At a T-14 school, had a bad 1L but did well this past year and moved my GPA up to a 3.55. Have a 2L SA at a V100, enjoying it so far, but want to give myself a second chance at some of the firms I couldn’t really bid/apply to during OCI. Is this even possible? Any risk in trying to “upgrade”/explore all my options?
Again, happy at my current firm, and if I end up working there I’d probably still be happy. But because of the type of work the firm does I’m concerned about exit options. Wondering if anyone here once in a similar position could provide some advice.
3L OCI after 2L SA Forum
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Re: 3L OCI after 2L SA
FWIW, I am in the same boat. Do some more digging on your own by searching for "3L hiring", "3L OCI", "3L trading up", or similar terms on this site. I used Google to search "XXXXX site:top-law-schools.com" with success. You'll learn a lot.
To summarize my findings, 3L OCI is a joke. Very few firms are looking for 3Ls during OCI; instead, firms use OCI to hire 2Ls almost exclusively. 3L hires are typically used to fill in gaps as the dust from 2L and SA hiring settles. 3L positions are need-based and often tied to specific practice groups.
3Ls looking to switch firms should utilize a predominantly mass-mail approach. With only a few exceptions, 3L hiring happens after summer programs are over, i.e., when firms can better gauge how many SAs have accepted offers and how many slots remain unfilled. Those open slots, plus specific practice group needs, are where 3Ls are hired.
I have been told that mid to late August is the prime time to mail firms. This is when the focus shifts from 2L SA offers / OCI to 3L hiring. Some caution against mailing firms earlier than August, as it could potentially affect the offer at your 2L SA firm if word gets back that you're looking to move (the legal profession is small and tight knit, you know). It is up to you whether you mail before you receive an offer from your 2L SA firm.
Frankly, I don't think the early bird gets the worm on this one -- the worm doesn't even come out until mid August. Most of the action with screeners, callbacks, etc. happens in late August / early September and can extend into October. After that, it is completely unpredictable.
Hopefully there are many worms this year. Good luck!
To summarize my findings, 3L OCI is a joke. Very few firms are looking for 3Ls during OCI; instead, firms use OCI to hire 2Ls almost exclusively. 3L hires are typically used to fill in gaps as the dust from 2L and SA hiring settles. 3L positions are need-based and often tied to specific practice groups.
3Ls looking to switch firms should utilize a predominantly mass-mail approach. With only a few exceptions, 3L hiring happens after summer programs are over, i.e., when firms can better gauge how many SAs have accepted offers and how many slots remain unfilled. Those open slots, plus specific practice group needs, are where 3Ls are hired.
I have been told that mid to late August is the prime time to mail firms. This is when the focus shifts from 2L SA offers / OCI to 3L hiring. Some caution against mailing firms earlier than August, as it could potentially affect the offer at your 2L SA firm if word gets back that you're looking to move (the legal profession is small and tight knit, you know). It is up to you whether you mail before you receive an offer from your 2L SA firm.
Frankly, I don't think the early bird gets the worm on this one -- the worm doesn't even come out until mid August. Most of the action with screeners, callbacks, etc. happens in late August / early September and can extend into October. After that, it is completely unpredictable.
Hopefully there are many worms this year. Good luck!
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biglaw_advice
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Re: 3L OCI after 2L SA
Agree with the above poster. For one anecdote, I'm a midlevel now at a V100 firm and was in the same boat as you. I liked my summer experience and had a good sense I would be happy staying at the firm (flash forward 5 years and I am, in fact, very happy at the same firm).
That said, I tried my hand at 3L OCI - which was not fruitful - and also mass mailing a bunch of NYC firms with large classes in the August/September frame. My thinking was that their incoming first year classes were being formed and I could try to fill in the spot of a summer who either turned down an offer, got no offered, moved offices, etc.
It didn't work out - I was rejected from every firm I applied to as a 3L. Not a surprising outcome but thought I could potentially snag at least an interview. I still think it was worth the effort of trying, if only to explore all of your options and see if any firms would bite. Looking back, I don't know what it would have been like at any other firm but I'm happy I stayed put and built off the relationships I made as a summer associate.
I still think it's worth it to reach out to alums of your school at firms where you could "trade up" - here's some tips I wrote (that helped me) on how to go about that process: https://biglawadvice.com/2018/10/09/sam ... for-alums/
edit: accidental anon, this is biglaw_advice
That said, I tried my hand at 3L OCI - which was not fruitful - and also mass mailing a bunch of NYC firms with large classes in the August/September frame. My thinking was that their incoming first year classes were being formed and I could try to fill in the spot of a summer who either turned down an offer, got no offered, moved offices, etc.
It didn't work out - I was rejected from every firm I applied to as a 3L. Not a surprising outcome but thought I could potentially snag at least an interview. I still think it was worth the effort of trying, if only to explore all of your options and see if any firms would bite. Looking back, I don't know what it would have been like at any other firm but I'm happy I stayed put and built off the relationships I made as a summer associate.
I still think it's worth it to reach out to alums of your school at firms where you could "trade up" - here's some tips I wrote (that helped me) on how to go about that process: https://biglawadvice.com/2018/10/09/sam ... for-alums/
edit: accidental anon, this is biglaw_advice
Last edited by QContinuum on Fri Jun 28, 2019 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: De-anoned at poster's request.
Reason: De-anoned at poster's request.
