Attending 3L OCI after accepting offer Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all. I summered at a V20ish firm in NYC this past summer, and was extended and accepted a return offer! For a variety of reasons, mainly because of practice group preferences, I would like to re-recruit during OCI.

My question: 1. Is reneging on my offer doable? What will be the repercussions? 2. If I do in fact interview, what do I say when asked if I got an offer from/accepted the firm I summered at? Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous User]

Yes, you can renege on your offer. You'll be permanently burning that bridge, but it is what it is. If you go through 3L OCI, definitely let firms know that you received an offer—you don't need to go into any more details than that. The main red flag firms look out for during 3L OCI is summers who were no-offered.

[LawrenceGazebo]

Hi all. I summered at a V20ish firm in NYC this past summer, and was extended and accepted a return offer! For a variety of reasons, mainly because of practice group preferences, I would like to re-recruit during OCI.

My question: 1. Is reneging on my offer doable? What will be the repercussions? 2. If I do in fact interview, what do I say when asked if I got an offer from/accepted the firm I summered at? Thank you in advance!

It is very normal to do OCI with an offer from another firm in hand (plenty of 1Ls do it every year). And be sure to make it clear you received an offer from the firm on your resume, but you'd "be remiss to not explore other options" or you'd "thought it important to meet other firms and get as much of an understanding of potential paths" or some generic stuff like that. I'd avoid anything negative about your offer firm, but think saying you're considering other firms based on practice group considerations seems fine.

[Anonymous User]

Ummmm...see your school's student handbook. I ran this exact question by Carer svcs at T6. Hard no. Frowned upon. But of course they'd say that b/c employed at form x vs z doesn't matter to school. I know people who did this, but apparently not a great look. Best to do before accepting.

[Definitely Not North]

Ummmm...see your school's student handbook. I ran this exact question by Carer svcs at T6. Hard no. Frowned upon. But of course they'd say that b/c employed at form x vs z doesn't matter to school. I know people who did this, but apparently not a great look. Best to do before accepting.

No. Career services does not care about what's best for you, they are just looking out for their long term relationships with employers in discouraging these kinds of moves. Highly unlikely that this is something formally prohibited in some student code. OP should do whatever is best for them

[LawrenceGazebo]

Ummmm...see your school's student handbook. I ran this exact question by Carer svcs at T6. Hard no. Frowned upon. But of course they'd say that b/c employed at form x vs z doesn't matter to school. I know people who did this, but apparently not a great look. Best to do before accepting.

Bad advice. Also cool anon abuse.

Career services only cares about the firms coming back to interview next year, not that any individual student gets the best outcome for them. OP, interview where you want, when you want, and don't ask career services about it.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you all for your responses. Should I worry about being asked directly "did you accept the offer"? If yes, how should I respond to this question?

[Definitely Not North]

Thank you all for your responses. Should I worry about being asked directly "did you accept the offer"? If yes, how should I respond to this question?

I doubt you'll get asked that, but if you do just answer honestly.

[Buglaw]

Thank you all for your responses. Should I worry about being asked directly "did you accept the offer"? If yes, how should I respond to this question?

I've interviewed plenty of 3Ls who have gotten offers. I didn't really care if they accepted at their prior firm and never asked. Your reasons for wanting to move to a different firm are the exact reasons I want to hear. I mean, if you didn't get the practice group you wanted, you should of course look for other firms. It doesn't get easier to move practice groups as you get more senior. If your firm wanted to keep you they should have given you your desired practice area.

That being said, don't lie. If anyone asks, say you accepted because you would be happy to work there, but are really looking to do [___] practice area but weren't able to get a spot because [they have way too many first years this year there, rainmaker recently left, the firm doesn't do that much of that work, something else that sounds good and like you weren't rejected by that desirable practice group] and that's why you are interviewing at 3L OCI