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Hello. I'm really in a tight spot and could use some insight.

Graduated in 2017 from a T6, slightly below median grades. Summered at a mid-size firm 2L year, had an offer extended, but then got it unceremoniously yanked back due to visa sponsorship issues. After some MAJOR hustling, I was able to secure a pretty decent fellowship position in-house with a big name company. Now that my fellowship (and also my visa) is coming close to an end, I am really lost as to what should be my next step. I would like to stay in the States as much as possible, and I have sort of figured out some less than ideal ways to do so immigration-wise, but financially can't afford to do so without SOME position secured. As such, I wanted to ask what the market was like for stub year/1st years?

I'm finding that I'm definitely getting more interest from Big Law firms than I did in 3L by applying a class down (as Class of 2018), but that increase in interest isn't really THAT significant. I've also been having trouble (even from 3L year) getting any interest from smaller/mid-size firms (I think due to my resume, they don't think I'll take it???). Assuming my visa situation is pretty secure, what are my chances of securing a position by September/October? Thank you.

Biglaw has a lot of non-US citizens, so I think it shouldn’t be a big issue. But the visa expiring (im assuming OPT since you didn’t mention that you’re Canadian) may be a bigger issue. You say you have it figured out, but a big firm may not want to deal with the headache for a first year associate who has no more OPT time left.

2013 wrote:Biglaw has a lot of non-US citizens, so I think it shouldn’t be a big issue. But the visa expiring (im assuming OPT since you didn’t mention that you’re Canadian) may be a bigger issue. You say you have it figured out, but a big firm may not want to deal with the headache for a first year associate who has no more OPT time left.

Taking the visa issue aside though, what is the market like in general? I'm trying to figure out whether I want to take a huge personal gamble and file for a particular type of visa, but not file when the market for my class level is dead to begin with.

2013 wrote:Biglaw has a lot of non-US citizens, so I think it shouldn’t be a big issue. But the visa expiring (im assuming OPT since you didn’t mention that you’re Canadian) may be a bigger issue. You say you have it figured out, but a big firm may not want to deal with the headache for a first year associate who has no more OPT time left.

What's your practice area? What market was your fellowship firm in?

There's no real market for stub years/1st years. Best chance is talk to some recruiters and also mass mail everywhere, might get lucky and come across a firm where someone just dropped out unexpectedly who was supposed to start in September/October.

Anonymous User wrote:

2013 wrote:Biglaw has a lot of non-US citizens, so I think it shouldn’t be a big issue. But the visa expiring (im assuming OPT since you didn’t mention that you’re Canadian) may be a bigger issue. You say you have it figured out, but a big firm may not want to deal with the headache for a first year associate who has no more OPT time left.

What's your practice area? What market was your fellowship firm in?

Corporate. I am on the in-house legal team at an investment manager in NYC.

fwiw as a first year litigator at a top-end NYC firm (who doesn't have a special resume relative to my peers), I probably average 2-3 recruiter emails a day.

Getting recruiter emails doesn’t necessarily mean there are many openings though - most are probably about the same position and some probably just want to make the connection now for future openings. That said, you should do everything you need to get an offer including talking to recruiters, friends, alums who can refer you (do this first) and mass apply

Corporate is so difficult to lateral as a stub/first year since there are so many associates. Have you thought of trying to specialize? I know that some firms look at people with corporate backgrounds for ERISA jobs. I hear ERISA can be boring though.

paperrev wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

2013 wrote:Biglaw has a lot of non-US citizens, so I think it shouldn’t be a big issue. But the visa expiring (im assuming OPT since you didn’t mention that you’re Canadian) may be a bigger issue. You say you have it figured out, but a big firm may not want to deal with the headache for a first year associate who has no more OPT time left.

What's your practice area? What market was your fellowship firm in?

Corporate. I am on the in-house legal team at an investment manager in NYC.

You might have more luck getting a job in an IM/fund formation practice than corporate.

Thank you all for your responses. I am honestly open to different practice groups, although I am not sure how well firms will bite on my resume (e.g., nothing on my resume indicates ERISA).

hlsperson1111 wrote:

paperrev wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

2013 wrote:Biglaw has a lot of non-US citizens, so I think it shouldn’t be a big issue. But the visa expiring (im assuming OPT since you didn’t mention that you’re Canadian) may be a bigger issue. You say you have it figured out, but a big firm may not want to deal with the headache for a first year associate who has no more OPT time left.

What's your practice area? What market was your fellowship firm in?

Corporate. I am on the in-house legal team at an investment manager in NYC.

You might have more luck getting a job in an IM/fund formation practice than corporate.

Second this. Still going to be a long shot as a first year, as most firms with big IM/fund formation practices consider those groups part of their Corporate department and rotate first year Corporate associates through the group, but at least you have relevant experience. Maybe look to one of the LP-side firms like Jackson Walker that don't recruit massive first-year classes out of law school.