Do biglaws send applicants' resumes to SAs? Forum

[Anonymous User]

It would be much appreciated if someone could answer this.

I am a rising 3L and in the middle of applying to biglaws. Do some biglaws send applicants' resumes to current SAs who are summering there if both go to the same law school and that law school is underrepresented in that biglaw? Or a simple background check with that SA?

[Desert Fox]

No.

[Anonymous User]

is the word "biglaws" a thing?

[SFSpartan]

is the word "biglaws" a thing?

No.

[Anonymous User]

It would be much appreciated if someone could answer this.

I am a rising 3L and in the middle of applying to biglaws. Do some biglaws send applicants' resumes to current SAs who are summering there if both go to the same law school and that law school is underrepresented in that biglaw? Or a simple background check with that SA?

During my 1L SA I received at least 4 resumes from the legal recruiter of people in my class who had massmailed the firm. She wanted to know what "median" was, whether they were good people, whether I know anything about them, etc.

[RaceJudicata]

It would be much appreciated if someone could answer this.

I am a rising 3L and in the middle of applying to biglaws. Do some biglaws send applicants' resumes to current SAs who are summering there if both go to the same law school and that law school is underrepresented in that biglaw? Or a simple background check with that SA?

During my 1L SA I received at least 4 resumes from the legal recruiter of people in my class who had massmailed the firm. She wanted to know what "median" was, whether they were good people, whether I know anything about them, etc.

Ehh in my experience, biglaws typically do this. Some of the best and biggest biglaws rely solely on their SA's input when making interview decisions.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks. Can anyone add a second opinion? Or is it a common practice at biglaws?

[Glasseyes]

best thread on biglaws in god knows how long. LOTS of ACCURACY and INSIGHT in here. keep it up everybody

[ballouttacontrol]

It would be much appreciated if someone could answer this.

I am a rising 3L and in the middle of applying to biglaws. Do some biglaws send applicants' resumes to current SAs who are summering there if both go to the same law school and that law school is underrepresented in that biglaw? Or a simple background check with that SA?

During my 1L SA I received at least 4 resumes from the legal recruiter of people in my class who had massmailed the firm. She wanted to know what "median" was, whether they were good people, whether I know anything about them, etc.

I had a similar experience. The SA firms' summer classes weren't huge though.

[oblig.lawl.ref]

I'm guessing there's a great story of an incident with a current SA at OP's biglaw of choice.

[cron1834]

Please stop calling it "biglaws." That's not a thing. Your poor/ESOL writing and general lack of awareness in these threads is noteworthy.

[RaceJudicata]

I think folks in here are just giving their two cents on their experiences at different biglaws. I don't really see the problem.

[Anonymous User]

Hmm... It's so weird for firms to do so imo...

[cron1834]

I think folks in here are just giving their two cents on their experiences at different biglaws. I don't really see the problem.

[Anonymous User]

I MM a V10 firm for a 2L SA position and they sent my materials straight to a current SA from my school there to ask about me. So some do, at least.

[Anonymous User]

Just curious, when the recruiting brings resumes in front of current summers, do they show them the transcript as well? lol

[Anonymous User]

Incoming associate. Recruiting has sent me emails asking about two students from my school who have sent pre-OCI requests. They only mentioned names and asked if I knew the people, and if so whether I had any thoughts. Didn't include resume or transcript. Sending a transcript to a fellow student would be pretty crappy.

[Anonymous User]

It would be much appreciated if someone could answer this.

I am a rising 3L and in the middle of applying to biglaws. Do some biglaws send applicants' resumes to current SAs who are summering there if both go to the same law school and that law school is underrepresented in that biglaw? Or a simple background check with that SA?

LA 1L summer associate here — HR sent it to me and we talked about all the people.

[Anonymous User]

It would be much appreciated if someone could answer this.

I am a rising 3L and in the middle of applying to biglaws. Do some biglaws send applicants' resumes to current SAs who are summering there if both go to the same law school and that law school is underrepresented in that biglaw? Or a simple background check with that SA?

During my 1L SA I received at least 4 resumes from the legal recruiter of people in my class who had massmailed the firm. She wanted to know what "median" was, whether they were good people, whether I know anything about them, etc.

Ehh in my experience, biglaws typically do this. Some of the best and biggest biglaws rely solely on their SA's input when making interview decisions.

I also had a similar experience as a 1L SA.

[ballouttacontrol]

Just curious, when the recruiting brings resumes in front of current summers, do they show them the transcript as well? lol

Na my biglaws didn't that seems weird especially if same class year

[jrf12886]

Probably not. Junior associates, yes, but likely not summer associates.

[emkay625]

A partner at my second-half firm called me into his office and asked my opinion about people who had bid the firm from my school for OCI for the class below me. I just said everyone was nice or that I didn't know the person.

[Avian]

A fellow summer got the resume of an applicant from their school in order to talk to them about the firm. I think recruiting also asked if they knew anything about the applicant.

[RajonEsq]

Hiring partner at my firm asked a fellow summer associate about applicants from the summer's school.

[Anonymous User]

Hiring partner at my firm asked a fellow summer associate about applicants from the summer's school.

I find it so strange that firms would do this for any reason other than asking the SA to promote interest in the firm to candidates they already considered a good fit/qualified.

If a hiring partner comes to an SA to ask about other students, what options does the SA really have? On the off chance the SA knows the person and hates them, would he really sit there with a partner and start talking about law school gossip/drama - risking making himself look unprofessional, immature, or unable to work well with others? (I mean, they might. I personally wouldn't, since I don't know any rising 2Ls in an academic/professional setting and wouldn't really be able to speak substantively on whether or not that person would add value to the firm.) For the same reasons, even if the SA does know the person and is good friends with them, why would his good opinion matter to a hiring partner whose biggest interest is ultimately to hire those he feels will move the firm forward - rather than those who happen to be friends with a random SA who's been at the firm less than 2 months? It's just weird to think that any positive information I could give would probably be ignored, while any negative information I give would probably be minimally useful to the firm's interests yet potentially detrimental to myself and/or the applicant.

Though, after working at a law firm for just a little bit, I can how these questions could be useful when considering lateral applicants, and if directed towards associates who've worked with that applicant before. Work product and professional reputation (as someone who's hardworking and competent - or not) would be something I'd want to know before making a hiring decision.

But caveat, I also find it strange that firms hire after 1L year, that some have hard GPA cutoffs, and - actually, most of the recruiting process makes no sense to me. So in the end, I guess I wouldn't put money on this not being true.