Struck out at T14 - Unsure what to do Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hello all,

I am in the unfortunate position of having struck out at OCI at a T14 in Chicago. Needless to say, I am extremely stressed out. I have heard that a pretty significant portion of the 2L class is in this same precarious situation.

Here is my situation: I only bid on Chicago firms, and some firms from a secondary market I have ties to. I have zero interest in New York or anywhere outside of the Midwest. Out of 17 screeners, I only had one callback (from a V20), which ended with a ding. I have been dinged by all others, except for one that has still said nothing and two which have stated they are still recruiting after I followed up.

At this stage, what should I be doing? Everybody says to mass mail but most firms have it clear on their website that they are full. I am serious about wanting to work in biglaw.

[Anonymous User]

Hello all,

I am in the unfortunate position of having struck out at OCI at a T14 in Chicago. Needless to say, I am extremely stressed out. I have heard that a pretty significant portion of the 2L class is in this same precarious situation.

Here is my situation: I only bid on Chicago firms, and some firms from a secondary market I have ties to. I have zero interest in New York or anywhere outside of the Midwest. Out of 17 screeners, I only had one callback (from a V20), which ended with a ding. I have been dinged by all others, except for one that has still said nothing and two which have stated they are still recruiting after I followed up.

At this stage, what should I be doing? Everybody says to mass mail but most firms have it clear on their website that they are full. I am serious about wanting to work in biglaw.

Many of 1Ls at my school are in similar situation. Firms are generally hiring less people this year. Currently there's nothing else you can do except massmailing. Just don't give up yet. Try some mid-sized law firms in your 2L summer and prepare for 3L OCI.

[Wubbles]

I would mass mail any firm ranked on chambers in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, etc.

[Anonymous User]

In the same boat. Where do you find mid-size firms? I honestly don't care about the size of the firm, I just want to end up somewhere. This is awful/:

[wons]

If you were serious about working in biglaw, you would have more than zero interest in working in NY. It is like someone saying they are serious about working in movies but refuse to work in Los Angeles. The vast majority of the jobs and work are in NY. It is what it is. Mass mail every NY firm.

[notinbiglaw]

You need to mass mail everywhere. Chicago is a really tough market to crack with Chicago and Northwest taking up a lot of already relatively scarce (compared to NY, and even DC) spots available.

You HAVE to look at NYC, maybe some of the CA markets then aim to lateral. If you're truly desperate for biglaw and refuse to spend any time in any market you're not targeting, the first thing you need to do is convince yourself to spend a year in NY before trying to lateral/transfer.

[Anonymous User]

I been there, OP

you gotta just grind apps until something lands. you got this!

and you gotta accept NY as your likeliest landing spot. beggars can't be choosers. most important thing is getting your foot in the BL door.

[trebekismyhero]

Sorry OP, it does seem like firms in Chicago are cutting their class sizes this year. Just massmail everywhere in the midwest and NY. If you go to a big firm in NY, you can lateral to Chicago or another market in the midwest pretty quickly.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry OP, it does seem like firms in Chicago are cutting their class sizes this year. Just massmail everywhere in the midwest and NY. If you go to a big firm in NY, you can lateral to Chicago or another market in the midwest pretty quickly.

Are NY firms still hiring? How do I figure out which ones

[Anonymous User]

I think it's hard to tell which firms are still filling out their classes, so you have to just apply to all of them. There's nothing to lose from it. I've been mass-mailing NY firms since June and have yet to get an offer. Most of the firms I've applied to since August seem to have little interest in interviewing anyone new, but I've gotten some confirmation emails and responses from recruiting people that, based on the timing and text, definitely weren't automatic confirmations saying they will interview me in the coming weeks if they need. Doesn't mean they'll interview me, but it does point to them still not being full.

Also, if you're interested in litigation, I would suggest getting a solid federal government internship this summer then gunning for a good clerkship. That's my plan if nothing works with BigLaw.

[WaitersIsland]

Mass mail all the major markets, as well as any market that you have a conceivable tie to - for example, if you are from the Midwest, hit up every firm with more than 20 attorneys in Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, etc. It’s going to take a lot of time and effort on your part.

[notinbiglaw]

Why do you care to know who’s hiring? Just mass mail all of them.

And talk to professors. At GULC at least, some of the professors were pretty eager to help even students below median and a lot of kids placed well if they just put themselves out there. Almost everyone I knew without a job for 2L were too embarrassed to let people know they struck out until it’s like April. By then nobody can help you.

[Stackitup]

Hello all,

I am in the unfortunate position of having struck out at OCI at a T14 in Chicago. Needless to say, I am extremely stressed out. I have heard that a pretty significant portion of the 2L class is in this same precarious situation.

Here is my situation: I only bid on Chicago firms, and some firms from a secondary market I have ties to. I have zero interest in New York or anywhere outside of the Midwest. Out of 17 screeners, I only had one callback (from a V20), which ended with a ding. I have been dinged by all others, except for one that has still said nothing and two which have stated they are still recruiting after I followed up.

At this stage, what should I be doing? Everybody says to mass mail but most firms have it clear on their website that they are full. I am serious about wanting to work in biglaw.

i.e. Northwestern

[64Fl]

Hello all,

I am in the unfortunate position of having struck out at OCI at a T14 in Chicago. Needless to say, I am extremely stressed out. I have heard that a pretty significant portion of the 2L class is in this same precarious situation.

Here is my situation: I only bid on Chicago firms, and some firms from a secondary market I have ties to. I have zero interest in New York or anywhere outside of the Midwest. Out of 17 screeners, I only had one callback (from a V20), which ended with a ding. I have been dinged by all others, except for one that has still said nothing and two which have stated they are still recruiting after I followed up.

At this stage, what should I be doing? Everybody says to mass mail but most firms have it clear on their website that they are full. I am serious about wanting to work in biglaw.

i.e. Northwestern

Such a useful bump. I'm pretty sure everyone already figured that out.

Also, wow, such a brave use of anon.

As for OP, mass mail EVERYONE.