Mass-mailing firms with several weeks left in my SA? Forum

[Anonymous User]

HLS, current 2L SA at a V15 biglaw firm in a major market, general corporate. I was a 1L SA (non-diversity) at this same firm and actually skipped out on 2L EIP because I loved my experience/had a (nonlegal) job for the second part of my summer across the country and wanted to avoid flying back to school for EIP.

I still love my firm, but my significant other isn't thrilled about moving with me to this market next year. He committed to doing so last year when I decided to skip EIP, but I can tell the thought's been making him more and more miserable as the date looms closer. He's pretty well-established in his current city and loves his job, friends, apartment, etc. He's also suffered some moving-related bouts of depression in the past few years and is worried about how this move will affect his mental health.

I happen to love the city he's in (SoCal) and have spent the past three summers there doing said nonlegal work, so I can claim some ties to the market. I'll be there after my SA later this summer, too. I was thinking about making a last-ditch effort at SoCal firms through mass-mailing and seeing if I can line up interviews/CBs for when I'm in the area in August. I'm just not sure whether it's appropriate to start emailing now, during my SA (and without an offer in hand yet). Also, would flying out for 3L EIP even be worth it? Or is 3L hiring mostly done outside of that?

Would also appreciate any insight on chances in SoCal, since I know it's a fairly competitive market and probably exponentially more so for 3Ls. My grades have a pretty strong upward trend--all Ps 1L year and almost all Hs 2L year, so probably a little under 3.5.

[QContinuum]

I'm just not sure whether it's appropriate to start emailing now, during my SA (and without an offer in hand yet).

Yes, by all means start now. Of course, don't let on to (anyone at) your current firm, and definitely don't take your foot off the gas pedal at your SA until you snag that permanent offer.

Also, would flying out for 3L EIP even be worth it? Or is 3L hiring mostly done outside of that?

Well, it depends. Are any SoCal offices hiring at 3L OCI? Your Career Services office should have a list of offices/firms recruiting 3Ls. If no SoCal offices of interest are coming to 3L OCI (which is entirely possible), then obviously don't bother.

Would also appreciate any insight on chances in SoCal, since I know it's a fairly competitive market and probably exponentially more so for 3Ls. My grades have a pretty strong upward trend--all Ps 1L year and almost all Hs 2L year, so probably a little under 3.5.

Your grades and 2L SA position you about as well as you could possibly hope to be positioned for the very tough 3L OCI market. I wouldn't worry about grades holding you back at all.