*Some of the information below applies primarily to law firms in larger legal markets (think New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C.). Look for additional posts over the summer regarding hiring at: public interest organizations, mid-sized market firms (including St. Louis), and fellowship application timelines.
Dear rising 2Ls, congratulations on finishing your first year of law school! The most stressful part of your legal education is over—but there’s no rest for the weary. While waiting for spring semester grades, strongly consider preparing your 2L summer associate application materials and pursuing networking opportunities at law firms you are interested in. Many firms are participating in early summer “pre-OCI” hiring. These firms are inviting rising 2Ls to callback interviews and making summer associate offers in June and July, prior to the wave of on-campus (and off-campus) interviewing scheduled for the fall. The pre-OCI trend is more common in the larger legal markets. Many mid-sized legal markets (including St. Louis) still complete their summer associate hiring almost exclusively via the traditional OCI process. But if you’re interested in a legal market that participates in pre-OCI hiring, there’s little downside, and big upside, to getting your application in front of the firm as early as possible.
Pre-OCI FAQ
What is a pre-OCI interview?
It’s an interview with a firm prior to WashU’s formal fall on-campus and off-campus interview programs. You obtain the interview by applying directly to the firm via their website or recruitment email address (as opposed to Symplicity, which is used for OCI bidding). Some firms will conduct a screening interview via phone call prior to inviting you to their office for an in-person callback interview; other firms will invite you directly to the callback interview after receiving your application material. Pre-OCI interviews are more common in larger legal markets.
What is the advantage of a pre-OCI interview?
There are many advantages.
- Firms have a nearly empty summer class in June/July and are more likely to extend an offer. In August/September, firms may be worried about over-filling their summer class and, consequently, less likely to extend an offer.
- Having a pre-OCI offer allows you to be more selective with the firms you apply to during OCI.
- Some firms have strict callback quotas at OCI. i.e., the recruiting committee may instruct the screener interviewers to select at most two students to call back; you’re out of luck if the interviewers love you but you’re their third favorite choice. You don’t have to worry about that issue with pre-OCI interviewing.
Which legal markets offered WashU students pre-OCI interviews last year?
Firms in New York City, Houston, Dallas, Washington D.C., St. Louis, Boston, and Chicago offered WashU students pre-OCI interviews and offers last year.
What if the market I’m interested in isn’t one of the markets listed above?
Not a problem! Pre-OCI interviews are a rapidly developing trend and there are plenty of steps you can take to maximize your chance at being offered an early interview, even in markets where they are less common.
- Attend summer firm networking receptions. CCD will provide a calendar of receptions and many firms post receptions on their websites.
- Reach out to WashU law alums at firms you are interested in. Schedule networking phone calls or coffees. CCD will help you craft the email.
- Contact recruiting staff at firms you applied to (but were not selected) for 1L summer positions. Reiterate your continued interest in the firm and ask if they plan to participate in pre-OCI hiring.
Should I apply right now?
Typically, firms will ask you to wait until you receive your spring semester grades, but you’ll want to follow the firm-specific instructions.
Where can I find pre-OCI opportunities?
Some firms have an email address you send application material to, like the screenshot of Davis Polk’s recruitment website below.
Other firms use the online application portals you’re likely familiar with from 1L job hunting. Those portals typically go live in early June. See the placeholder text on Skadden’s recruitment website below.
If the firm does not have a recruiting email address or an online application, send your materials to the recruiting contact for the specific office you’re interested in. You can find the recruiting contact’s email address on the NALP website. See below.
What if the firm is coming to WashU’s On Campus (or Off Campus) interview programs?
You should still send a direct application early in the summer and bid the firm for one of your OCI interview slots. If the firm decides to call you back for a pre-OCI interview, they’ll cancel your OCI screening interview.
I wasn’t even thinking about 2L summer and this post really stresses me out
DO NOT BE STRESSED OUT! Now is the perfect time to get your application materials updated and start crafting a list of target firms. Reach out to CCD If you’d like help developing your target firm list, want a review of your resume, or have any other questions at all. Peer advisors can offer assistance via email, phone call, or skype.
Finally, know that pre-OCI interviews are a relatively new phenomenon. Many, perhaps most, WashU law students obtain their summer associate positions through WashU’s fall on-campus and off-campus interview programs. However, the benefits of sending pre-OCI applications greatly outweigh the downsides—and wouldn’t it be awesome to have your 2L summer figured out within the next few months?