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Fall Recruiting Fallout: Harvard/Yale Make Concessions to ‘Reality’

Not Hiring sign.jpgWe 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:

yale law school.jpgThe 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:

Harvard Law School seal logo.jpgI 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.

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

Comments

1 Posted by TTTroll | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:01 AM

These pretzels are almost making me first tier.. ALMOST

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2 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:04 AM

waaaahhhh housing and other issues for going back to school in august!

somehow every other school in the country seems to handle it ok.

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3 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:05 AM

summer in boston is about the only decent season (except for fall of course but i think we skipped fall this year)

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4 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:06 AM

Watch sports for free: http://atdhe.net/

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5 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:09 AM

"White our later program provided several benefits..."

huh.

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6 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:09 AM

MysTTTal

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7 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:10 AM

Totally unnecessary. Send a few baskets of PEANUTS and CHEESE to the recruiters at all the big firms, and this problem simply goes away. Done.

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8 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:15 AM

Lol @ the Yale explanation that nobody got dinged from somewhere they really (REALLY) wanted to go to. Sounds something like that goofy self-help series about willing things and whatnot. Seems a bit circular and unfalsifiable to me.

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9 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:15 AM

2, you're an idiot. The issue is the *change* in dates, not the dates themselves. People already have leases based on the old calendar. Obviously that shouldn't stop them from changing the calendar, but it's still an issue.

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10 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:16 AM

Will S&C FINALLY announce today???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????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11 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:17 AM

7: Excellent point. However, it is my understanding that several Harvard and Yale students made that very recommendation to their career services functions earlier this fall, and that the recommendations went entirely unheeded—to the detriment of several students who won’t be working for big firms next summer. Elie: How ‘bout a post on this particular issue?

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12 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:17 AM

First to claim first

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:18 AM

"even mighty Yale looks like it ready to make some concessions to the general market strife."

Seriously?

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14 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:20 AM

Brookline is really nice in the fall. I am glad I lived in Brookline.

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15 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:23 AM

7, that joke is not funny and makes no sense. please stop. thanks

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16 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:24 AM

You would think with an endowment of $38Billion Harvard could afford to install air conditioning in the housing buildings. Last time I checked - summers aren't getting any cooler and this is the 21st century.

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17 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:24 AM

People in New England don't have air conditioners? News to me.

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18 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:26 AM

1. Elie there are law schools other than Harvard around
2. "White our later program provided several benefits,some students participating "....did you copy that wrong or did Harvard make a mistake in their email???? why do i think that based on ur past practice u copied that wrong

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19 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:28 AM

TTT in fall = TTT in August. Thank God I turned 'em down for Cooley.

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20 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:28 AM

Yet another fix to the HLS system that came a year too late for the class of 2010.

~Bitter HLS 2L

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21 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:28 AM

I'm not a lawyer, but I check and post on this blog for some reason all the time. Once again I want to reinterate to others like me, BIGLAW associates are the worst people in the entire world. They hate people who have huge supplies of the things they lack. What they lack the most is common sense, which underlies my point that associates use the very intellectual tools they criticize as naive when used by others, namely consequentialist arguments rather than arguments about truth or falsity. I repeat: associates' thralls are money and prestige crazed at best, and portend the downfall of society at worst. While this is undoubtedly true, we wouldn't currently have a problem with credentialism if it weren't for them. Although they created the problem, aggravated the problem, and escalated the problem, big firm associates insist that they can solve the problem if firms just grant them more power or pay them ever-increasing mega-bonuses just this one year ignoring the fact that our public coffers have run dry. How naïve do they think we are? Truly, our society needs your help if we are ever to deal with these relevant facts. "But I'm only one person," you might protest. "What difference can I make?" The answer is: a lot more than you think. You see, associates have never gotten ahead because of their hard work or innovative ideas or business acumen. Rather, all of associates' successes are due to double-dealing, economic thuggery, and unsavory cronyism. Firm associates can write anything they want about how things would be different were we to give into their demands and let them muster enough force to make conditions far worse than could ever have been the case without their incompetent efforts, but they argue that sacrifice counts for nothing, and merit is equivalent to signaling . I wish I could suggest some incontrovertible chain of apodictic reasoning that would overcome this argument, but it would be futile. Now that you've read this post, let me challenge you, the reader, not just to help me spread the word about BIGLAW associates's moonstruck scare tactics and me-first attitudes to our friends, our neighbors, our relatives, our co-workers -- even to strangers -- but also to educate others about what I've written.

