Deleted Post Forum

A forum for applicants and admitted students to ask law students and graduates about law school and the practice of law.
Post Reply
PJam1989

New
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 8:39 pm

Deleted Post

Post by PJam1989 » Fri Sep 11, 2015 9:49 am

Deleted Post
Last edited by PJam1989 on Fri Mar 04, 2016 11:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Trippel

Bronze
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:52 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by Trippel » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:01 am

The firms usually attend your school's OCI and you interview with them for 20 min. Firms then reject your application or invite you for a callback interview at their office. Callback --> either offer or rejection. That's all there is to it.

User avatar
WhyYaCryin

New
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2015 4:24 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by WhyYaCryin » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:19 am

And approximately when does this whole process occur? My understanding is that OCI is in the beginning of your 2L year. In addition how do you go about getting a summer internship after your first year?

User avatar
ScottRiqui

Gold
Posts: 3633
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:09 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by ScottRiqui » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:25 am

If you're a 1L, You can also get get started on looking for a 1L summer job even before Spring OCI.

Students and potential employers are allowed to contact each other regarding employment beginning on December 1st (or thereabouts - the exact date might change from year to year). So you can put together a bunch of cover letters tailored to the firms, practice areas and markets you're interested in, and email them along with a copy of your resume to the HR/hiring coordinator person at the firm. You can get the names and email addresses from firm websites, friends who are doing the same thing, or from your school's CSO.

User avatar
Trippel

Bronze
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:52 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by Trippel » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:27 am

My school's OCI is in early August. We began selecting firms for OCI interviews via the bidding process in early July.

1L's begin looking for summer internships around the end or after first semester. 1L internships really don't matter as long as it's legal work.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


User avatar
WhyYaCryin

New
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2015 4:24 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by WhyYaCryin » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:34 am

Trippel wrote:1L internships really don't matter as long as it's legal work.
Yeah I figured that would be the case. So fast forward to OCI and let's say you get a few callbacks and one eventually leads to an offer. You'll be there for the summer after your 2L year and then likely have a full time offer after you graduate? I'm assuming that's how it works.

User avatar
lymenheimer

Gold
Posts: 3979
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 1:54 am

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by lymenheimer » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:38 am

WhyYaCryin wrote:
Trippel wrote:1L internships really don't matter as long as it's legal work.
Yeah I figured that would be the case. So fast forward to OCI and let's say you get a few callbacks and one eventually leads to an offer. You'll be there for the summer after your 2L year and then likely have a full time offer after you graduate? I'm assuming that's how it works.
Let me direct you to this thread. DO NOT POST IN IT, but enjoy the read: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... p?t=192753

User avatar
Trippel

Bronze
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:52 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by Trippel » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:39 am

WhyYaCryin wrote:
Trippel wrote:1L internships really don't matter as long as it's legal work.
Yeah I figured that would be the case. So fast forward to OCI and let's say you get a few callbacks and one eventually leads to an offer. You'll be there for the summer after your 2L year and then likely have a full time offer after you graduate? I'm assuming that's how it works.
Yep, most of the firms that attend my school's OCI give full-time offers to 100% of their 2L summer associate class.

User avatar
ScottRiqui

Gold
Posts: 3633
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:09 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by ScottRiqui » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:42 am

WhyYaCryin wrote:
Trippel wrote:1L internships really don't matter as long as it's legal work.
Yeah I figured that would be the case. So fast forward to OCI and let's say you get a few callbacks and one eventually leads to an offer. You'll be there for the summer after your 2L year and then likely have a full time offer after you graduate? I'm assuming that's how it works.
Yep, that's the gist of it. Also, while your 1L summer job "doesn't really matter" in the sense that any legal employment is good enough for resume fodder and having something to talk about during 2L Fall OCI interviews, it *is* possible that at the end of your 1L internship, the firm could ask you back for your 2L summer. So if your 1L job is something you can see yourself doing permanently, it's possible to have your 2L summer plans sewn up before 2L Fall OCI even starts.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


User avatar
Trippel

Bronze
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:52 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by Trippel » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:45 am

lymenheimer wrote:
WhyYaCryin wrote:
Trippel wrote:1L internships really don't matter as long as it's legal work.
Yeah I figured that would be the case. So fast forward to OCI and let's say you get a few callbacks and one eventually leads to an offer. You'll be there for the summer after your 2L year and then likely have a full time offer after you graduate? I'm assuming that's how it works.
Let me direct you to this thread. DO NOT POST IN IT, but enjoy the read: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... p?t=192753
LOL, this is good to point out. And why everyone advises 0L's to keep retaking the LSAT until they receive admission at a T14 with $$$.

User avatar
WhyYaCryin

New
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2015 4:24 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by WhyYaCryin » Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:45 am

lymenheimer wrote: Let me direct you to this thread. DO NOT POST IN IT, but enjoy the read: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... p?t=192753
Yeah I've been there a few times as it always appears to be on the front page (YIKES!) and had to abandon thread every few pages or so. It seems really depressing. That thread is part of the reason I won't attend law school unless I hit ~170 on the lsat. So to make an informed decision I was poking around on here about the whole OCI process.

