Below we tell you the five best ways to maximize your chances of getting a coveted biglaw summer associate offer!
If you are looking to put your best foot forward when you apply for summer associate positions, please check out these law firm interviewing tips. These are all critical steps to follow ahead of your interview for your 1L or 2L summer associate position.
Here we are going to take a detailed look at law firm hiring trends. And we will answer an an increasingly pressing question: How are law firms recruiting for summer associate positions? Law students, particularly those aiming for the coveted summer associate roles, need to understand the changing landscapes of biglaw hiring practices. Let’s delve into the details, with some insights from the NALP’s latest report (see page 32).
The traditional path of OCI remains the cornerstone of recruitment, with 93% of law firms utilizing this method. But don’t let the numbers fool you into complacency. While OCI is a significant component of the recruitment process, the landscape is evolving. If you want a job with a top biglaw firm, it is probably a good idea to not rely on OCI alone. Law firm hiring trends are heading in a different direction.
A notable trend is the surge in law firms adopting direct applications—an impressive 85% overall, leaping to 88.4% in firms boasting over 1,001 lawyers. This marks a strategic shift in talent acquisition, encouraging students to take the initiative rather than waiting around for OCIs.
Please make sure that you look into direct application method, particularly if you are interested in a job at a biglaw firm. (Some of the smaller to midsize firms may rely less on this method right now, but even that will likely shift in future years.)
Another prevalent method is the law school resume collect, engaged by 77% of firms. It offers employers the flexibility to sift through prospects on their timetable and set up interviews on their own.
What the NALP report doesn’t overtly reveal is that several top-tier biglaw firms are leaning heavily on direct applications. They’re trying to get most of their summer class lined up early and using OCI to round out their summer class (rather than a primary recruitment method). Some of the top biglaw firms report that around 80% of their summer associate class is hired before traditional OCIs. That is a huge number!
So what is the takeaway? By the time OCI rolls around, many premium slots are already filled. If you’ve got your eye on those high-profile firms, early engagement is key.
Notably, smaller firms still favor OCI, possibly due to their more structured recruitment timelines. However, a paradigm shift is on the horizon. We’re likely to witness a broadened embrace of early recruitment tactics, like direct applications, across firms of all sizes in the years ahead.
If you are a law student trying to get a summer associate job, understanding these law firm hiring trends is not just helpful, it is critical. Summer associate recruitment strategies are changing and you will need to adapt if you want to find yourself at an advantage.
This table by NALP (see page 32) illustrates the recruiting methods used by law firms. You can see that most law firms use on campus interviewing (OCI) as a recruitment tool (93%).
However, there is a huge increase in law firms using direct application as a tool. Nearly 85% of law firms used direct application to hire associates. (And in firms of 1,001+ laywers, 88.4% use direct application as a recruiting tool.)
Law school resume collect (where an employer will collect resumes and then choose which students to interview on their own schedule) is also used by 77% of firms.
What is not stated by the NALP report is that several of the top biglaw firms rely heavily on direct application and use OCI only to “round out” their summer class. So if you wait until OCI to apply for a position, it is probably too late if you want a job at those particular firms. At that point, some of the top firms will have filled up most of their spots so you have to stand out even more to earn a position.
Smaller firms tend to rely more on OCI than direct application or other methods. However, we expect to see more firms relying on early recruiting methods (such as direct application) in the coming years.
Are you looking to get a biglaw career? It’s a path filled with promise, prestige, and the need to navigate through a sea of specialized terms. But fret not! We’re here to demystify the jargon and help you navigate this ambitious career path with ease. Let’s break down the essential terms you need to know, alphabetically, to make your BigLaw career aspirations a reality.
BigLaw refers to the most prestigious and largest law firms in the country. These legal powerhouses are known for their significant number of attorneys, sprawling office networks, and impressive revenue figures. Landing a job in BigLaw is a dream for many, thanks to the challenging, high-profile work and the lucrative compensation that comes with it.
The Direct Application Process is your ticket to bypassing the traditional on-campus interview (OCI) path. It allows you to apply directly to the law firm of your choice. This method is particularly useful for reaching out to firms that do not visit your campus or when you’re targeting a specific geographic market. However, this is also becoming a lot more popular especially among the top law firms. So if you are looking for a job at a top law firm, do not wait around for OCI or you may be reducing your chances.
Exploding offers are those that self-destruct if not accepted within a given timeframe. These pressure tactics are generally frowned upon because they force students to make rushed decisions about their future. The ethical debate surrounding them continues, with many law schools and students advocating for more considerate practices.
In a Law School Resume Collect, firms collect resumes through a law school’s career services office but conduct their interviews off-campus, setting up their schedules. It’s a method that broadens the recruiting scope beyond the OCI model, offering students more opportunities to get noticed.
Non-OCI Recruiting Methods include avenues like direct applications, resume collects, and job fairs. With the rise of pre-recruiting strategies, these alternatives to traditional on-campus interviewing are gaining traction, offering students and firms more flexibility in the recruitment process.