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22 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:29 AM

21, tl;dr

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23 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:29 AM

16: I live in an HLS dorm and it has air conditioning. Though obviously the A/C is turned off and the heat is turned on right now.

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24 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:30 AM

Agree with 15.

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25 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:30 AM

21 - stopped reading at line one. If you're not a lawyer you are 100% unqualified to comment on the lives of BigLaw lawyers, and pretty much you look like a dick.

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26 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:31 AM

15: What is it that you don't get? Do you work in NYC? If so, let's meet to discuss your confusion over PEANUTS and CHEESE.

Cheers,

7

27 Posted by TTTroll | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:33 AM

21,

If you had just let a computer do it, there wouldn't have been any typos. Freaking dbag.

http://www.pakin.org/complaint/

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28 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:33 AM

21 Is a complete douche and absolute moron. Redundant and soporific prick. Go and post elsewhere where people are actually interested in self-gloryfying language. You speak from the white pedestal that rises above the stupidity of lawyers and wish for us to read your long rants? Assmuch. You can come into the legal profession, photocopy my ballas, and then, maybe, ask to be listened to; but never will I be preached by your educated comments.

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29 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:34 AM

what kind of TTT is Harvard that it doesn't have year-round leases of housing? Are you expected to move out every spring and move into new quarters in the fall?

Breaking News: CLS moves EIP to.... July 4 weekend!

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30 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:36 AM

21 - Clearly not a lawyer. Doesn't understand paragraphs. Regardless, that's ok, because he/she not only checks, but also posts on this very blog all the time.

-Moonstruck

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31 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:38 AM

Never thought I would be so happy Loyola had early OCI this year.

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32 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:39 AM

15 = cranky, cranky, cranky! What? Your expectation is that all of the comments on this blog will be both serious and coherent? Take a look around -- that's hardly the standard here. If you're looking for something more serious, you might want to steer clear of "legal tabloids."

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33 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:40 AM

21 - Clearly not a lawyer. Doesn't understand paragraphs. Regardless, that's ok, because he/she not only checks, but also posts on this very blog all the time.

-Moonstruck

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34 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:41 AM

Harvard's rationale for the new policy does not make sense. It is true that there was an "economic meltdown" in September, which explains why e.g. Stanford did much better than Harvard in OCI this year (its flyback week was in the middle of September). But obviously there is no reason to think that economic conditions in September of 2009 will be better than economic conditions in October of 2009 - in fact, the reverse seems more likely. But no one has a crystal ball, and trying to schedule OCI to time the market is futile.

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35 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:41 AM

21 - you write like a lawyer. And you are outraged. Your legal training is obviously going REALLY well. Congratulations - you have a spot in biglaw waiting.

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36 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:41 AM

I'm so sick and tired of hearing about the poor students at T-10 schools. They are the only ones who aren't being affected by this mess. The rest of the people are getting crushed. I get that they should (possibly) have more opportunities, but it is ridiculous to complain when they are still pretty much guaranteed an offer from a AmLaw 100 firm. Yes, I said AmLaw 100, not V-5. The thing is, T-10 students ARE NOT entitled to a V-5 job. Sorry for the bad news. Having said that, you could carve out a great career and be successful at any one of the AmLaw 100 firms - all it takes is (gasp) hard work and dedication. So stop complaining and get back to work.

-T30 3L

P.S. - Before you say that this is personal sour grapes, I have a Federal District Court clerkship for 2009 & a BigLaw offer waiting for 2010.

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37 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:44 AM

YLS doesn't have on-campus housing, so this isn't a consideration for them. The building the law school acquired for on-campus housing won't be made available until Fall 2010, at the earliest.

