Cold calling a BigLaw firm Forum

[RickyDnwhyc]

Interested in landing an entry level paralegal role ASAP with any big law firm.

What is TCR on cold calling them to ask about open positions OR sending in your application/resume via their website and then calling to follow up / express interest in a specific position etc...?

Is there a chance that this could actually help you or is this a surefire way to get blacklisted for all eternity?

[SaintsTheMetal]

I'm really disappointed that every thread I see on this website asking about pre-LS employment is met with zero advice. Whereas every fresh post about law school has at least 5 people telling them to take a year off and get WE.

I wish I could help OP, but I would like this info as well.

I will say, there is absolutely no way cold-calling or cold-emailing someone is going to get you blacklisted. As for getting a good paralegal job, I have no clue how to do this without coming from an Ivy etc. But go ahead and cold call, you knows you may get lucky

[FlanAl]

I'm a law student but I don't have a clue and this advice might be way off base but here goes:
1) ask your ug career services what you should do
2) if you know anyone at a firm ask them what you should do
3) if you don't know anyone maybe reach out to people on the firm website if they went to your same undergrad (do this tactfully, i.e. you just want to talk to them about law and going to law school and was wondering if being a paralegal is a good idea. If they say you should be a paralegal, ask them how)

Quite a few people on this website have been paralegals for biglaw. I would imagine changing the thread title would get more response (most of the "what major should I do in ug" threads get bites so I don't see a reason why yours wouldn't)

[NYC2012]

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[BlueJeanBaby]

Interested in landing an entry level paralegal role ASAP with any big law firm.

What is TCR on cold calling them to ask about open positions OR sending in your application/resume via their website and then calling to follow up / express interest in a specific position etc...?

Is there a chance that this could actually help you or is this a surefire way to get blacklisted for all eternity?

I have no idea what TCR is, but I sent a resume to the office manager of an NLJ 250 via email with a personalized message and had an interview the following week. It might have just been luck, and this was a few years back, but it has worked before!

[Icculus]

Interested in landing an entry level paralegal role ASAP with any big law firm.

What is TCR on cold calling them to ask about open positions OR sending in your application/resume via their website and then calling to follow up / express interest in a specific position etc...?

Is there a chance that this could actually help you or is this a surefire way to get blacklisted for all eternity?

I have no idea what TCR is, but I sent a resume to the office manager of an NLJ 250 via email with a personalized message and had an interview the following week. It might have just been luck, and this was a few years back, but it has worked before!

TCR = The Credited Response

As for OP, I'm assuming it would be the same process as applying to these firms as an attorney who is mass mailing. Many of them have online application processes, I would probably start there and then follow up after awhile if you haven't heard anything. Before I got to law school every job I had I got through either an online app process or a tradititional mailing of my resumes.

[BlueJeanBaby]

Interested in landing an entry level paralegal role ASAP with any big law firm.

What is TCR on cold calling them to ask about open positions OR sending in your application/resume via their website and then calling to follow up / express interest in a specific position etc...?

Is there a chance that this could actually help you or is this a surefire way to get blacklisted for all eternity?

I have no idea what TCR is, but I sent a resume to the office manager of an NLJ 250 via email with a personalized message and had an interview the following week. It might have just been luck, and this was a few years back, but it has worked before!

TCR = The Credited Response

As for OP, I'm assuming it would be the same process as applying to these firms as an attorney who is mass mailing. Many of them have online application processes, I would probably start there and then follow up after awhile if you haven't heard anything. Before I got to law school every job I had I got through either an online app process or a tradititional mailing of my resumes.

Oh, sorry, I meant I don't know what TCR is for OP's question

[man_utd_4l]

Currently working in a similar role. Some good advice so far. I would add one thing:

-Contacts matter: I attended a university (Big Ten) where NY BigLaw firms did not directly recruit paralegals/legal assistants. However, I noticed that a lot of grads from my school were working in these positions. At first I tried dropping resumes to V-100 firms. I had a little success doing this (3 interviews), but I found reaching out to people within my alumni network to be much more effective. I started by posting what I was looking for in alumni groups on LinkedIn. The response was great. A number of people ended up taking my resume for me and forwarding it directly to the HR manager at the various firms with a note/recommendation. I ended up getting 5 interviews this way (2 in NY and 3 in my secondary market).

If this option is open to you, I would endorse it. You may not have the luck I had (I am not sure whether my experience is representative), but it can't hurt.

By reaching out to alumni, you are contacting people that you have something in common. These people are volunteering their help rather than you asking for it, as would be the case in the cold calling method.

Best of luck. Stick with it.

[RickyDnwhyc]

Thanks for all the input fellas. I'm gonna try reaching out to some headhunters and mass mailing firms. If I don't get a bite then I'll try my alumni network. My undergrad isn't too prestigious but it's got a great network here in NYC.