OCI's Forum

[sternc]

Can anyone explain how OCI's actually work? Do they begin during the Spring of your 1L year? If you do not get a job through them as a freshman, are you at a serious disadvantage for getting a BigLaw job? I assume you continue them throughout your 3 years until you actually find a job? Also, are the OCI's mainly for BigLaw or do all things including government, small firms, clerkships, etc. have them?

[ggocat]

Do they begin during the Spring of your 1L year?

For jobs after your 1L year (i.e., the "1L summer"), yes.

If you do not get a job through them as a freshman, are you at a serious disadvantage for getting a BigLaw job?

Not a big deal if you don't get a 1L job through OCI.

If you don't get a job through 2L OCI, you are unlikely to get biglaw unless you go to a national school are are looking to work at a large firm "back home" (far away from the location of your school). Well, technically, you're still "unlikely" to get biglaw in that situation, but you have a better chance than most if you go to a national school.

I assume you continue them throughout your 3 years until you actually find a job?

Some employers will interview on campus to hire 3Ls. But it's not a very reliable way of finding a job. If you don't get a biglaw gig from 2L OCI, you need to focus on non-OCI options (well, you should be focusing on non-OCI options right from the beginning, as well).

Also, are the OCI's mainly for BigLaw or do all things including government, small firms, clerkships, etc. have them?

Mainly for biglaw. Also some mid-sized and smaller firms. Sometimes government, but not non-local government. Almost never clerkships--but I've known of at least one judge who did OCI.