User avatar
A. Nony Mouse

Diamond
Posts: 29293
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:51 am

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by A. Nony Mouse » Fri Sep 11, 2015 11:12 am

Don't post in this thread, either, but read: A guide to the mechanics of OCI, callbacks, etc.. In fact, if you read around the Legal Employment forum generally (but don't post), a lot of your questions have been addressed.

lavarman84

Platinum
Posts: 8538
Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 5:01 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by lavarman84 » Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:39 pm

PJam1989 wrote:I understand the first component of getting a BigLaw job: Either go to a T14, or finish towards the top of your class at a T2. But how do you actually apply for the job? I know it is not simply sending resumes to big law firms. So, outside the academic achievement aspect, how do you apply to get hired in BigLaw?
Not towards the top of your class...at the top of your class (like top 5%). Even then, it's not guaranteed. It's easier if you're at a New York or Chicago school.(assuming you want to work in either place)

But go to a t14. If you don't, go to a T1 in a major market.(ex. Fordham - New York) I go to a T1 that isn't in a major market and it's MUCH harder for me to just get an interview at a big New York or DC or Chicago firm as a person at the top of my class (ranked in the top 1%) than it is for a person that is median (and even below it) at a T14 or a person that is top 25% at a school like Fordham.

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


User avatar
stego

Platinum
Posts: 5301
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 3:23 am

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by stego » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:22 am

Trippel wrote:The firms usually attend your school's OCI and you interview with them for 20 min. Firms then reject your application or invite you for a callback interview at their office. Callback --> either offer or rejection. That's all there is to it.
Some people strike out at OCI though. No one ITT has mentioned mass-mailing yet. Do people land biglaw 2L SA positions through mass-mailing, or does that only lead to "lesser" alternatives"?

User avatar
Trippel

Bronze
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:52 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by Trippel » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:37 am

stego wrote:
Trippel wrote:The firms usually attend your school's OCI and you interview with them for 20 min. Firms then reject your application or invite you for a callback interview at their office. Callback --> either offer or rejection. That's all there is to it.
Some people strike out at OCI though. No one ITT has mentioned mass-mailing yet. Do people land biglaw 2L SA positions through mass-mailing, or does that only lead to "lesser" alternatives"?
It happens but you have to jump on it early. Many mass mail both before and after OCI. I personally did not have much success with mass mailing. Your chances are FAR better at OCI.

Effingham

Bronze
Posts: 173
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:40 am

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by Effingham » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:44 am

stego wrote:
Trippel wrote:The firms usually attend your school's OCI and you interview with them for 20 min. Firms then reject your application or invite you for a callback interview at their office. Callback --> either offer or rejection. That's all there is to it.
Some people strike out at OCI though. No one ITT has mentioned mass-mailing yet. Do people land biglaw 2L SA positions through mass-mailing, or does that only lead to "lesser" alternatives"?
Got my first biglaw screener and then offer through mass mailing starting in late July. That being said, out of ~200 emails, that one was the only firm that responded.

AttyCutestory

New
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2015 4:56 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by AttyCutestory » Wed Sep 16, 2015 10:46 pm

stego wrote:
Trippel wrote:The firms usually attend your school's OCI and you interview with them for 20 min. Firms then reject your application or invite you for a callback interview at their office. Callback --> either offer or rejection. That's all there is to it.
Some people strike out at OCI though. No one ITT has mentioned mass-mailing yet. Do people land biglaw 2L SA positions through mass-mailing, or does that only lead to "lesser" alternatives"?
I'm currently a 2L at a T2 school outside a major market and I just accepted an offer to summer at a V5. I didn't take part in my school's OCI, but rather went to a third-party interview program. While I got a number of callbacks from through that process, I had great success mass-mailing. The offer I ended up accepting came at the end of July through mass-mailing in fact, as did a number of screeners and subsequent callbacks.

I don't think the "if I don't get a 170+ on the LSAT I'm not going to law school" mindset is necessarily the way to go. I didn't get over 170 on my LSAT. If you work hard at most any school, commit to the process, and hustle, you'll have the opportunity to go after biglaw. If you're not interested in working hard, but are still for some reason set on biglaw, I'd suggest you reconsider that goal.

Anyway, I wanted to share my experiences with the process. Feel free to PM with any further questions.

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


lavarman84

Platinum
Posts: 8538
Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 5:01 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by lavarman84 » Thu Sep 17, 2015 4:33 am

AttyCutestory wrote:
stego wrote:
Trippel wrote:The firms usually attend your school's OCI and you interview with them for 20 min. Firms then reject your application or invite you for a callback interview at their office. Callback --> either offer or rejection. That's all there is to it.
Some people strike out at OCI though. No one ITT has mentioned mass-mailing yet. Do people land biglaw 2L SA positions through mass-mailing, or does that only lead to "lesser" alternatives"?
I'm currently a 2L at a T2 school outside a major market and I just accepted an offer to summer at a V5. I didn't take part in my school's OCI, but rather went to a third-party interview program. While I got a number of callbacks from through that process, I had great success mass-mailing. The offer I ended up accepting came at the end of July through mass-mailing in fact, as did a number of screeners and subsequent callbacks.

