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Hi everyone! Rising 3L at T14, 3.88GPA. I transferred in a little late last year and I missed OCI as a result. I did not get any biglaw offer for the summer. I am trying again this cycle because I really want to work in biglaw. I am targeting either the New York or DC markets for both litigation and corporate. But I have a special interest in an antitrust as well.

So far what I’ve done is email recruiting contacts for each firm as well as a handful of partners asking to meet and seeking 3L opportunities. Most of the partners with whom I’ve met have shared that the firm is not looking for any 3Ls.

I’m curious if anyone has any advice about what firms are the best ones to target they have a history of taking 3L students and any other advice about how to approach this process. I feel very lost and unconfident that I will be able to find anything. And if anyone knows specific firms that are currently looking for anyone, please also let me know.

Private credit is hot right now, and I wouldn't be shocked if it stays this way for a while. I believe restructuring (RX) is also pretty busy. And if litigation, then Quinn Emanuel NY often interviews candidates during 3L OCI. Anecdotally, I know people who interviewed at Paul, Weiss, Williams & Connolly, and a few other firms during 3L OCI. It's largely not structured and requires networking/cold emailing, but your GPA helps.

(btw this is anon whom you weren't able to DM).

3L recruiting is based on need, and firms like to target first people who summered elsewhere. The need is because not enough people opted into a specific group (somehow almost always finance or restructuring), because too many people turned down offers to go elsewhere (not likely this year), or sudden influx of work they desperately need bodies for (even less likely). So, your first step is to find where there's a need. Mass mailing is good, and there will be postings on the school job board periodically throughout 3L.

For which practice group, look at which postings are common and target that. Be open to different areas but have specific narratives more targeted than "litigation or corporate, or antitrust too".

If you manage to get an interview, you'll still be disadvantaged. Firms will prefer people who got a summer offer elsewhere. You'll have to have a narrative for why you struck out without being negative. "I was a transfer" is probably enough. You'll also need to talk about your 2L summer job, what did you do, how is it relevant to biglaw, did it lead to an offer and why not.

Good luck! It's going to be tough but it's not impossible. You have the stats to take advantage of any opportunity, if they pop up.

Oh also, if you haven't yet, you should be applying for clerkships.