How to address no offer Forum

[Anonymous User]

I didn't get a return offer from my 2L SA due to a combined reason of work product and very slow group. Was directly told that SA firm has a neutral reference policy ("we won't tell your future employer whether you received an offer or not"). I recently had a screener interview with biglaw in a different market and wasn't asked about offer status. Just got a callback invitation from the same firm. If my cb interviewers also do not ask about whether I got a permanent offer, I don't need to bring it up, right? Would they call my summer firm to verify in any way? If I were asked, what would be the best way to address it? Thanks very much.

[GettingToMeh]

Idk what to say about the rest except if the question is directly asked, it's probably best not to lie about it. They will almost definitely call your firm, and you never know if someone will, knowingly or unknowingly, reveal your offer status.

I have heard of no-offered folks being candid and receiving offers, with attorneys mentioning that their honesty was appreciated. Of course, not every firm thinks this way, but what can you do at this point anyway but lie, with no one to confirm what you're saying, which is likely riskier? I do think it's a good sign that they didn't ask you about your offer status in the screener, which is usually one of the main purposes of those things in the 3L hiring process. It seems to me that if they were one of those "no offer or bust" firms, they would've asked.

Just my two cents, of course. YMMV.

[notinbiglaw]

If asked, I would just say, as you did in OP, that group was very slow and they had to no offer some people.

[bbsexclusively]

Do not lie about it. You could jeopardize your whole legal career.

[whats an updog]

if someone crazy asks "were you given an offer" then don't lie as an answer, but no ones going to ask that directly - i think it's fine to have a story about why you're not going back that doesn't involve you getting a no offer. for example, "it wasn't a good fit for me" or something

[Anonymous User]

if someone crazy asks "were you given an offer" then don't lie as an answer, but no ones going to ask that directly - i think it's fine to have a story about why you're not going back that doesn't involve you getting a no offer. for example, "it wasn't a good fit for me" or something

I was explicitly asked if I received an offer in 4 separate screeners this 3L recruiting season, and then asked again at one of my callbacks by 2 separate people. So people do ask. I can confirm that it is an awkward question to be on the receiving end of, especially since I was in a unique situation where I hadn't been offered or no-offered when I was interviewing for other jobs because I was at a smaller firm who doesn't offer until well into fall. It's a different situation, but if it helps OP I actually received an offer from a large firm prior to even hearing back from my summer firm, and that firm did not ask about whether I had an offer at the callback stage.

[Anonymous User]

if someone crazy asks "were you given an offer" then don't lie as an answer, but no ones going to ask that directly - i think it's fine to have a story about why you're not going back that doesn't involve you getting a no offer. for example, "it wasn't a good fit for me" or something

Wholly disagree. I tried my hand at 3L hiring this year. I was asked if I had received an offer point blank in a large percentage of my interviews and in a roundabout way in almost every other interview. This is going to come up and probably in a way that doesn't really give you a good shot at spinning it.