On Campus Interviewing (OCI) is a cornerstone of BigLaw recruiting. Law firms visit campuses to interview students for summer associate positions, making it a primary gateway for law students to enter the BigLaw world. Note that this is changing, even in the last couple of years. It is more common for top firms to rely on early recruiting methods than OCI.
The OCI Screening Interview is the first round of interviews conducted during the OCI process. Lasting about 20 to 30 minutes, these interviews help firms shortlist candidates for further consideration.
After the initial screening through OCI, the OCI Callback Interview is the next step for candidates firms are seriously considering. This in-depth interview is a critical stage where firms evaluate whether to extend an offer to the law student for a summer associate position.
Precruiting represents the trend of early recruiting, where firms aim to fill their summer associate classes before the traditional OCI season begins. With a significant portion of offers now made through pre-recruiting, staying ahead in the application timeline is crucial.
By familiarizing yourself with these Biglaw career terms, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the complex landscape of BigLaw recruiting. Remember, understanding the process is the first step to success in this competitive field. So, arm yourself with knowledge, and take your first confident steps towards a fulfilling career in BigLaw!
Navigating the competitive landscape of Big Law hiring can be a daunting experience. You’ve poured over your resume, endured rigorous interviews, and put your best foot forward. But the process doesn’t end when you step out of the interview room. In the world of top-tier law firm hiring, details matter. One detail that can set you apart? The art of the thank-you note after your interview!
In an era where technology defines winners, law firms that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) stand out. It’s time for your practice to harness this potential. JD Advising is excited to announce an exclusive webinar: “AI-Powered Marketing for Law Firms: Simple Strategies to Scale Your Practice.” This is your invitation to join a select group of forward-thinking attorneys on December 13th at 2:00 PM ET.
Here, we are going to cover a few basic tips for using Chat GPT. These are strategies for anyone who wants to find a way to use it more effectively. Our general focus is on using Chat GPT to grow your law firm but the specific focus here is just learning how to begin to use Chat GPT effectively.
We’re going to cover three important and basic tips for using ChatGPT. They are the following:
Artificial intelligence is transforming industries across the board, and the legal field is no exception. Forward-thinking firms are now leveraging AI to boost revenue, reach more clients, reduce overhead, and streamline workflows. But if you’re not sure how to implement AI in your practice, it can seem daunting. That’s why we’re excited to announce an upcoming free webinar that will give you the toolkit to grow your law firm with AI.
Deciding on a legal career path can be a challenging endeavor. There are so many options, it can be challenging to figure out where to begin! There are so many different legal career paths you can take as a new lawyer. Law school is a great time to experience different career paths so you can figure out what best suits you. Check out the article below to help you through the process of deciding whether a clerkship, a job in private practice, or a public interest career is right for you.
With graduation behind you, for former law students, studying for the bar exam and starting a new career are usually next on the agenda. If you recently graduated, you may already have a job lined up for the fall. If you don’t have something already lined up, or maybe you’re a 1L or 2L who is considering different internships, you are in the right spot. In this article, we explore the many different career options for lawyers.
Most law schools do not discuss the concept of the billable hour beyond mentioning it in passing. For attorneys who are just starting out at law firms, however, billable hours are a bit part of day-to-day life. In this post, we will discuss the concept of the billable hour, what a first-year associate should know about the billable hour, and some tips for keeping track of your time as a new associate.
Every attorney has a different path after law school. Some law school graduates have no plan to practice law. Others don’t quite know what they want to do after law school. And still, other law school graduates know precisely what they do (or do not!) want to do after law school. This leads to a question if you choose to work in a law firm: do you want to stick with the partner track? Or is a staff attorney more your style? Bear in mind that this decision is deeply personal and depends upon what you want in your legal career, your family circumstances, and your long-term personal and career goals. Here, we discuss some of the general differences between choosing the partner track or becoming a staff attorney.
Being a lawyer and advocating on behalf of your clients is a rewarding experience in and of itself, but lawyers often wonder what more they can do to give back to the communities where they live and work. Giving back to the community is not only a rewarding experience, but it provides an outlet for lawyers to get outside of the workspace, take their minds off work, network, and learn. No matter what type of law you practice, there are always ways you can offer your support to the community and make a positive impact. To help you get started, below are some examples of ways that lawyers give back to their community.
For most students, going to law school means working at a private law firm or obtaining a judicial clerkship after graduation. This post, however, is for those who may want to do anything but begin or continue your career in private practice. If you find yourself in that latter category, we are happy to tell you that there are definitely other options available to you! It turns out that there are many different types of lawyers than those you see depicted in television dramas and Hollywood blockbusters. In addition to actual “lawyer jobs,” there is an endless number of careers that are commonly referred to as “law-adjacent.” We talk in more detail below about alternate careers for those not interested in following a more traditional law school career path post-graduation.
Phew – you got into law school, so now you only have to study, pass your courses, and participate in extracurriculars, right? While all of that is extremely important for law students, a key part of your time in law school that will set you up for future success is legal experience, a.k.a. a job! In this post, we will tell you where to start your job search, how to build a network, and the types of jobs available to law students. Getting your first job as a law student can seem overwhelming at first. However, as a law student, there are plenty of resources and people available to you to help you land your first job and grow your career.
