Biglaw, Job Searches, Kathleen Sullivan

it looks like john quinn reads this blog

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Here’s a follow-up to yesterday’s post about Quinn Emanuel’s innovative approach to callback interviews:

From: “John Quinn”
To: “Attorneys”
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:46:53 -0700
Subject:

reproduced below is an email which we sent yesterday to chicago students who received call backs. it describes an experiment we are going to try this year with the call backs from law schools whose on campus interviews are late in the season (chicago, yale, harvard and texas). instead of having them come back to the firm for interviews, we are inviting them to come to a weekend at a resort in utah. aside from attempting to distinguish ourselves from other law firms, the reasons for trying this are described in the email below. we think those reasons are compelling. however, the proof will be in the pudding.

we have a limited amount of space available for students, partners and associates. we can not invite everyone we would like to. certain of you will be invited to attend the weekend. the invitations will be sent out shortly.

[Aaron Charney is very upset he wasn’t invited. Expect to hear from his lawyers shortly.]

the recruitment weekend has generated a lot of buzz on some law blogs already. you may be asked questions by the students who will be coming through the office in the next few weeks. please tell them that this is an experiment. if it is successful, we may decide to expand it next year to two events. also, please be sure to state that the firm will be absorbing all expenses associated with the weekend.

We should hope so. As one commenter noted, “Why Deer Valley in the summer? That’s like going to Vermont in March to see the leaves changing.” What sane law student would shell out his own dough to schlep out to Utah this time of year — other than, say, someone applying to clerk for Judge Michael McConnell (10th Cir.)? (Actually, we hear that Judge McConnell might come out to the East Coast to interview clerkship applicants.)
Anyway, the email sent to the Quinn Emanuel callback-ees appears after the jump.


EMAIL SENT BY QUINN EMANUEL TO CHICAGO STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED CALLBACKS
I hope you realize by now our firm is different. We are always looking for ways to improve the way we communicate with students during the recruiting process. This year we are going to try something for the first time. Instead of the typical call back interviews at the firm’s offices, we are going to host an event at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley, Utah (near Park City, about a 45 minute drive from Salt Lake City). In addition to our own lawyers, there will be students from other law schools where on campus interviews are late in the season, i.e. Harvard, Yale, Chicago and Texas.
The event will begin with a cocktail party and dinner at the resort on Friday, October 26 and continue through Sunday morning October 28. On Saturday morning you will hear presentations about the firm, including a talk by our managing partner, John Quinn. John will talk about where the firm is now and where it will be in the future. There will also be an interactive panel discussion in which our associates will talk about their actual work experiences. You will have your choice of fun things to do Saturday afternoon like hot air balloons, hikes, etc.
That night there will be a unique dinner at the Empire Canyon Lodge. Kathleen Sullivan will deliver some remarks at the dinner. For those of you who have not seen the announcement, Kathleen has joined the firm as a full time partner (She had been working with us on a part time basis the last few years). Her goal is to create the best appellate practice in the US.
I am sure there will be some interest in seeing what our offices actually look like. And, in truth, they do look different from most firms. Fear not. There will be a DVD available with interior shots of all of the offices. However, I am sure you will agree that the critical component of any law office is its lawyers. You will get a chance to meet a lot of them. If you are still curious–and you happen to be in the neighborhood of any of our offices, we can arrange a quick tour. However, the purpose of the weekend is to replace the visit to the offices.
We are trying this new format for several reasons. First, it will enable you to meet more of the firm’s lawyers, including its leaders (who are often out of the office for the firm interviews). It will also give you a chance to talk to partners and associates in a less structured environment. Second, it will give us the opportunity to give you an in depth understanding of the firm, its practice and what distinguishes us from all other firms. Third, you will meet students from other law schools who might be working with you. Last, it will provide you and us with an opportunity to spend time in one of the most famous resorts in the US.
We will be sending you more information about the event over the next week or so. In the meantime, I encourage you to revisit the firm’s web site any time after Friday. We have been revising it all summer. It will provide you with more detailed information about the firm.
We look forward to seeing you on October 26.
Earlier: Fall Recruiting: This Is How You Do It

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