Future lawyers often see high salaries as the motivation for entering Big Law, yet how can students take full advantage of their law school experience to land one of these top firms after graduation?
Big Law firms have begun pre-recruiting students for summer associate positions at their offices before traditional on-campus interviews (OCI) begin in the summer following 1L year.
1. Get in on precruiting
Large law firms generally only hire a limited number of students as summer associates at any one time, usually those from local schools with strong geographic ties or from highly ranked programs. This can be beneficial as it enables the students to focus on law school while networking with attorneys.
However, this means that if you attend a lower-ranked law school, getting into Big Law firms might prove challenging (unless you are at the very top of your class). Therefore, precruiting should be your initial priority: participating in on-campus recruitment efforts and reaching out to attorneys from firms you want to work at; including using mass mail and attending networking or firm events sponsored by your law school.
2. Get in on a summer associate program
Alongside their call-back interview preparations, students should also continue networking and participating in law-related activities like moot court and law review to build legal skills and set themselves apart from other candidates.
Successfully participating in a summer associate program is one of the keystones to entering Big Law full time, and firms often recruit rising 2Ls before their OCI process kicks in during their 3L year.
As experienced attorneys know, clients will only pay higher fees for high-quality work; thus it is crucial that summer associates take their assignments seriously and avoid office politics which could harm your chances of receiving permanent positions.
3. Get in on on-campus recruiting
Finding a summer associate position at a Big Law firm can be an excellent way to gain real world legal experience prior to graduating and secure post-graduation career prospects. These programs typically start between your 1L and 2L years and may lead to return offers, alleviating some stress during your final year of law school.
Smaller firms and government roles also offer summer opportunities and sometimes full-time positions for students, which may be more appealing if prestige and financial rewards are less of an incentive. Finding your path ultimately depends on individual priorities, work-life balance considerations and long-term career goals; regardless of which path chosen it is important to participate in on-campus recruiting as well as utilize CDO’s resources throughout this process.
4. Get in on Mass Mail
Big Law may offer prestige and financial rewards, but it isn’t for everyone. Many students enter law school hoping for employment at top firms – this may or may not happen, depending on factors such as law school prestige, 1L grades, interviewing skills, networking capabilities, hustle abilities and the willingness to hustle for this goal.
Students looking for alternatives to Big Law have many opportunities available to them. Smaller firms, in-house roles and public interest work all present unique benefits – the key being choosing a career choice that aligns with both your values and long-term goals. Here are some tips from both sides of an interviewer/interviewed interview to help make mass mail work for you.
5. Get in on interviewing
As 2L interview season draws nearer, attorneys from large law firms may visit your campus to meet you for interviewing purposes and discuss their firm and practice areas of interest. CDO’s Toolkit for Student Job Seekers contains essential advice and insights into law firm callback interviews in the interviewing section of CDO’s Toolkit for Student Job Seekers.
Many students attend law school thinking that Big Law is their only path to a lucrative employment opportunity. Although the financial advantages may be substantial, pursuing a career in Big Law shouldn’t be taken lightly as the process can be complicated and require significant time commitment, particularly during their 1L year. Therefore, it’s crucial that students gain an understanding of this complex process early in their legal education so as to set themselves up for success at every turn.
