Will Visiting a Lower Ranked School Affect BigLaw Offer After SA? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Background:
-I have a BigLaw SA in a large secondary market.
-I attend a lower T14.
-For personal reasons, I'm applying to visit the highest ranked law school (20-40) in said secondary market.
-The firm recruits heavily from the school I'm applying to visit.

Questions:
-Will spending a semester at the lower ranked school negatively impact my chance at an offer from the firm?
-Should I clear visiting with the firm's HR? If so, do I provide my specifics or ask anonymously(ish).

P.S.
-I know I'm probably being a paranoid law student!

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

[rpupkin]

-Will spending a semester at the lower ranked school negatively impact my chance at an offer from the firm?

No. This is a total non-issue.

[Anonymous User]

-Will spending a semester at the lower ranked school negatively impact my chance at an offer from the firm?

No. This is a total non-issue.

OP here. Thank you for the reply. I value your input and this eases my, slight, trepidation!

[foregetaboutdre]

Background:
-I have a BigLaw SA in a large secondary market.
-I attend a lower T14.
-For personal reasons, I'm applying to visit the highest ranked law school (20-40) in said secondary market.
-The firm recruits heavily from the school I'm applying to visit.

Questions:
-Will spending a semester at the lower ranked school negatively impact my chance at an offer from the firm?
-Should I clear visiting with the firm's HR? If so, do I provide my specifics or ask anonymously(ish).

P.S.
-I know I'm probably being a paranoid law student!

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

I don't think it would matter. I'd consider telling them that you're visiting though (and not anonymously) - it might lead to some lunches/extra work around the office if you have time. I think they'd view it as a positive tbh. If they do give off a *weird* vibe then it would be a cause for concern. But to think that the recruiting committee/members of a firm will even KNOW that you're visiting is a really low probability.

[rpupkin]

I don't think it would matter. I'd consider telling them that you're visiting though (and not anonymously) - it might lead to some lunches/extra work around the office if you have time.

Huh?

[clerk1251]

-Will spending a semester at the lower ranked school negatively impact my chance at an offer from the firm?

No. This is a total non-issue.

This.

I don't see how it would be an issue, and I don't see any reason to even disclose it. It really is a non-issue. You've got your reasons to do a semester at whatever school it is, and your degree will still be from your primary school. It's not like this will be something you put on your resume, just don't worry about it.

[mjb447]

Co-signing "it won't matter" and "not necessary to disclose."

[1styearlateral]

I don't think it would matter. I'd consider telling them that you're visiting though (and not anonymously) - it might lead to some lunches/extra work around the office if you have time.

Huh?

I think he means while he is visiting for the semester he will have opportunities to a) have lunch/interact with the firm's secondary market office or b) clerk on the side at said office.

The former isn't that farfetched.

[RaceJudicata]

I don't think it would matter. I'd consider telling them that you're visiting though (and not anonymously) - it might lead to some lunches/extra work around the office if you have time.

Huh?

I think he means while he is visiting for the semester he will have opportunities to a) have lunch/interact with the firm's secondary market office or b) clerk on the side at said office.

The former isn't that farfetched.

Ya defiinitely don't try and grab lunch with a firm during the semester just because you feel like catching up with lawyers you may work with in the future. Summer associate programs are budgeted schticks -- the lunches are a recruiting tool. No one wants to have lunch with you while you are in school and not a Summer associate.

Sure, some firms allow past summers to clerk, but usually they'll ask.

[JustMe83]

I hear S&C will revoke your offer for just setting foot on the CUNY campus

[zhenders]

On second thought, let's not hang out in this thread. 'Tis a silly place.

[Wacked Wombat]

I don't think it would matter. I'd consider telling them that you're visiting though (and not anonymously) - it might lead to some lunches/extra work around the office if you have time.

Huh?

I think he means while he is visiting for the semester he will have opportunities to a) have lunch/interact with the firm's secondary market office or b) clerk on the side at said office.

The former isn't that farfetched.

Ya defiinitely don't try and grab lunch with a firm during the semester just because you feel like catching up with lawyers you may work with in the future. Summer associate programs are budgeted schticks -- the lunches are a recruiting tool. No one wants to have lunch with you while you are in school and not a Summer associate.

