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How would you approach mass mailing a firm that on its website doesn't list an electronic way to contact (ala firm email, hiring partner email, etc)?

Or, firms that only reference contact in the "careers" section of their website to a hiring partner? (asking as a rising 2L, being that "hiring partner" seems to imply lateral lawyers or graduated/graduating 3Ls)

How big is this firm? If it's a smaller firm, it might be appropriate to contact the hiring partner even as a rising 2L. If it's a larger firm, are they on NALP? Have you exhausted every possible place where they might have contact information for their recruiting and hiring committee?

UVA2B wrote:How big is this firm? If it's a smaller firm, it might be appropriate to contact the hiring partner even as a rising 2L. If it's a larger firm, are they on NALP? Have you exhausted every possible place where they might have contact information for their recruiting and hiring committee?

To provide some context, these particular firms that I am asking about are regional, smaller firms anywhere from 50-10 lawyers. They are the largest firms in their region, yet are not comparable in size to the other firms I will be mass mailing in larger markets.

As far as the ones with no electronic contact, they only have mailing address, phone numbers, and presumably just specific attorney emails listed.

wvfan14 wrote:

UVA2B wrote:How big is this firm? If it's a smaller firm, it might be appropriate to contact the hiring partner even as a rising 2L. If it's a larger firm, are they on NALP? Have you exhausted every possible place where they might have contact information for their recruiting and hiring committee?

To provide some context, these particular firms that I am asking about are regional, smaller firms anywhere from 50-10 lawyers. They are the largest firms in their region, yet are not comparable in size to the other firms I will be mass mailing in larger markets.

As far as the ones with no electronic contact, they only have mailing address, phone numbers, and presumably just specific attorney emails listed.

This is the case where you should feel more comfortable with the firm not having a more defined application process IMO. If they have a listed hiring attorney, you could possibly reach out to that partner. But if they don't, your best bet in my mind is to call their main business phone number, inquire about whether they have a summer associate program while showing your interest in working with them, and ask if they have a contact who you should email or mail your application materials. They probably deal with a smaller applicant pool where it doesn't make sense to have established online hiring practices and contacts, so if you go the extra mile to ask them about their hiring practices and how you can best interact with the firm, it'll show an interest they will at minimum appreciate.

That doesn't mean you'll get a job out of it, but showing a genuine interest in their practice can be helpful when you're dealing with smaller regional firms that don't follow traditional Biglaw hiring methods.