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Hey guys,

I just heard back from my 2L SA job (AM 100) and did not get an offer. The hiring partner said that they hired a federal clerk as a result they did not have a spot for me. He offered to write me a great recommendation and help me out, but 3L recruitment is beyond hard to navigate and some of my stats will be a huge hurdle. I had a big firm SA job my first summer with a different firm and am a URM. I attend a school which is barely in the top 100 with a generally low big firm placement. My GPA took a dunk as is around 3.2-3.3 range. However, I have moot court and my team placed in external competitions. Further, I have good work experience before law school.

I would appreciate any advice regarding my situation. I am aware I have been very fortunate to even have those positions given my stats and my school ranking, but I worked really hard and went above and beyond to get to know everyone at my firm. I am extremely upset since I heard the news, and cannot think straight. I am happy for my friends who have offers, but hearing about it reminds me of my failure. I would appreciate any advice on how I should go about this. Thank you in advance.

Hey, you’re not a failure. Circumstances change sometimes and it seems like this was out of your hands.

Honestly, you are a URM and you had firm experience, so there is a chance you will get another interview from a firm. A lot of firms hire 3Ls (MLB comes to mind as the most frequent).

It’s kind of shitty that they didn’t give you a cold offer, though.

Dear OP,

URM here. Sounds like you’re very accomplished. It also sounds like you got no offered by a firm that “values diversity” only up to the point that they can say it on their website. I’m not telling you to be bitter. In fact I think you dodged a bullet. I’m sure your work was up to standard. You shouldn’t be working at a firm that’s willing to replace you with someone who has a clerkship ( especially if your work was up to standard).

Take the recommendation, find a place where you’re actually valued and wanted, and make sure you tell your fellow URM’s who are thinking of working there.

Edit: Of course, by “tell fellow URM’s” I mean tell your close URM friends. Obviously don’t say anything here l.

Any chance you can return to your 1L SA firm? That'd strike me as your most promising initial lead.

Otherwise, start mass mailing asap. As the standard advice goes, mass mail NY and any other markets where you have ties (however remote). You're in a better position than many, as you have two SAs under your belt, are a URM, and are not K-JD. I know this is a tough spot, but I'm sure you will triumph in the end. Best of luck.

Sorry to hear. Here are some tips.

Ask the firm to give you a cold offer (more helpful than a letter of recommendation). Don’t tell ANYONE you got a no offer. If anyone asks, say you turned it down to apply for clerkships or be in a different practice area.

Keep applying to firms. Apply for specialty clerkships (e.g. magistrate or bankruptcy) that are less gpa sensitive. Tailor your cover letter to each area and city. Find judges with a similar background as you. Don’t give up.

A lot of firms will not say whether you got an offer or not. They will just confirm dates and whether you worked there. Find out if your firm is one of these firms. If so spin your situation without lying.