Do Partner connections help while hiring? Forum

[lawlover829]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

[Anonymous User]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

When I was asking around at a V10 firm about helping a friend get hired, they said that getting recommended by a partner with pull could get someone an interview if they missed out on OCI. Said friend didn't need it and got to the interviews through OCI. I'm not sure how much it would help beyond that, as most top firms have GPA cutoffs.

[Anonymous User]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

When I was asking around at a V10 firm about helping a friend get hired, they said that getting recommended by a partner with pull could get someone an interview if they missed out on OCI. Said friend didn't need it and got to the interviews through OCI. I'm not sure how much it would help beyond that, as most top firms have GPA cutoffs.

Thanks for the info That's what I was wondering.

[lawlover829]

Ooops the abov one was me.

[BradyToMoss]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

If you're trying to get a job as a 1L SA at any firm this year, you will need a lot more than a good word from a partner.

[lawlover829]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

If you're trying to get a job as a 1L SA at any firm this year, you will need a lot more than a good word from a partner.

Well this is assuming if I get good grades next year (I'm a 0L) This firm still has an OCI of the school I'm going to attend next year.

[Matthies]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

yes

[steve_nash]

.

[Anonymous User]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

yes

Look, I know your feelings on networking, but in my personal experience I honestly think that in Biglaw it doesn't help nearly as much as you say. I THOUGHT it was helping because I was getting a lot of callbacks at the firms where my connections were best (and conversely, most of my callbacks were at the places where I had a connection). But I've gone 0/6 on offers, and my callbacks have gone fine as far as I can tell. And I still didn't get callbacks at places where I was obviously below their grades standards. I'd rather not go into who or what my connection to these places was, but suffice it to say that I was going in "well recommended."

[Matthies]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

yes

Look, I know your feelings on networking, but in my personal experience I honestly think that in Biglaw it doesn't help nearly as much as you say. I THOUGHT it was helping because I was getting a lot of callbacks at the firms where my connections were best (and conversely, most of my callbacks were at the places where I had a connection). But I've gone 0/6 on offers, and my callbacks have gone fine as far as I can tell. And I still didn't get callbacks at places where I was obviously below their grades standards. I'd rather not go into who or what my connection to these places was, but suffice it to say that I was going in "well recommended."

You need to avoid being the position you were in, going through a committee with a recoemndation. I worked in biglaw as a clerk, not as a summer SA, but was hired directly on by the partner I worked under, no hiring committee, he told them to hire me and they did. Simply putting in a good word for you does nothing much more than that. You need to find people who have the power to bring you in themselves. Equity partners, managing partners, named partners, department heads, those are the folks that have power to bring you in outside SA and the ones you need to cultivate relationships with.

PS I hope something comes through for you

[lawlover829]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

yes

Look, I know your feelings on networking, but in my personal experience I honestly think that in Biglaw it doesn't help nearly as much as you say. I THOUGHT it was helping because I was getting a lot of callbacks at the firms where my connections were best (and conversely, most of my callbacks were at the places where I had a connection). But I've gone 0/6 on offers, and my callbacks have gone fine as far as I can tell. And I still didn't get callbacks at places where I was obviously below their grades standards. I'd rather not go into who or what my connection to these places was, but suffice it to say that I was going in "well recommended."

You need to avoid being the position you were in, going through a committee with a recoemndation. I worked in biglaw as a clerk, not as a summer SA, but was hired directly on by the partner I worked under, no hiring committee, he told them to hire me and they did. Simply putting in a good word for you does nothing much more than that. You need to find people who have the power to bring you in themselves. Equity partners, managing partners, named partners, department heads, those are the folks that have power to bring you in outside SA and the ones you need to cultivate relationships with.

PS I hope something comes through for you

Well, this guy has been a partner at the firm for like 15-20 years... but I guess it's like recs. Thanks for all your help

[Georgiana]

So, one of my best friends Dad's is a partner at a V10 firm in DC (I have known the family since I was 5). This firm is really selective when it comes to hiring. But this partner has "offered to put a good word in for me" when it comes applying for a job as a summer 1L. Would this help me a lot during hiring? Or is it sort of like rec letters... (with little or no value) to your law school apps?

If you're trying to get a job as a 1L SA at any firm this year, you will need a lot more than a good word from a partner.

Well this is assuming if I get good grades next year (I'm a 0L) This firm still has an OCI of the school I'm going to attend next year.

Regardless of whether you get good grades & a good word, I don't think the V10 firm (I'm guessing it is Covington based on the fact that it's "really selective") is going to give you a job as a 1L, in this economy, unless you're extraordinary. The idea of a 1L summer associateship is quaintly 2007.

+1

There are SO many well qualified 2Ls scrambling for SA gigs, I doubt firms (esp. V10 ones) will be looking to take on 1Ls this summer.

[ChattelCat]

The idea of a 1L summer associateship is quaintly 2007.

I think this about sums it up.