I don't think the "if I don't get a 170+ on the LSAT I'm not going to law school" mindset is necessarily the way to go. I didn't get over 170 on my LSAT. If you work hard at most any school, commit to the process, and hustle, you'll have the opportunity to go after biglaw. If you're not interested in working hard, but are still for some reason set on biglaw, I'd suggest you reconsider that goal.

Anyway, I wanted to share my experiences with the process. Feel free to PM with any further questions.
You're the exception, not the norm.

lavarman84

Platinum
Posts: 8538
Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 5:01 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by lavarman84 » Thu Sep 17, 2015 4:38 am

stego wrote:
Trippel wrote:The firms usually attend your school's OCI and you interview with them for 20 min. Firms then reject your application or invite you for a callback interview at their office. Callback --> either offer or rejection. That's all there is to it.
Some people strike out at OCI though. No one ITT has mentioned mass-mailing yet. Do people land biglaw 2L SA positions through mass-mailing, or does that only lead to "lesser" alternatives"?
Yes, mass-mailing works. You're not going to have an amazing hit rate unless you have amazing credentials (and in that case, you probably didn't need to mass-mail) but you can get offers through it. The thing about mass-mailing is that grades are still important (which shouldn't surprise anyone). So it can be very beneficial to people that aren't at t14 schools but have top grades and want to reach out to firms that don't go to their OCI.

User avatar
chuckbass

Platinum
Posts: 9956
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:29 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by chuckbass » Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:24 am

Again while 1L jobs don't really matter, if you are diverse and at a good school you should apply to biglaw firms hiring 1Ls through diversity programs.

AttyCutestory

New
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2015 4:56 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by AttyCutestory » Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:57 am

lawman84 wrote:
AttyCutestory wrote:
stego wrote:
Trippel wrote:The firms usually attend your school's OCI and you interview with them for 20 min. Firms then reject your application or invite you for a callback interview at their office. Callback --> either offer or rejection. That's all there is to it.
Some people strike out at OCI though. No one ITT has mentioned mass-mailing yet. Do people land biglaw 2L SA positions through mass-mailing, or does that only lead to "lesser" alternatives"?
I'm currently a 2L at a T2 school outside a major market and I just accepted an offer to summer at a V5. I didn't take part in my school's OCI, but rather went to a third-party interview program. While I got a number of callbacks from through that process, I had great success mass-mailing. The offer I ended up accepting came at the end of July through mass-mailing in fact, as did a number of screeners and subsequent callbacks.

I don't think the "if I don't get a 170+ on the LSAT I'm not going to law school" mindset is necessarily the way to go. I didn't get over 170 on my LSAT. If you work hard at most any school, commit to the process, and hustle, you'll have the opportunity to go after biglaw. If you're not interested in working hard, but are still for some reason set on biglaw, I'd suggest you reconsider that goal.

Anyway, I wanted to share my experiences with the process. Feel free to PM with any further questions.
You're the exception, not the norm.
I absolutely agree with you, and I'm not saying everyone who works hard at school gets the biglaw jobs. I mean to say if you get top grades at most any school and are ready to hustle, you will have the chance. I just wanted to address the ideas that mass-mailing only lead's to "lesser" alternatives and that its T14 or bust with regards to biglaw opportunities.

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

Register now, it's still FREE!


lavarman84

Platinum
Posts: 8538
Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 5:01 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by lavarman84 » Thu Sep 17, 2015 4:18 pm

AttyCutestory wrote:I absolutely agree with you, and I'm not saying everyone who works hard at school gets the biglaw jobs. I mean to say if you get top grades at most any school and are ready to hustle, you will have the chance. I just wanted to address the ideas that mass-mailing only lead's to "lesser" alternatives and that its T14 or bust with regards to biglaw opportunities.
That's true. You can attain great opportunities mass-mailing. I just wouldn't recommend people go into a lower ranked school if they're aiming for biglaw. And this is coming from someone at a lower ranked school that got biglaw. But if you're already there and have impressive grades, definitely mass-mail if you want a job outside that market.

PJam1989

New
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 8:39 pm

Deleted Post

Post by PJam1989 » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:05 pm

Deleted Post
Last edited by PJam1989 on Fri Mar 04, 2016 11:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

lavarman84

Platinum
Posts: 8538
Joined: Thu May 28, 2015 5:01 pm

Re: How To Get A Job In BigLaw

Post by lavarman84 » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:47 pm

PJam1989 wrote:Sorry, but what is "Mass-Mailing"?
Email the firms directly.

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


Post Reply

Return to “Ask a Law Student / Graduate”