Sure, some firms allow past summers to clerk, but usually they'll ask.

Idk, 3L friend says she gets emails from her firm letting previous SAs in the area know that certain events are going on they are invited to. I assume that's what dre means by "lunches".

[Pokemon]

It will be a stain but only the v5 will care.

[rpupkin]

I don't think it would matter. I'd consider telling them that you're visiting though (and not anonymously) - it might lead to some lunches/extra work around the office if you have time.

Huh?

I think he means while he is visiting for the semester he will have opportunities to a) have lunch/interact with the firm's secondary market office or b) clerk on the side at said office.

The former isn't that farfetched.

Ya defiinitely don't try and grab lunch with a firm during the semester just because you feel like catching up with lawyers you may work with in the future. Summer associate programs are budgeted schticks -- the lunches are a recruiting tool. No one wants to have lunch with you while you are in school and not a Summer associate.

Sure, some firms allow past summers to clerk, but usually they'll ask.

Idk, 3L friend says she gets emails from her firm letting previous SAs in the area know that certain events are going on they are invited to. I assume that's what dre means by "lunches".

No. Public firm events are not the same as lunches with individual attorneys.

[foregetaboutdre]

lol I didn't mean to start a debate. In my secondary market, I've been asked to go to lunch if I was in town for some reason (by individual attorneys). Also, in my secondary market it is not unheard of for the summers from the local state school to clerk during the school year (although after reading OP it looks like he is an incoming SA).

I also want to say my original post said it MIGHT lead to this. I understand every market and firm is different and I am just sharing my experience FWIW. I would not recommend hitting up partners for lunch every week etc...

[rpupkin]

lol I didn't mean to start a debate. In my secondary market, I've been asked to go to lunch if I was in town for some reason.

I agree that it's not unusual for an office to encourage its former summer associates to stay in touch during their 3L year. And having an occasional lunch with an attorney is one way to stay in touch. (To be clear, I responded initially with a "huh?" because I genuinely did not understand what you were talking about.)

[lavarman84]

I hear S&C will revoke your offer for just setting foot on the CUNY campus

I lol'd. I thought you could keep the offer as long as you chopped off the foot that stepped on the CUNY campus?

[mjb447]

I hear S&C will revoke your offer for just setting foot on the CUNY campus

I lol'd. I thought you could keep the offer as long as you chopped off the foot that stepped on the CUNY campus?

A chemical shower might do it, if you can stay in long enough to get that plebeian stink off.

[1styearlateral]

I don't think it would matter. I'd consider telling them that you're visiting though (and not anonymously) - it might lead to some lunches/extra work around the office if you have time.

Huh?

I think he means while he is visiting for the semester he will have opportunities to a) have lunch/interact with the firm's secondary market office or b) clerk on the side at said office.

The former isn't that farfetched.

Ya defiinitely don't try and grab lunch with a firm during the semester just because you feel like catching up with lawyers you may work with in the future. Summer associate programs are budgeted schticks -- the lunches are a recruiting tool. No one wants to have lunch with you while you are in school and not a Summer associate.

Sure, some firms allow past summers to clerk, but usually they'll ask.

Yeah, I guess it only really makes sense after you've already spent a summer there and built some relationships.

[Anonymous User]

Ya defiinitely don't try and grab lunch with a firm during the semester just because you feel like catching up with lawyers you may work with in the future. Summer associate programs are budgeted schticks -- the lunches are a recruiting tool. No one wants to have lunch with you while you are in school and not a Summer associate.

Sure, some firms allow past summers to clerk, but usually they'll ask.

I don't agree with this. My SA firm encouraged the incoming summer class to contact attorneys at the firm and invite them to lunch if they were in town. I go to school in the same city and had lunch a couple of times with junior associates during my 2L year (could've had a lot more lunches, but figured I would be more likely to screw something up with my upcoming SA). The attorneys loved it because that was an extra lunch they got to expense. Both associates and partners reiterated this at the end of the summer event to get in touch for lunch if we're around during our 3L year as well.