my t-14's OCI. I asked why they do not come to OCI and they said they used to come, but after 5 or so years of no one accepting offers they decided it wasn't worth it.

This seemed like much more extreme indifference by students than poor attendance at one 1L reception. (And besides, they still hand out several offers a year to students from my law school, just not through OCI)

[Stanford4Me]

When I was in LS (god I'm old) our CSO told us that if we RSVPd to a reception but didn't attend we weren't "allowed" to bid on that firm @ EIW.

[Tls2016]

I've been to my firm's reception at more than half of the schools OP lists and attendance has been legitimately weak. It wouldn't surprise me if recruiting had noticed and pointed it out. We are asked for feedback on 1Ls and to identify those who might be of interest come EIW/OGI/OCI time so that people are "pre-selected" (or more likely allowed to do early call backs) is not totally surprising.

I didn't show up to many of these as a 1L either but in hindsight I probably would have gone to more.

This is what I mean. Its a great chance to get to know lawyers when you want to be a lawyer and get a job.

[TheoO]

This is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

[cron1834]

Some of this is on the firms, too. Last year I went to several of these things as a 1L... for the two receptions that were the most enjoyable and featured the most one-on-one time with attorneys, the firms ultimately sent a crew to OCI that did not include the same people. My OCI interviewer at one of these firms literally didn't know the ppl who came to the reception event, and wasn't clearly aware that there had been one. It's hard to blame 1Ls for not going in this context.

The events were still useful later for OCI talking points, sounding excited about the firm, etc ... but I'm 100% confident that my OCI outcomes would have been exactly the same had I gone to 0 of them.

[Tls2016]

Some of this is on the firms, too. Last year I went to several of these things as a 1L... for the two receptions that were the most enjoyable and featured the most one-on-one time with attorneys, the firms ultimately sent a crew to OCI that did not include the same people. My OCI interviewer at one of these firms literally didn't know the ppl who came to the reception event, and wasn't clearly aware that there had been one. It's hard to blame 1Ls for not going in this context.

The events were still useful later for OCI talking points, sounding excited about the firm, etc ... but I'm 100% confident that my OCI outcomes would have been exactly the same had I gone to 0 of them.

You also got to know people and had names to mention at OCI which could only help you. Being able to say " I met Joe Smith at the event and he told me about your corporate practice" is miles ahead of people who have no connection at all.

You also don't know what info recruiting has on you from your participation in the event. They always want feedback. Of course they can't always send the same people. This is a low priority compared to work that might come up. That doesn't mean a reception isn't helping a 1L get a job.

At some point law students are going to grasp that employers don't just come to your door after OCI. This is your chance to meet them. No guarantees you will get another chance like this in your career to meet lawyers from these firms. If you strike out or are no offered or look to lateral later on, your going to be on your own mailing resumes. No one is going to come looking for you.

It's just stupid to not go. I guess I'm surprised about this because I thought people recognized the oppurtunity.

[cron1834]

Some of this is on the firms, too. Last year I went to several of these things as a 1L... for the two receptions that were the most enjoyable and featured the most one-on-one time with attorneys, the firms ultimately sent a crew to OCI that did not include the same people. My OCI interviewer at one of these firms literally didn't know the ppl who came to the reception event, and wasn't clearly aware that there had been one. It's hard to blame 1Ls for not going in this context.

The events were still useful later for OCI talking points, sounding excited about the firm, etc ... but I'm 100% confident that my OCI outcomes would have been exactly the same had I gone to 0 of them.

You also got to know people and had names to mention at OCI which could only help you. Being able to say " I met Joe Smith at the event and he told me about your corporate practice" is miles ahead of people who have no connection at all.

You also don't know what info recruiting has on you from your participation in the event. They always want feedback. Of course they can't always send the same people. This is a low priority compared to work that might come up. That doesn't mean a reception isn't helping a 1L get a job.

At some point law students are going to grasp that employers don't just come to your door after OCI. This is your chance to meet them. No guarantees you will get another chance like this in your career to meet lawyers from these firms. If you strike out or are no offered or look to lateral later on, your going to be on your own mailing resumes. No one is going to come looking for you.

It's just stupid to not go. I guess I'm surprised about this because I thought people recognized the oppurtunity.

I agree that b/c it's low-risk and at least potentially high-reward, you should just go. But I stand by my post; firms have made it pretty easy to skip these things, at least in my personal experience. Anecdata disclaimer etc.