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Any other way to Big Law besides OCI?
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:46 pm
by Anonymous User
I'm at a T30 with mediocre/low Big Law numbers (20-30% at best). Our medians are good for a school outside the T20 and students here are smart. I'm currently around median. Is there any way for me to get Big Law if I don't move up to the top 20-25% by the end of 1L? Are there any other routes, or any specialties that can give you a way into Big Law? Or is it pretty much down to me having to do really well this semester? I know I should've retaken and reapplied but I needed to get going with my career.
Re: Any other way to Big Law besides OCI?
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:57 pm
by hdr
Assuming you can't land a clerkship that would make you competitive, the best way is probably to begin your career at a government agency that law firms poach from, like the FTC, and move after 2-4 years. But entry-level government jobs aren't easy to get either.
Re: Any other way to Big Law besides OCI?
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:17 pm
by Anonymous User
I ended up with my biglaw offer outside of OCI channels. I wrote networking emails to alums of my law school at the firms I was interested in. I would try and set up informational calls to learn more about the firm and their practice. If we got on well and had a good conversation, I would thank them after the fact and see if perhaps they could give HR a nudge on my resume. And any time a partner said they would do so, I would end up with an interview (usually straight to a callback-style interview, rather than any screener). And two of those backdoor interviews ended up turning into offers. So there are definitely ways to still get biglaw offers that aren't necessarily through OCI.
Re: Any other way to Big Law besides OCI?
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:47 pm
by Anonymous User
Get to a reputable midsize firm as a 2L and then try your hand at 3L OCI. If that doesn't work, your best bet will be post-clerkship hiring (if you're even interested in a clerkship). Biglaw does do lateral hiring from government/smaller firms, but its pretty rare and happens more often with niche practice groups.
Re: Any other way to Big Law besides OCI?
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 12:17 am
by RedGiant
One other protip: some firms don't get it together for OCI and hire late. A number of my classmates interviewed Fall of 2L, and a few in Spring of 2L, for positions.
I was pretty middling 1L year (but with a lot of work experience, as I went to law school older). I thought long and hard about what my test-taking strengths were and how to project my interest via signaling (class selection) and I came in top 5% of my class in 2L, by picking classes and test formats that I knew I'd rock at. You just need to devise a plan.
Also cosign that a lot of the smart but didn't knock-it-outta-the-park grade-wise classmates who went to midlaw were well trained, moved up to biglaw and really shined in the biglaw environment because they had worked for it.
There is a way. It might not be right after school, but keep an eye out on OCI postings, obviously network (including contacting school alums for information interviews) and most importantly--this is non-negotiable--get your grades up in Spring 1L and Fall 2L. You must signal that you have the intellectual horsepower. GL!
Re: Any other way to Big Law besides OCI?
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:41 pm
by jnewsham
RedGiant wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 12:17 am
One other protip: some firms don't get it together for OCI and hire late. A number of my classmates interviewed Fall of 2L, and a few in Spring of 2L, for positions.
I was pretty middling 1L year (but with a lot of work experience, as I went to law school older). I thought long and hard about what my test-taking strengths were and how to project my interest via signaling (class selection) and I came in top 5% of my class in 2L, by picking classes and test formats that I knew I'd rock at. You just need to devise a plan.
Also cosign that a lot of the smart but didn't knock-it-outta-the-park grade-wise classmates who went to midlaw were well trained, moved up to biglaw and really shined in the biglaw environment because they had worked for it.
There is a way. It might not be right after school, but keep an eye out on OCI postings, obviously network (including contacting school alums for information interviews) and most importantly--this is non-negotiable--get your grades up in Spring 1L and Fall 2L. You must signal that you have the intellectual horsepower. GL!
Hi RedGiant. Any chance you can message me? I'm a journalist, occasional TLS lurker, and I have a question about a post from a couple years back. Not sure how DMing or reply notifications work on this site, so I hope you'll see this.