Top Law Schools

How hard would it be to get a job with Big Law or a private firm if you have to miss EIW? I am on the East Coast working during EIW at my new school on the West Coast. I've already spoken with my employer and taking time off to attend EIW is not permitted. Assuming that I don't want to burn a bridge and I would like a good LoR, how big of a setback is it to miss EIW? Can any past transfers discuss job hunting through mass emails or another technique?

Forgive me if this should be in a different thread, but I didn't notice the rules of the transfer forum banning the topic. Also, I am making a new post because this question probably concerns several other transfers.

If I were you, I would just burn the bridge with the summer employer. One of the main reasons for transferring is the expanded OCI opportunities. What an awful move by that employer to bar you from going to EIW, knowing how crucial it is for you. Thats a bridge worth burning.

Missing EIW is essentially a career-ending move. It is how the vast majority of people get BigLaw jobs.

More info on what school you're at, GPA/ranking, etc. would be helpful for your chances in general, but seriously missing EIW is one of the stupidest things you can do.

You're working for a terrible person, who at this point doesn't even deserve the consideration of you telling them what you're doing. Leave the job a couple of days before EIW and never look back

Is your employer going to give you a job? Are they someone you want to work for after graduation?

It's just shocking to me that an entity that employs law students would bar them from EIW. That's incredibly selfish. Do they have a good reason for it or is it just "policy?"

Transferred to Berkeley; former school was U Arizona; top 10%; gpa: 3.8.

I understand it's a big deal to miss EIW, but you really think that it would be worth losing my LoR with my current employer? I'm at a good position in DC, and wouldn't future employers want a letter of recommendation from my current boss? In that case, burning the bridge my be just as damning as missing EIW.

Unless your employer is a federal judge, and you are planning to be a litigator in this area, then you might consider bringing EIW again before burning the bridge. Otherwise, it is very unreasonable of the employer to not giving you time off for the EIW. I don't know any reasonable employer (whether it is a law firm, judge, or DA/PD office that would not understand the importance of EIW in this economy). I understand that your circumstances have changed during the summer, hence the dates for EIW probably changed as well. But this is not a unique situation. People transfer to better las schools and they need to make adjustments accordingly. Whatever you do, just be nice and professional about it. As long as you explain the situation and emphasize the importance of the EIW on your employment prospects, it is fine even if you have to burn the bridge. At the end of the day, your main job is to find a job. And unless your current employer is Wachtell and they provided you an offer to come back the next summer, I don't see any reason to skip the EIW. Trust me. It is difficult to get job through EIW, let alone rely on mass mailing.

lawman84 wrote:Is your employer going to give you a job? Are they someone you want to work for after graduation?

It's just shocking to me that an entity that employs law students would bar them from EIW. That's incredibly selfish. Do they have a good reason for it or is it just "policy?"

They will not give me a job. All I will say about my current job is that I'm on Capitol Hill, the job is somewhat prestigious, and burning a bridge might be detrimental.

Cerberaus wrote:Transferred to Berkeley; former school was U Arizona; top 10%; gpa: 3.8.

I understand it's a big deal to miss EIW, but you really think that it would be worth losing my LoR with my current employer? I'm at a good position in DC, and wouldn't future employers want a letter of recommendation from my current boss? In that case, burning the bridge my be just as damning as missing EIW.

Big Law rarely asks for LORs or bother to call them unless they are not sure if they want to give you an offer.

And if your current employer kind of hinted that you missing a few days will result in bad or no LOR, then shame on your employer. That being said, if the reason is an important assignment that you are responsible for, then try to finish up all your work before the time you need to leave.

Cerberaus wrote:Transferred to Berkeley; former school was U Arizona; top 10%; gpa: 3.8.

I understand it's a big deal to miss EIW, but you really think that it would be worth losing my LoR with my current employer? I'm at a good position in DC, and wouldn't future employers want a letter of recommendation from my current boss? In that case, burning the bridge my be just as damning as missing EIW.

Biglaw does not want recommendations. And burning a bridge from some 1L employer who is not offering you a job is not nearly as damning as missing EIW.

Run and never look back. It's absolutely ridiculous that they expect you to miss your EIW. Burn the bridge, get your job at EIW.

stronitsing wrote:

Cerberaus wrote:Transferred to Berkeley; former school was U Arizona; top 10%; gpa: 3.8.

I understand it's a big deal to miss EIW, but you really think that it would be worth losing my LoR with my current employer? I'm at a good position in DC, and wouldn't future employers want a letter of recommendation from my current boss? In that case, burning the bridge my be just as damning as missing EIW.

Biglaw does not want recommendations. And burning a bridge from some 1L employer who is not offering you a job is not nearly as damning as missing EIW.

Good to know. I thought they'd want a reference from your 1L employer.

