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I'm a 2L at a low Tier 1 law school. I'm in the top 20% of my class and am on a journal.

I've gone through OCI for different markets, not being very selective about where I submitted, and got a few screening interviews. No luck with any of those. I've sent hundreds of mass mails/applications through websites of firms; almost all of those were dings/never heard anything. Had one callback at a Delaware big 4, got the flu the day of. Ding.

Had another callback at one of the big 4 two weeks later. I thought it went AMAZING, and was told I'd hear back in a week; it's been more than a month. Checked in yesterday, but no response. Assuming that's a no. Very disappointed about that-- mostly I'd just love a firm no.

At this point, I know Biglaw is entirely done hiring, and the emails I'm sending to smaller firms are not getting any replies. Career services has informed me I should stop looking at firms and think about government work. Is that basically what it's down to? Are there *any* large firms that hire recent graduates, or is that dream dead? I'm constantly checking my email, constantly refreshing the school's career board, and it's really wearing on my mental health.

All in all, what do I do now?

I really regret coming to law school. I wanted to be a pastry chef. Should have skipped college and gone for it. Less debt, probably just as much stress...

Just keep doing what you're doing. Most smaller firms won't start thinking about summer clerks until after Christmas, which is why you aren't getting many hits from them. Also keep looking at companies in the markets you're targeting. I know it doesn't feel like it, but you have plenty of time to find something.

pretty much in the exact same boat, so wanted to let you know you're not alone in this!

theswisswereright wrote:
At this point, I know Biglaw is entirely done hiring.

Don't assume the quoted. I know of several individuals, myself included, that picked up their biglaw SAs after this point. Keep grinding and don't exclude the big firms from your massmail lists. Just keep mailing and working toward finding a position you want.

Keep massmailing, you never know what can happen. Broaden your search. Tons of public service opportunities don't hire until spring. Small and mid size firms are still hiring and some will hire late in spring. FWIW I know about 10 people who got a jobs at large, non-market firms in late April and early May last year. Also, just apply to everything on your school's jobs site. Keep your head up and just keep moving.

How do I find small/midsize firms? Lots of them aren't on NALP, and our career office is less than useless for providing resources. I'm also not interested in public interest because I have some SUBSTANTIAL loan debt.

theswisswereright wrote:How do I find small/midsize firms? Lots of them aren't on NALP, and our career office is less than useless for providing resources. I'm also not interested in public interest because I have some SUBSTANTIAL loan debt.

Google "law firm+summer associate+(the city you want to work)" and press enter.

Okay, that's really not very helpful. I've already done that, multiple times for different cities, and that gives no indication of who's still hiring-- even the firms whose pages don't indicate that they're done have generally replied that they've completed hiring.

Are there any public sector positions that a 2L could go for in this position that would help instead of hindering the possibility of getting a private sector job post grad?

Anonymous User wrote:

theswisswereright wrote:How do I find small/midsize firms? Lots of them aren't on NALP, and our career office is less than useless for providing resources. I'm also not interested in public interest because I have some SUBSTANTIAL loan debt.

Google "law firm+summer associate+(the city you want to work)" and press enter.

if only it was that easy....

In the same boat here. It's hard to stay motivated these days sometimes with finals coming up and all my classmates planning out their summers already.