Have BigLaw 1L SA. Should I interview at OCI? Forum

[Overnight]

I was fortunate to be offered a 1L SA position at a BigLaw firm in the location and practice area that I want to work in. Now I have to prove myself and earn 2L SA and beyond.

Because there is no guarantee of a post-grad offer I should still interview at OCI and summer job fairs (Loyola), right? Or would a firm be offended by a mere suggestion that I am "still looking?" How do I handle this with the 1L SA firm? The 1L SA firm's information online mentions that they discourage split summers.

All advice and commentary are appreciated.

[Br3v]

I was fortunate to be offered a 1L SA position at a BigLaw firm in the location and practice area that I want to work in. Now I have to prove myself and earn 2L SA and beyond.

Because there is no guarantee of a post-grad offer I should still interview at OCI and summer job fairs (Loyola), right? Or would a firm be offended by a mere suggestion that I am "still looking?" How do I handle this with the 1L SA firm? The 1L SA firm's information online mentions that they discourage split summers.

All advice and commentary are appreciated.

Yes 100% still do OCI. If your 1L firm asks, and you want to work there, tell them they are your top choice but you just are doing this as a backup plan, etc.

[Overnight]

I was fortunate to be offered a 1L SA position at a BigLaw firm in the location and practice area that I want to work in. Now I have to prove myself and earn 2L SA and beyond.

Because there is no guarantee of a post-grad offer I should still interview at OCI and summer job fairs (Loyola), right? Or would a firm be offended by a mere suggestion that I am "still looking?" How do I handle this with the 1L SA firm? The 1L SA firm's information online mentions that they discourage split summers.

All advice and commentary are appreciated.

Yes 100% still do OCI. If your 1L firm asks, and you want to work there, tell them they are your top choice but you just are doing this as a backup plan, etc.

Thanks for the prompt affirmation. Everyone agree with this advice?

[sprezz]

yes

[run26.2]

Yes, you still need to to 2L OCI. It is possible you will not find out whether or not you have an offer until after 2L OCI is completed. If you were to not receive an offer, or the terms were not what you expected, you would be significantly disadvantaged by not having done OCI.

And you are evaluating them as well, so there is no guarantee you would want to return there.

[Overnight]

Thanks everyone. Glad I asked.

[SplitMyPants]

Thanks everyone. Glad I asked.

Agree with everyone. Definitely do OCI. Also, they may "discourage" split summers, but that's particularly for 2L SAs who did not summer there previously. Often times, if you have a 1L SA with a firm, they will be more flexible with you returning for less time the following summer. Also, Loyola will likely occur before you get your return offer anyways.

[First Offense]

I was fortunate to be offered a 1L SA position at a BigLaw firm in the location and practice area that I want to work in. Now I have to prove myself and earn 2L SA and beyond.

Because there is no guarantee of a post-grad offer I should still interview at OCI and summer job fairs (Loyola), right? Or would a firm be offended by a mere suggestion that I am "still looking?" How do I handle this with the 1L SA firm? The 1L SA firm's information online mentions that they discourage split summers.

All advice and commentary are appreciated.

Yes 100% still do OCI. If your 1L firm asks, and you want to work there, tell them they are your top choice but you just are doing this as a backup plan, etc.

Thanks for the prompt affirmation. Everyone agree with this advice?

I would be shocked if your firm even made it an issue. Most people with 1L SAs just do a few week "touchback" 2L year.

Absolutely do 2L OCI, and if your 1L firm has a problem with it, that strikes me as a red flag.

[zhenders]

Yep, definitely. I'll be at a firm with a nearly 100% 1L SA offer rate (if you complete the summer, you are asked to return 2L, and 2L offer rate is 100%), and I'll still be doing OCI and the firm gets that. it's 100% standard practice to still do OCI (although it's certainly true that by the end of 1L summer, depending upon the offer structure, many choose not to do OCI; this was true of a number of my friends who were 1L summers where I'm going).

[BmoreOrLess]

Definitely sign up. Even if you choose to take a return offer, you can hook your friends up with your OCI interviews.