Tales of Big Law Interviews and OCI Trinkets September 29, 2009
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Back in March when I just recently joined the 405 club, it was a shock to actually be interviewing again. See the way “Big Law, ” ELF recruiting works is that they hire candidates during their 2nd year of law school. Locking them up for two years in advance so no other firm rival can put their paws on them. This insanity, is part of the reason why we are in such a mess now. So I was hired in the Fall of 2006. Mind you the description that follows is for a good economy; but when the stars are aligned, the candidates sign up in advance with dozens of firms making an appearance at their law school in what is known as “On Campus Interviewing” or OCI.
Craigslist as Offeree September 23, 2009
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There comes a time in every jobless lawyer’s life when they have to look at themselves in the mirror and say, “it’s time to beg for a job on craigslist.” It’s not a proud moment, but just when there seems like no other option exists, crafting a post as offeree can be a bit empowering. My job search approach is a 5 pronged strategy. KEEP READING… !
Interview with the OAF ! (The worst law interview ever) September 18, 2009
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At times I think I have a mischievous sprite watching over me, one that enjoys toying with me, never putting me in serious danger but always putting quirky little absurd obstacles in my life, just to see how I might react. In essence I believe “Puck” from a Midsummer’s Night Dream is my guardian angel, and boy, has he been having some fun lately.
I’ve recently wondered if I might have some secret message hidden in my resume that exclaims how much I like to be played with like a mouse dangling from a cat’s paw. Maybe it is written with lemon juice or only visible under special infrared light. Of all the legal interviews being conducted in all the law offices across New York City, the real “winners” somehow have a way of finding me.
Lateral Link “Bridgeyear Program” is a Bridge to Nowhere September 10, 2009
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Lateral Link is a lawyer recruiting service that works differently than all the others. Once a candidate signs up with Lateral Link they will be given a “search consultant” and access to search the Lateral Link database. When you conduct a search on their database you can view positions but you are not given the employer’s information, you will just be provided with general information about the position (after all if this information was given up front you could simply apply to the position on your own and cut out Lateral Link completely and since they are a free service they wouldn’t be in business very long with this strategy).
Junior Associates Stay Away From Professional Legal Recruiters September 2, 2009
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Legal recruiters are job prospect destroyers for junior associates. For someone like me who has 1 year and 7 months of legal experience (and a measly 5 months – thanks again Evil Law Firm [ELF]– if you count only post law school graduation experience), legal recruiters add next to no value to the job seeking process, in fact they may take value away. The true calling for a headhunter and where their real value is, is in shopping high profile, well experienced candidates around confidentially. In good economic times this is how general counsels are typically found, and how partners or senior associates make lateral moves from boutiques to ELFs or ELFs to boutiques discretely. In other words there is an actual need for them. When placement of junior associates is considered however, this need ceases to exist.
