Can I be out of town about 2-3 weeks after OCI? Forum

[rustyburger2]

I hear callback interviews generally happen within 1 week of the screener. If the last day of OCI is on 9th, can I safely plan a trip from the 26th onwards?

I'll only be targeting firms in NYC.

[emkay625]

No. It's advantageous to do callbacks as soon as possible, but some will definitely do them 2-3 weeks after. I wouldn't risk it. If it's a short trip (2 days or so), it'll likely be easy to schedule around. But I wouldn't do much longer.

[cheaptilts]

I hear callback interviews generally happen within 1 week of the screener. If the last day of OCI is on 9th, can I safely plan a trip from the 26th onwards?

no.

[Anonymous User]

Probably depends heavily on your school/rank. I went on a bachelor party for a long weekend last year between week 1 and 2 of my callbacks, but that was only because I had an offer from one of my top choices and didn't book the flights until immediately after I got the offer.

And also to give you an idea about when you can have callbacks, my last one was 4 weeks after OCI, and I cancelled another that was scheduled for around then too (both V50's in NYC).

[rustyburger2]

I'm above median at CCN (although I still haven't gotten my 2nd semester grades back yet).

I'm considering booking the ticket and going on the trip, and just flying back if I get something while I'm gone. Any idea how long after a callback the interview is generally scheduled?

[Glasseyes]

Nah, I definitely wouldn't travel then. Some firms fill their CB slots fast and won't be able to schedule something until like 3 weeks to a month out; some firms might ask you to come back for a second round of callbacks for whatever reason (not common, but it happens). If you end up with multiple offers, you'll want to do second looks during this period and offer dinners will be happening then as well.

[Anonymous User]

I'm above median at CCN (although I still haven't gotten my 2nd semester grades back yet).

I'm considering booking the ticket and going on the trip, and just flying back if I get something while I'm gone. Any idea how long after a callback the interview is generally scheduled?

Assuming you meant how long after a screener. Almost all of my NYC callbacks were scheduled within 24-48 hours, and some were same day. However, One NYC firm gave me a call back a week and a half after the screener, and all of my secondary market callbacks were scheduled a week or so after the screener.

[TheoO]

You shouldn't try and predict your eip/OCI schedule. There are so many factors that effect turn out and schedule. You should have the entire month of August and even some of Sept free. Just hangout and chill with friends. If you're gonna travel, keep it to weekend trips to easily accessible places.

[Anonymous User]

Assuming you meant how long after a screener. Almost all of my NYC callbacks were scheduled within 24-48 hours, and some were same day. However, One NYC firm gave me a call back a week and a half after the screener, and all of my secondary market callbacks were scheduled a week or so after the screener.

I actually meant how long after you get the callback. As in, how long after they call you back would the interview generally be scheduled for? I just want to know if I would have time to get a flight back if I have to.

But that's good to hear about NYC firms because I'll mostly be targeting those.

[malleus discentium]

I'm above median at CCN (although I still haven't gotten my 2nd semester grades back yet).

I'm considering booking the ticket and going on the trip, and just flying back if I get something while I'm gone. Any idea how long after a callback the interview is generally scheduled?

1, without second semester grades you are not actually "above median" in the sense that you can arrange your OCI plans around that fact. 2, flying back for callbacks FROM a vacation is a stupid plan. 3, "callback" usually refers to the interview itself rather than the phone call (this will cause confusion if you ask other people about scheduling and refer to callbacks in this fashion).

[rustyburger2]

[ "callback" usually refers to the interview itself rather than the phone call (this will cause confusion if you ask other people about scheduling and refer to callbacks in this fashion).

Ah, that's good to know - thanks!

[RaceJudicata]

What is the purpose of trip? Wedding? Some serious family commitment? Or just fun?

The entire month of August should be entirely blocked off. Once offer is in hand, go ahead and schedule a trip as your heart desires

[jphiggo]

I would be careful scheduling a vacation during that time. Most of my callbacks were scheduled for the 1-2 week period following OCI, but there were firms that had me scheduled for callbacks 4-5 weeks after I interviewed, because that is what worked with their schedule and the other interviews they were doing. I also had a couple of friends that received callback invitations 2+ weeks after OCI, which would have then been scheduled right smack in the middle of a 2-3 week window you're talking about. I don't think it's unusual for a lot of firms to do callback invitations in waves depending on their yield, so that is also something to keep in mind.

[Mullens]

If you're targeting NYC, you can probably get away with this. You just need to understand that there might be a huge risk here if you decide to push your callbacks to after your trip. Most NY firms book callbacks on a first-come, first-serve basis and it's highly advantageous to interview earlier rather than later. If you're in NYC this summer, you should network the hell out of your top choices, try to secure pre-OCI callbacks and then you don't have to worry about it.

