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I've have been waiting for close to three weeks now after a call back with a big firm. Should I follow up? Or keep waiting? I am guessing that I am probably in a hold pile, so I wonder if following up would do me any good. I would really like a definitive answer so I can stop waking up every morning with rekindled hope though.

If it's been three weeks of radio silence, and you haven't already followed up with recruiting, you can certainly check in with them, indicating your continued interest in the firm. (Reach out to recruiting, not to the partners you interviewed with.)

But I wouldn't get your hopes up. Lots of BigLaw firms, from what I've observed on TLS and in my own limited experience, apparently prefer "ghosting" to outright rejecting folks. If you haven't heard anything for three weeks, it's unlikely (though of course not impossible) you'll end up getting an offer.

Those with experience - does the 3 week rule generally apply only to OCI-type hiring, or lateral hiring as well? (biglaw)

Lateral hiring varies a lot depending on need and supply/demand. I’ve heard of people getting offers on the spot. But, on the other hand, I’ve heard of people waiting over a month after a callback for an offer.

Usually at the lateral stage, they won’t ghost you, especially if you’re using a recruiter.

2013 wrote:Lateral hiring varies a lot depending on need and supply/demand. I’ve heard of people getting offers on the spot. But, on the other hand, I’ve heard of people waiting over a month after a callback for an offer.

Usually at the lateral stage, they won’t ghost you, especially if you’re using a recruiter.

Very good point. In my previous post, I was assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that OP was applying as a law student, since the lateral market tends to be most active after the new year. If lateraling, a multi-week wait, standing alone, should not be surprising/alarming at all.

Anecdotal, but during a 3L callback I once had and a lateral callback, both took over a month. I had interviewed at the very beginning of the interview period, meaning that the firms would most likely interview more people.

I ended up getting an offer from the callback firm 8 weeks later. I think lateral is usually longer because firms have to fly people out and work around work schedules. And I think firms usually try to call back a good number of people (5-10) so they have options.

Anonymous User wrote:Anecdotal, but during a 3L callback I once had and a lateral callback, both took over a month. I had interviewed at the very beginning of the interview period, meaning that the firms would most likely interview more people.

I ended up getting an offer from the callback firm 8 weeks later. I think lateral is usually longer because firms have to fly people out and work around work schedules. And I think firms usually try to call back a good number of people (5-10) so they have options.

Do you remember roughly which month you had your 3L Call Back?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Anecdotal, but during a 3L callback I once had and a lateral callback, both took over a month. I had interviewed at the very beginning of the interview period, meaning that the firms would most likely interview more people.

I ended up getting an offer from the callback firm 8 weeks later. I think lateral is usually longer because firms have to fly people out and work around work schedules. And I think firms usually try to call back a good number of people (5-10) so they have options.

Do you remember roughly which month you had your 3L Call Back?

It was later in the year (February). My friend got the offer. She interviewed two weeks after me and found out 6 weeks after my interview (so even she had to wait almost a month).

What I’m going to say is the epitome of “easier said than done,” but I’m going to say it anyway. If you master the art of this, you will have a much less emotionally difficult time during your lateral job search.

After every interview, assume you didn’t get the job as if you got a rejection on the spot or it was a practice interview...and then move on as if it never happened.

Radio silence following major market biglaw lateral callback about a month ago.

Have not followed up yet - should I send a note to recruiting or assume its a ding? (not using a recruiter)