Is it bad form to decline offers without talking to firm attorneys? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I lucked out through OCI and got several offers, and I am in the process of declining some of them. But some of the firm attorneys have reached out and even followed up offering to talk, set up second looks, etc. I am wondering whether it is rude to decline my offer without doing full second looks.

My choice is pretty obvious in some ways because of market/practice area considerations and my conversations with careers services. But I feel bad/guilty since some hiring partners have repeatedly reached out/followed up--it seems wrong to say that I do not have any questions and then almost immediately after decline my offer. Maybe like it signals I did not even give those firms a chance or something (when in fact I have not done second looks at any firm, including the one whose offer I plan to take).

Also, if particular partners have sent me several emails throughout my offer window, it seems like I should let them know I am declining (in addition to HR). Does that seem correct?

Is it crazy not to do second looks everywhere? Sorry--this whole process is confusing and I hate disappointing people.

[nixy]

It is not crazy to do second looks everywhere. It is crazy to make firms spend money and time on a second look when you know that you don’t want to work there.

It’s a business relationship, not a romantic relationship. You don’t have any obligation to give any firm a chance, and you don’t have to worry about trying to signal that it did. The job hunting process means you’re going to interview at places that are not your first choice and that’s totally okay. You’re not disappointing them in any way that isn’t baked into the OCI process.

[california12345]

send a very nice email that shows your thoughtfulness and appreciate for the offer and follow up calls. probably ok to not waste their time on the phone if you know you dont want to go there.

[nixy]

(Since I can’t edit, I’ll add that I forgot that it costs less money this year since everything is virtual. But it’s not necessary to take up anyone’s time unless you’re genuinely undecided.)

[Anonymous User]

You don’t owe them anything other than not lying to them. You will feel way, way worse about telling them no than they will hearing the news. They’ve made X offers trying to get Y acceptances. Odds are they will get more candidates telling them no than they will telling them yes. This is business; it’s not personal. Don’t dwell on it. Just be polite and professional and express your gratitude in the email telling them you’re going elsewhere.

[Ultramar vistas]

As someone who really gets into the hiring process and spends a lot of personal time talking to potential candidates, it definitely leaves a very slightly bad taste when I hear from the recruiting dept. that someone declined their offer a couple days ago but never sent me a text or email, despite taking them out to dinner or spending an hour talking them through their options.

I honestly don’t think anything beyond that is necessary, but I do think it’s polite - in all aspects of life, not just law firm recruiting - to briefly thank people who spent their time trying to help you.

It’s also a very small world - you may well want to lateral in a few years, or you may hate the summer job that you did choose, and people who like you and respect you will keep going to bat for you. Whereas if you ghost me, it leaves a less positive feeling.

Just my two cents!

[Anonymous User]

I honestly don’t think anything beyond that is necessary, but I do think it’s polite - in all aspects of life, not just law firm recruiting - to briefly thank people who spent their time trying to help you.

Thanks. In this case, no one took me out to dinner or spent an hour talking. I plan to email the partners who reached out to me to let them know. If you reached out to a candidate offering to talk or set them up with other people and they declined and then later turned the firm down, would you be offended as well?

[jsnow212]

I honestly don’t think anything beyond that is necessary, but I do think it’s polite - in all aspects of life, not just law firm recruiting - to briefly thank people who spent their time trying to help you.

Thanks. In this case, no one took me out to dinner or spent an hour talking. I plan to email the partners who reached out to me to let them know. If you reached out to a candidate offering to talk or set them up with other people and they declined and then later turned the firm down, would you be offended as well?

They send the same generic email offering to set-up extra convos to everyone they interview.

Unless you interacted with a person at the firm beyond an interview (such as pre-interview networking or post-interview conversations), it doesn't matter and the only people who you need to formally let know is the recruiter.