We encourage you to review the advice set forth in the Open Letter to Law Students, released by employer members of NALP in May 2019. It offers law firm perspectives on focusing your search, on and off-campus interviewing, callbacks and offers.
Please reach out to your CDO advisor with any questions.
While there are very few firms with strict GPA requirements, remember that firms may be assessing the following factors in addition to law school performance:
Work with your CDO advisor to develop your narrative, and be sure to identify the features or attributes that each firm promotes on its recruiting website - those are aspects they value and feel are distinguishing (ex: Choate's "one office" model)
As you begin preparing for the OCI and off-campus recruiting process, be sure to review the recently revised Policies and Guidelines for Employers. These policies are effective as of 5.16.19.
Please do not hesitate to contact the CDO with any questions.
Review the infographic HERE to make sure you're not making these 25 common interview mistakes!
One exception to note - you should not follow up with OCI employers after a screening interview. Contact your CDO advisor with any questions about interview protocol/etiquette.
If you are certain you are not accepting an offer you have received from a firm, you should let the firm know immediately, either by phone or by email. There is no benefit to you or the firm to wait until your offer expires if you know you are not going to accept. This allows firms to make offers to other students, and firms will appreciate your transparency and communication. It will also reduce the number of deadlines you are keeping track of, and allow you to focus on the firms you are most interested in.
Am I being evaluated at firm receptions, or are they simply meet-and-greets?
Yes, you are absolutely being evaluated at receptions. Until you have an offer, treat every interaction with the firm as an evaluation.
Receptions are a terrific opportunity to connect with more people at the firm, and to demonstrate that you would be a cultural "fit." Dress professionally, keep one hand free for handshakes/introductions at all times (i.e., don't have a drink in one hand and plate of food in the other), and create face time with as many of the attorneys as you can.
I received an offer, and have accepted/plan to accept/prefer the firm that extended the offer over the firm(s) I am scheduled to do callbacks with. What should I do?
If you prefer a firm that you have an offer from over another that you have a callback scheduled with, you should not proceed with the callback. Call the firm where you were scheduled for the callback ASAP, thank them for the opportunity, and politely request to cancel the interview. (If you've accepted an offer elsewhere, it's fine to share that if you choose.)
During the lunch break on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, recent alumni will be available in the Commons to answer questions about interviewing. We encourage you to take advantage of this resource, and to learn from and connect with alums at firms that may be of interest to you!
Now that employer selections are in for OCI Week 1 and the accept/decline period has passed, how are alternates selected?
May I cancel an interview I’ve already scheduled to accommodate an interview for which I’m selected as an alternate?
OCI Session 1 and Off-Campus Recruitment Program employers have begun reviewing student application materials. Once the majority of responses are received, students will be emailed about Symplicity being open to view the interview selections. The "Accept/Decline period" will follow shortly thereafter, during which students will either accept an interview invitation or choose not to. Once students accept an interview invitation, they will be able to schedule their interview with that firm. You will receive notification of interview invitations and employer selections by the week of July 16. Please also be mindful that notifications for other Off-Campus Programs will come from administrators at other coordinating law schools by the end of this week, with instructions on scheduling.
Please make sure to check your email often during this time, as it is a fast-moving process.
2. What is the "pre-select sign-up" window, and does it matter when in that timeframe I log in to schedule my interviews?
The "Pre-Select Sign-Up" period is when you will be able to schedule your interview(s) with specific employer(s). You will be notified by email that you have been "pre-selected" to interview with a given firm. (For planning purposes, you can view which firm(s) have pre-selected you the day before the scheduling window opens.) Then, if pre-selected, you will log in during the sign-up period to schedule the date and time of your screening interview. (If you are an "alternate," you will be notified by email whether you have been added to the employer's interview schedule after the pre-select sign-up period has closed.)
Because you may be coordinating multiple interviews, it is advantageous to log in early in the pre-select period so you have the best chance of getting the timeslot you want with each employer.