Fall Recruiting Fallout: Harvard/Yale Make Concessions to 'Reality'

We spent a lot of time documenting the recruiting struggles for Harvard Law School students. Comparatively speaking Yale Law students seemed to do pretty well. The school did not send around an “accept your offers” email to students, and it appears that most Yale students who wanted jobs in Biglaw did okay. A tipster reports:

It doesn’t seem that the economy has hurt anyone too badly. Nobody said that they got dinged by any firm they really wanted…everyone seems to have a handful of offers from various firms they’re happy with.

Despite the placid exterior that comes from being at the top and knowing it, even mighty Yale looks like it’s ready to make some concessions to the general market strife. The school is now contemplating moving their fall recruiting program to August, prior to the start of classes:

The Law School is considering moving the Fall Interview Program from September to the latter half of August prior to the start of classes. A number of factors have influenced this decision, including proposed changes to the law school calendar for 2009-10; the National Association for Law Placement’s new timing guidelines governing interviews; recent developments in the financial markets; and the shift to Early Interview Week programs by many law schools. In contemplating this change, student feedback is important to us. Please take a moment to hit reply to this email and answer the following question:

I _________ (would/would not) recommend that the Law School move FIP from September to August.

Feel free to provide comments here. In addition, Deans Sharon Brooks and Megan Barnett will be offering drop in sessions next week (at dates and times TBA) for students who wish to provide their comments in that manner.

Please reply by Monday, December 8, 2008.

Evidently, all of the cackling you heard from schools that start fall recruiting in August was based on some objectively positive results.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Behemoth moves in the same direction after the jump.


Earlier this week, Harvard Law School also let students know that the school was considering a similar shift in OCI timing:

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I am writing to let you know that we are considering moving our on-campus interview program to August 2009 before classes begin next fall. The program would take place August 24 – 28, which would mean that you would need to return to campus by August 20 for career programming and preparation in advance of the early interview program (EIP).

Because many of you are planning your summer travels or considering splitting your summer, this is important information that you need to know before you finalize your summer plans. The memo (link below) addresses the key issues associated with a move to an EIP. We are seeking student feedback on the logistical issues described in the memo. We recognize this is a busy time of year for you but would appreciate your input before we finalize our plans. Please send your comments to [redacted] by December 12. Many thanks for your assistance.

In the full memo, Harvard makes it clear why fall recruiting needs to be moved:

While our later program provided several benefits,some students participating in OCI this fall were adversely impacted by our start date because of the economic meltdown that occurred in September … Of course firms still wanted to hire students from Harvard- but felt they could not hire as many because of the adverse economic conditions.

You can’t put it more plainly than that.

Of course, changing the start of OCI is not as simple as picking a new date on the calendar. Most Harvard and Yale students don’t get back to campus until Labor Day weekend. Coming back to school early could pose a myriad of problems — not the least of which is housing. HLS and YLS will have to open on-campus housing early, but the off-campus housing market in those areas generally operates on a September 1st move in date, not August 15th.

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But for many people, the point of going to law school is to get a job. If starting the interview program earlier will help students do that — and it almost assuredly will — then this is a move the schools have to make.

Besides, I hear that Cambridge and New Haven are beautiful in the middle of the humid, sticky, generally un-air conditioned, New England summer.

Harvard OCI Memo.pdf

Earlier: Accept Your Offers: Stop Screwin’ Around You Kids Screw Around Too Much

Fall Recruiting Follow-Up: Part II