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2L summer in-house gig?
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 3:38 pm
by gottagetouttahere
Hi, I've received an offer to summer with the legal department of a company that would be a dream gig for me to work for later in my career. I have not been able to get them to answer with respect to post-grad hiring but, looking at the backgrounds of their legal dept, it doesn't appear to be too crazy of a possibility.
For context, I am a 2L at median at a T20, struck out on BL after ~6 callbacks before and during OCI, and have not had any success with midlaw hiring I think due to having waited too long to apply.
Would this be a disastrous decision compared to, say, a small or midsize firm? Would it preclude BL entirely as a 3L or later? I know I'm speaking in absolutes, but am really just looking for guidance.
Re: 2L summer in-house gig?
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 4:27 pm
by throwthis678
I mean, what kind of work do you expect to be doing in a small to mid sized firm that is still hiring right now? I say take the in-house gig and start coming to terms with the very likely possibility that you are never going to get a biglaw job. Try to do amazing and hope you can leverage that into an offer.
Re: 2L summer in-house gig?
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 4:38 pm
by mwells_56
gottagetouttahere wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 3:38 pm
Hi, I've received an offer to summer with the legal department of a company that would be a dream gig for me to work for later in my career. I have not been able to get them to answer with respect to post-grad hiring but, looking at the backgrounds of their legal dept, it doesn't appear to be too crazy of a possibility.
For context, I am a 2L at median at a T20, struck out on BL after ~6 callbacks before and during OCI, and have not had any success with midlaw hiring I think due to having waited too long to apply.
Would this be a disastrous decision compared to, say, a small or midsize firm? Would it preclude BL entirely as a 3L or later? I know I'm speaking in absolutes, but am really just looking for guidance.
If this is a particularly large three-letter company, PM me.
Re: 2L summer in-house gig?
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 5:07 pm
by Anonymous User
throwthis678 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 4:27 pm
I mean, what kind of work do you expect to be doing in a small to mid sized firm that is still hiring right now? I say take the in-house gig and start coming to terms with the very likely possibility that you are never going to get a biglaw job. Try to do amazing and hope you can leverage that into an offer.
I mean, who knows? It's a bit of a black box from my perspective. I am not wedded to biglaw (or the law in general) by any means, just looking to discuss.
edit: accidentally hit anon, this is OP
Re: 2L summer in-house gig?
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:16 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 5:07 pm
throwthis678 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 4:27 pm
I mean, what kind of work do you expect to be doing in a small to mid sized firm that is still hiring right now? I say take the in-house gig and start coming to terms with the very likely possibility that you are never going to get a biglaw job. Try to do amazing and hope you can leverage that into an offer.
I mean, who knows? It's a bit of a black box from my perspective. I am not wedded to biglaw (or the law in general) by any means, just looking to discuss.
edit: accidentally hit anon, this is OP
My guess is you would eventually hit a ceiling (assuming they do extend a post-grad offer). Conventional wisdom says that in-house rarely promotes from within as they much rather prefer firm experience. Obvisouly do well and see if they do give you an offer, but I would also keep looking at other midlaw/biglaw firms come 3L.
Re: 2L summer in-house gig?
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:50 pm
by gottagetouttahere
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:16 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 5:07 pm
throwthis678 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 4:27 pm
I mean, what kind of work do you expect to be doing in a small to mid sized firm that is still hiring right now? I say take the in-house gig and start coming to terms with the very likely possibility that you are never going to get a biglaw job. Try to do amazing and hope you can leverage that into an offer.
I mean, who knows? It's a bit of a black box from my perspective. I am not wedded to biglaw (or the law in general) by any means, just looking to discuss.
edit: accidentally hit anon, this is OP
My guess is you would eventually hit a ceiling (assuming they do extend a post-grad offer). Conventional wisdom says that in-house rarely promotes from within as they much rather prefer firm experience. Obvisouly do well and see if they do give you an offer, but I would also keep looking at other midlaw/biglaw firms come 3L.
That's my concern as well. I expect to do well-ish this semester and have some nice internships lined up so I'm hoping to improve my GPA in anticipation of 3L hiring. Unfortunately, getting the sort of quality transactional experience SAs would get is just so unlikely in a corporate role, I think. I'm expecting to mostly be doing real estate/development transactions and financing in the corporate position, whatever that means in-house.