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I can think of many reasons why a law school would never allow students who don't attend their school to attend OCI on their campus, but is it possible to attend OCI at another school's campus? If so, anyone have experience with this? I've only ever seen someone do it when they were in between transferring.

Context: finished first semester with a 4.0 and got biglaw for 1L, but my school doesn't have OCI. I'm absolutely committed to working exceptionally and getting a 2L offer, and I'm prepared to send apps without attending OCI as I did this year, but obviously having OCI would be a sweet option. Thoughts?

No, you don't get to attend another school's OCI. The point is that firms come to OCI to recruit from that school specifically. The exception is that there are some employment fairs which are like joint OCIs run in one location by a few schools. But again, you have to be a student at one of the participating schools. That's kind of the point of going to the higher-ranked schools - because they offer many more options for things like OCI. You don't get to take advantage of that unless you've been accepted to (and pay tuition to) that school. (But really, your school has NO OCI at all??)

NYCounsel wrote:I can think of many reasons why a law school would never allow students who don't attend their school to attend OCI on their campus, but is it possible to attend OCI at another school's campus? If so, anyone have experience with this? I've only ever seen someone do it when they were in between transferring.

Context: finished first semester with a 4.0 and got biglaw for 1L, but my school doesn't have OCI. I'm absolutely committed to working exceptionally and getting a 2L offer, and I'm prepared to send apps without attending OCI as I did this year, but obviously having OCI would be a sweet option. Thoughts?

I can't think of any reason a school would let an unaffiliated student utilize their OCI. It can't hurt to ask, but I think it would be a waste of your time.

NYCounsel wrote:I can think of many reasons why a law school would never allow students who don't attend their school to attend OCI on their campus, but is it possible to attend OCI at another school's campus? If so, anyone have experience with this? I've only ever seen someone do it when they were in between transferring.

Context: finished first semester with a 4.0 and got biglaw for 1L, but my school doesn't have OCI. I'm absolutely committed to working exceptionally and getting a 2L offer, and I'm prepared to send apps without attending OCI as I did this year, but obviously having OCI would be a sweet option. Thoughts?

There is a zero percent chance of doing this. Why would any school let you do this to the detriment of their own students and job stats? You’re gonna have to rely on mass mailing or transfer to a school with OCI.

my understanding is that Cornell doesn't even allow its transfer students to attend OCI, so no-- there's no chance that a school would allow this.

My mind is still reeling that a law school would have no OCI whatsoever?

Sacred Cow wrote:My mind is still reeling that a law school would have no OCI whatsoever?

Not all schools attract top (read: any) firms.

Thanks, everyone. As noted in the OP, figured that was the case, but that I'd see if anyone knew different.

I think you should seriously consider transferring. Getting a 1L big law SA from a school w/no OCI is amazing (I didn’t get a 1L summer SA from my t50-60 school with 4.0 1st sem) so huge props.

Assuming you have similar grades 2nd sem, you have a shot at almost all the t14s minus likely S/Y.

Just some food for thought

Is there a law school near you that has OCI? Do you have any friends that go there? You may not be able to go to oci at that school, but I know of some instances where a law firm had a student at a nearby school have a screener off-campus. Just mass mail the firms and see.

Also, to the person above, if OP goes to a school that doesn’t do OCI, I’m assuming it’s a T4. Many of the T14 are out of reach, not just S and Y. OP should try Vandy/UT/WashU since those are probably more likely.

Sacred Cow wrote:My mind is still reeling that a law school would have no OCI whatsoever?

CUNY Law?

Someplace super public interest oriented?

2013 wrote:Is there a law school near you that has OCI? Do you have any friends that go there? You may not be able to go to oci at that school, but I know of some instances where a law firm had a student at a nearby school have a screener off-campus. Just mass mail the firms and see.

Also, to the person above, if OP goes to a school that doesn’t do OCI, I’m assuming it’s a T4. Many of the T14 are out of reach, not just S and Y. OP should try Vandy/UT/WashU since those are probably more likely.

Looking at 509 reports for last few years, the schools with larger transfer classes (like H, NYU, C, B) take a few ppl from unranked schools. Thus, it's possible OP has a shot at those schools (depending on w/e his 4.0 is good enough to be #1, 2, or 3 at that school). Admittedly, it may not be a high probability, but still worth it to throw in an application. Would also agree with your suggestion to apply to some of the other schools you mentioned. Transfer apps effort has pretty much close to zero marginal cost (assuming OP can afford the extra couple hundred $s for app fee) if you do at least 1, so seems prudent to apply broadly even if the chances are low.