Page 1 of 1

Question About OCI/Transferring

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:40 am
by lavenderpenguin
So I was accepted a few weeks ago to my second choice school, put in my deposit, and made my OCI bids.

Now here's the thing: I just got accepted to my first choice but what is the correct way to handle the OCI process? The bidding deadline has already passed for my first choice and what happens if I get interviews through the OCI process at my second choice?

Do I just mass-mail all the firms I previously bid for at the second choice OCI? What do I do?

Re: Question About OCI/Transferring

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:00 am
by Nebby
lavenderpenguin wrote:So I was accepted a few weeks ago to my second choice school, put in my deposit, and made my OCI bids.

Now here's the thing: I just got accepted to my first choice but what is the correct way to handle the OCI process? The bidding deadline has already passed for my first choice and what happens if I get interviews through the OCI process at my second choice?

Do I just mass-mail all the firms I previously bid for at the second choice OCI? What do I do?
Are you sure the bidding deadline has passed? Did you contact your first choice's OCS to ask about transfer OCI yet?

Re: Question About OCI/Transferring

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:03 am
by Jchance
Regardless whether its first choice, transferring is not worth it if u already missed OCI's bidding deadline. Take the second choice unless u got no preselect.

Re: Question About OCI/Transferring

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:44 am
by lavenderpenguin
Jchance wrote:Regardless whether its first choice, transferring is not worth it if u already missed OCI's bidding deadline. Take the second choice unless u got no preselect.
This might be a stupid question, but it seems like it's well-accepted wisdom around here that if you miss OCI, there's no point in transferring. Why is that?

Obviously, OCI is a big deal but I always thought it was about 2L summer employment that could potentially lead to a job after graduation. But what if you get a cold offer or dislike the firm? I'd imagine that having a more prestigious law school on your resume would still open doors for other employment opportunities after graduation and after your first job?

Re: Question About OCI/Transferring

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:51 am
by FSK
lavenderpenguin wrote:
Jchance wrote:Regardless whether its first choice, transferring is not worth it if u already missed OCI's bidding deadline. Take the second choice unless u got no preselect.
This might be a stupid question, but it seems like it's well-accepted wisdom around here that if you miss OCI, there's no point in transferring. Why is that?

Obviously, OCI is a big deal but I always thought it was about 2L summer employment that could potentially lead to a job after graduation. But what if you get a cold offer or dislike the firm? I'd imagine that having a more prestigious law school on your resume would still open doors for other employment opportunities after graduation and after your first job?
People here generally transfer to T14 schools to try to get BigLaw. That is done 99% through OCI.

Re: Question About OCI/Transferring

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:55 am
by iliketurtles123
lavenderpenguin wrote:
Jchance wrote:Regardless whether its first choice, transferring is not worth it if u already missed OCI's bidding deadline. Take the second choice unless u got no preselect.
This might be a stupid question, but it seems like it's well-accepted wisdom around here that if you miss OCI, there's no point in transferring. Why is that?

Obviously, OCI is a big deal but I always thought it was about 2L summer employment that could potentially lead to a job after graduation. But what if you get a cold offer or dislike the firm? I'd imagine that having a more prestigious law school on your resume would still open doors for other employment opportunities after graduation and after your first job?
Because employers (biglaw) primarily rely on OCI and summer hiring to fill their needs. Outside that, you can mass mail hundreds of firms but probably will get very few interviews. If this is during your 2L year, then sure, you have a "good shot" ("Good" compared to 3L year). However, compare these two: One misses OCI but gets 3-4 interviews after mailing hundreds of firms ... the other got 3-4 interviews with mailing AND 20+ interviews from OCI.

If you get cold offered or dislike the firm, it's going to be difficult finding something during 3L year but may be easier than if you didn't have a 2L summer since you already have an offer. Most 3L offers go to those who already had an offer.

Your biggest asset in terms of opening doors later down the road is your first job. The best first job for most people is biglaw (this is where your law school name matters). The best way to get biglaw is through OCI.

You miss the first boat, you miss the rest

Re: Question About OCI/Transferring

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 12:18 pm
by lavenderpenguin
iliketurtles123 wrote:
lavenderpenguin wrote:
Jchance wrote:Regardless whether its first choice, transferring is not worth it if u already missed OCI's bidding deadline. Take the second choice unless u got no preselect.
This might be a stupid question, but it seems like it's well-accepted wisdom around here that if you miss OCI, there's no point in transferring. Why is that?

Obviously, OCI is a big deal but I always thought it was about 2L summer employment that could potentially lead to a job after graduation. But what if you get a cold offer or dislike the firm? I'd imagine that having a more prestigious law school on your resume would still open doors for other employment opportunities after graduation and after your first job?
Because employers (biglaw) primarily rely on OCI and summer hiring to fill their needs. Outside that, you can mass mail hundreds of firms but probably will get very few interviews. If this is during your 2L year, then sure, you have a "good shot" ("Good" compared to 3L year). However, compare these two: One misses OCI but gets 3-4 interviews after mailing hundreds of firms ... the other got 3-4 interviews with mailing AND 20+ interviews from OCI.

If you get cold offered or dislike the firm, it's going to be difficult finding something during 3L year but may be easier than if you didn't have a 2L summer since you already have an offer. Most 3L offers go to those who already had an offer.

Your biggest asset in terms of opening doors later down the road is your first job. The best first job for most people is biglaw (this is where your law school name matters). The best way to get biglaw is through OCI.

You miss the first boat, you miss the rest
Does this matter outside of biglaw? I'm more interested in working for the federal government, so not sure how that would work?