[rustyburger2]

If you're targeting NYC, you can probably get away with this. You just need to understand that there might be a huge risk here if you decide to push your callbacks to after your trip. Most NY firms book callbacks on a first-come, first-serve basis and it's highly advantageous to interview earlier rather than later. If you're in NYC this summer, you should network the hell out of your top choices, try to secure pre-OCI callbacks and then you don't have to worry about it.

Sorry - what exactly is a pre-OCI callback?

I definitely wouldn't plan on pushing my callbacks until after my trip. From what I've been seeing, most NYC firms call back within the first week after the screener, so that gives me a good amount of time.

I've also looked on last year's OCI thread for my school and the only posts after August 20th were about offers and dings.

[BigZuck]

Don't do this. Just go on a sweet trip the next year after your SA is over. Or study abroad or whatever.

[shock259]

If you're above median at CCN and targeting NYC, you are probably going to have offers within a few days of EIP ending. I think there's a 95% chance you'll be fine. If I were you, I'd schedule the trip with flexible airline tickets and an easy-to-cancel hotel in case something goes south.

[Pneumonia]

No

[blahblewblah]

If you're above median at CCN and targeting NYC, you are probably going to have offers within a few days of EIP ending. I think there's a 95% chance you'll be fine. If I were you, I'd schedule the trip with flexible airline tickets and an easy-to-cancel hotel in case something goes south.

It is one thing to have "offers," it is another thing to have the offer you want from the firm you want to work for. OCI is ridiculously important for law students. There is absolutely no reason to risk being away when you may have a callback during those times unless you are content to just get some V-whatever offer and take it.

[Mullens]

If you're targeting NYC, you can probably get away with this. You just need to understand that there might be a huge risk here if you decide to push your callbacks to after your trip. Most NY firms book callbacks on a first-come, first-serve basis and it's highly advantageous to interview earlier rather than later. If you're in NYC this summer, you should network the hell out of your top choices, try to secure pre-OCI callbacks and then you don't have to worry about it.

Sorry - what exactly is a pre-OCI callback?

I definitely wouldn't plan on pushing my callbacks until after my trip. From what I've been seeing, most NYC firms call back within the first week after the screener, so that gives me a good amount of time.

I've also looked on last year's OCI thread for my school and the only posts after August 20th were about offers and dings.

Based on this post and your other posts in the thread, I think you have some pretty fundamental misunderstandings about how the whole process works. Combine that with your unwillingness to listen to everyone telling you not to go on the trip, I'm gonna reconsider and argue you shouldn't book anything right now. When people are reporting offers and dings after August 20th, the students might have done those callbacks right before they report the offer or ding. For offers, it's likely that the person did the callback within a week of their report because firm recruiting committees typically meet 1-3/week and decide on offers then. Cravath gives offers before you leave your callback.

I also don't think you fully understand how callback scheduling works. You might get an offer for a callback on August 9th, but there's a chance that the firm doesn't have any interview openings until after August 26th. The firms are doing OCI at 20+ schools in those same weeks as yours and extending numerous callbacks at all those schools. They can only interview so many candidates a day and when those spots fill up, they're full. Combine that with the fact that your schedule will also be filling up as you will book your callbacks as soon as you get them (for the reason mentioned in the last sentence) and there is a chance you won't be able to schedule your top choice firm(s) until after August 26th. Looking at my schedule from last year, almost half of my callbacks were more than two weeks after I was extended them and I tried to book them as early as possible (I didn't realize this until I just checked so this is part of the reason I'm retracting my prior advice).

Pre-OCI callbacks are callbacks that people do before OCI. The recruiting process is not as linear as most people think it is of OCI-->Callback-->Offer. Law firms don't only rely on that process and neither should you. Pre-OCI callbacks used to be pretty rare, but they're becoming more and more common, especially in NYC. Last year it seemed like most V20 firms were doing them. There are several ways to get pre-OCI callbacks with the easiest being having interviewed for a 1L SA position with the firm. Most firms extend pre-OCI callbacks to students they interviewed but rejected for 1L SA spots. You can also secure them through networking pretty easily. Go to every firm event and talk to attorneys. Follow up and meet them for coffee. Most will offer to send your materials on to recruiting. If you fit the bill, you might get a pre-OCI callback. If firms don't have events, you can cold email alumni from your school at the firm and ask if they will meet you for coffee. You can also secure them through various recruiting fairs.

[jbagelboy]

do not schedule a trip or travel between the end of OCI and the start of classes. you may be interviewing until early september, especially if you are targeting multiple markets, in which case you'll have to travel to those destinations too. Leave yourself free to schedule CBs as you wish. If you want to take a trip, take a week off in October from class (at T6 you don't really need to keep going as a 2L) and go then.