Reaches/Targets/Safeties - T20 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Looking at the firm application process similar to the law school application process - which firms should I be targeting as my reaches, my targets and my safeties. I really have no idea what the currency of my GPA is.

I'm interested in the NYC or Chicago markets but open to midwest secondary markets (STL/MKE/Minneapolis) if it increases my chances of being employed next summer/after graduation

Statwise: I have a ~3.9 at WashU and am just outside the top 5% of my class but outside of my academic honors I am not involved in anything at the school. Recommendations?

[Anonymous User]

I had a similar GPA from a similar school. You have a shot literally everywhere (except Wachtell) for NYC or Chicago.

You’d also have a decent shot with various lit boutiques in these major markets if you like lit, but line up your clerkship(s) ASAP.

There’s no need for you to even dip into secondary markets you don’t like, which honestly are sometimes harder to land than generic NYC based on SA class sizes.

If you want to increase your chances of employment in these markets, apply everywhere you’re interested in right now via the pre-OCI process (go see the recent separate thread that is pretty instructive and active) before you start OCI.

[Anonymous User]

I had a similar GPA from a similar school. You have a shot literally everywhere (except Wachtell) for NYC or Chicago.

You’d also have a decent shot with various lit boutiques in these major markets if you like lit, but line up your clerkship(s) ASAP.

There’s no need for you to even dip into secondary markets you don’t like, which honestly are sometimes harder to land than generic NYC based on SA class sizes.

If you want to increase your chances of employment in these markets, apply everywhere you’re interested in right now via the pre-OCI process (go see the recent separate thread that is pretty instructive and active) before you start OCI.

I was a little self indulgent and sent an app out to Wachtell and am expecting them to delete it without even giving me a rejection email (verdict is out on whether or not they will laugh while deleting it). That's super reassuring to hear!! I know it sounds dumb but after a year of hearing the whole "apply broadly, people strike out all the time" rhetoric from career services and on various forums - I'm still terrified that I will manage to do just that, despite any grades I have.

I skew corporate side work but I do not want to completely close off the lit pathway and am starting to talk to profs I have relationships with about the clerkship process - I feel like that is a pretty expedited process, especially for CoA or non-flyover state DCs (which I don't know how obtainable those even are from WashU)

I've been doing pre-OCI but have only gotten a single hit so far (albeit just sent out my applications like Thursday, since grades didnt come out until the 16th) so I was a little worried about whether firms would actually be taking me seriously as a pre-OCI candidate.

[Anonymous User]

Hearing back at all during pre-OCI is a feat - especially that early. Congrats and keep applying.

If you’re leaning corporate but might like lit, then you could always play it safe and take an offer from a V10 that has equally respectable lit and corp departments. I’d be a little shocked if you didn’t land even just one offer in that range unless you’re a terrible interviewer.

I’m no expert on clerkships, but the “apply broadly” advice is the same for this if not even more so. I’d just use any connections your school/professors/deans have to fed clerkships. You probably have the strongest shot at judges regional to your T20 school, but should apply to any/all you’d be willing to go to in the country.

[Anonymous User]

Hearing back at all during pre-OCI is a feat - especially that early. Congrats and keep applying.

If you’re leaning corporate but might like lit, then you could always play it safe and take an offer from a V10 that has equally respectable lit and corp departments. I’d be a little shocked if you didn’t land even just one offer in that range unless you’re a terrible interviewer.

I’m no expert on clerkships, but the “apply broadly” advice is the same for this if not even more so. I’d just use any connections your school/professors/deans have to fed clerkships. You probably have the strongest shot at judges regional to your T20 school, but should apply to any/all you’d be willing to go to in the country.

I will keep on grinding out the apps - the goal is to have the v20 + major nyc/chicago firms done by this weekend and then go from there. any recommendation on how expansive my pre-OCI application should be?

I like to think I'm a pretty normal person but to be honest, outside these academic accomplishments, I have a super average life with super average work experience, which i worry might kinda cut against me at the v10's of the world. ah well, that's outside my control now.

that's good advice on the connections/regionality! I'll hurry up that process.

[Anonymous User]

I was careful and applied to most of the V100 in NYC because, again, you can’t bank on an offer anywhere but this is the most likely market to get one. Prioritize all the firms with medium to big classes. That’s why you should certainly apply to the V10 because, while some of them may seem more prestigious, these are also the firms who hire lots of SAs. You don’t really need anything special beyond grades and interviewing skills to land these generic big law jobs - it’s not like applying to YLS or a more selective boutique or something. I’m sure some WE of any kind to differentiate from being a K-JD would be a slight plus, but that’s from any school though.

If you don’t have a lot of time/energy to blanket so many firms, take a look at the NALP website’s data on firms and just avoid the V100 firms that have small classes. These are usually the NYC satellite offices of V50-100 firms. You’d think they’re “easier” to land because they’re lower-ranked, but that’s not how it works. They fill up with T14 students easily and the chances of getting pulled out of the mass-mail pile are super slim.

That’s all advice for NYC. I would do the same for Chicago and mention any ties because it’s more selective than NYC. Don’t bank on this market alone.

[namefromplace]

Hearing back at all during pre-OCI is a feat - especially that early. Congrats and keep applying.

If you’re leaning corporate but might like lit, then you could always play it safe and take an offer from a V10 that has equally respectable lit and corp departments. I’d be a little shocked if you didn’t land even just one offer in that range unless you’re a terrible interviewer.

I’m no expert on clerkships, but the “apply broadly” advice is the same for this if not even more so. I’d just use any connections your school/professors/deans have to fed clerkships. You probably have the strongest shot at judges regional to your T20 school, but should apply to any/all you’d be willing to go to in the country.

I will keep on grinding out the apps - the goal is to have the v20 + major nyc/chicago firms done by this weekend and then go from there. any recommendation on how expansive my pre-OCI application should be?

I like to think I'm a pretty normal person but to be honest, outside these academic accomplishments, I have a super average life with super average work experience, which i worry might kinda cut against me at the v10's of the world. ah well, that's outside my control now.

that's good advice on the connections/regionality! I'll hurry up that process.

I recommend applying to pretty much the whole V100 for pre-OCI. OCI is a lot less stressful if you already have an offer in hand, and whatever interviews you do get can be good practice for if your target firms decide to only interview you come OCI. A cookie cutter cover letter (I had slightly different ones for different regions) should suffice.

Don't worry about your lack of pre-law school experience. I know K-JDs with markedly worse stats than you at V10s.