Few law jobs ask for recommendations from your previous employer. The only one I can think of is a fed clerkship--my judge called some lawyers at my 2L summer firm and asked about me. But you could avoid that if you wanted to by just not listing your 1L job on your resume. I'd only do that if your boss gets really pissed and made clear the bridge is nuclear-obliterated though. If you don't get a letter, who cares--the line on your resume is all anyone's gonna read. If your boss is gonna seek out future employers and try to screw you, then he's complete scum. Very few people in the world are that obnoxious though.

I just wanted to thank everyone who's answered so far. Even if I choose to finish up my internship, you've all showed me how crucial EIW is. That means that I really have to step up my game if I want to find a job.

On a side note, it kind of shows how useless my 1L summer position is

Cerberaus wrote:I just wanted to thank everyone who's answered so far. Even if I choose to finish up my internship, you've all showed me how crucial EIW is. That means that I really have to step up my game if I want to find a job.

On a side note, it kind of shows how useless my 1L summer position is

When you asked, did you make it clear how important this is to you? It might be worth asking again and stressing the importance to finding a job in the future. Plus, maybe you can offer to work extra hours or days to make up for it.(I don't know what your current arrangement is)

Cerberaus wrote:I just wanted to thank everyone who's answered so far. Even if I choose to finish up my internship, you've all showed me how crucial EIW is. That means that I really have to step up my game if I want to find a job.

On a side note, it kind of shows how useless my 1L summer position is

Dude. Go. You may regret this decision for literally the rest of your life. But what do I know... you might get a great letter of rec! Go!

I second what everyone else already said. Do. Not. Miss. EIW.

Most 1L positions are useless. General rule of thumb is get paid + law related > something law related > everything else.

Read first post only: go to EIW. We cannot stress this enough. Don't be an idiot.

lol at a prestigious 1l summer job on the hill. lol at big law employers wanting to look at a LOR from a 1l summer employer.
OP, jesus christ.

I agree with everyone else that you should not miss EIW even if it burns a bridge.

However, I doubt it has to be that way. You could (a) tell the employer how much it really matters; or (b) get someone from Berkeley to call on your behalf. I bet if you ask CSO, they'd be able to get a prominent professor or maybe even the Dean to make a call on your behalf. If your employer is as "prestigious" as you say (I'm guessing a congressman/woman?), then there's even a chance someone from the law school knows him/her personally.

iamgeorgebush wrote:I agree with everyone else that you should not miss EIW even if it burns a bridge.

However, I doubt it has to be that way. You could (a) tell the employer how much it really matters; or (b) get someone from Berkeley to call on your behalf. I bet if you ask CSO, they'd be able to get a prominent professor or maybe even the Dean to make a call on your behalf. If your employer is as "prestigious" as you say (I'm guessing a congressman/woman?), then there's even a chance someone from the law school knows him/her personally.

Very helpful. I never thought of getting CSO to call on my behalf. Also, I'm not trying to inflate my current position or make it sound more important than it is. I'm just trying to convey that it's not some random attorney on the Hill I'd be pissing off.

Cerberaus wrote:

iamgeorgebush wrote:I agree with everyone else that you should not miss EIW even if it burns a bridge.

However, I doubt it has to be that way. You could (a) tell the employer how much it really matters; or (b) get someone from Berkeley to call on your behalf. I bet if you ask CSO, they'd be able to get a prominent professor or maybe even the Dean to make a call on your behalf. If your employer is as "prestigious" as you say (I'm guessing a congressman/woman?), then there's even a chance someone from the law school knows him/her personally.

Very helpful. I never thought of getting CSO to call on my behalf. Also, I'm not trying to inflate my current position or make it sound more important than it is. I'm just trying to convey that it's not some random attorney on the Hill I'd be pissing off.

Glad the advice helps.

Another thought: any lawyer worth his or her salt would understand the importance of OCI, which has been the way most students from top law schools get their first job as a lawyer for a pretty long time now. Is your boss not a lawyer or something? If not, you could try to get a lawyer whom your boss respects to explain this to him/her.

Cerberaus wrote: I'm on Capitol Hill, the job is somewhat prestigious

Been there. It's fun. It's cool. But it's not that prestigious. But now I get why they wouldn't understand why you absolutely MUST leave for EIW; they don't understand legal hiring.

BVest wrote:

Cerberaus wrote: I'm on Capitol Hill, the job is somewhat prestigious

Been there. It's fun. It's cool. But it's not that prestigious. But now I get why they wouldn't understand why you absolutely MUST leave for EIW; they don't understand legal hiring.

This! Thank you. Finally someone else gets the culture here.

Agree with the hive mind. You've got to find a way to EIW; I've spent a lot of time around Capitol Hill and there is nothing you could possibly be doing your 1L summer worth missing EIW for.