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38 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:44 AM

hey 23, hope you're enjoying north. i bet you're bitter that you don't live in those gorgeous renovated wood frame houses that now block your view of leslie. say hi to the folks at montrose for me. mmmm lady grey.

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39 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:45 AM

Harvard's rationale for the new policy does not make sense. It is true that there was an "economic meltdown" in September, which explains why e.g. Stanford did much better than Harvard in OCI this year (its flyback week was in the middle of September). But obviously there is no reason to think that economic conditions in September of 2009 will be better than economic conditions in October of 2009 - in fact, the reverse seems more likely. But no one has a crystal ball, and trying to schedule OCI to time the market is futile.

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40 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:46 AM

UChicago = Employment. 2Ls here are pretty solidly set for jobs at top firms, Career office isn't freaking out, nor have they sent out any e-mails.

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41 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:46 AM

Harvard's rationale for the new policy does not make sense. It is true that there was an "economic meltdown" in September, which explains why e.g. Stanford did much better than Harvard in OCI this year (its flyback week was in the middle of September). But obviously there is no reason to think that economic conditions in September of 2009 will be better than economic conditions in October of 2009 - in fact, the reverse seems more likely. But no one has a crystal ball, and trying to schedule OCI to time the market is futile.

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42 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:47 AM

1-28: You guys nailed it. Really nailed it.

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43 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:49 AM

34 & 39,

HLS is not saying they will face a better economy. Their rationale is that there will be a level backdrop upon which law firms can compare students, i.e., if another Lehman Bros. blows up, it will blow up before every law student interviews, not just Harvard students. HLSers will now be going up against other law students under the same conditions. It's not a dumb idea.

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44 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:49 AM

34 & 39,

HLS is not saying they will face a better economy. Their rationale is that there will be a level backdrop upon which law firms can compare students, e.g., if another Lehman Bros. blows up, it will blow up before every law student interviews, not just Harvard students. HLSers will now be going up against other law students under the same conditions. It's not a dumb idea.

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45 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:51 AM

Uh ... this post is badly informed. Kids at Yale did relatively worse than past years, something that anyone here will tell you. Everyone got offers from what I know, unlike some at Harvard, but people are definitely going to firms of lesser repute than they had hoped/expected. This is far more true of those DC-bound than NY. Lot of those Covington and WIlmer etc. offers just never came through.

YLS 2L

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46 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:52 AM

I'm usually annoyed by the grammar police, but give me a break.

"even mighty Yale looks like it ready to make some concessions . . . ."

If I were having all my mistakes pointed out every time I posted something on this site, I would at least skim it before I posted.

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47 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:53 AM

Cornell's nuber 1 anyway
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202426506214

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48 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:54 AM

36 -- No, T-10 students aren't entitled to a v5 job, and the ones who are complaining about having to 'settle' for Orrick or Paul Weiss should shut up. However the fact that there are more than a few people at my school who have no job whatsoever -- despite already plastering the Amlaw 100 with applications and hitting up every market they could possibly have inroads with -- suggests that things are a bit worse for some T-10 students than them simply having to slum it.

~ CCN 2L.

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49 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:55 AM

From those I talked to at YLS, it seems the situation is similar to HLS only, as 45 points out, nobody really got no-offered at YLS like they did here. I think that's probably due to the much larger HLS class, but who knows. And yeah, DC (and maybe LA) seemed to be the toughest market.

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50 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:56 AM

On that note, everyone at Yale should stop complaining.

~ 48

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51 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:57 AM

36 - Last time I checked, anyone in the top of their class (apparently you) was entitled to whichever job they want, assuming he's not a bigger dbag than his V5 interviewer (hard to do). The bitterness from those of us (most) who missed T-10 b/c we didn't study enough in college/ for the LSAT is ridiculous. Should have stepped up last year. Glad they can feel better by blaming the economy. The T-10 kids are getting the shaft.

T25 2L - (only problem we should have is making partner with a T25 on our resume)

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52 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:57 AM

"Lot of those Covington and WIlmer etc. offers just never came through. "

Instead of Covington/Wilmer, YLS 2L are headed to... ?

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53 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:57 AM

36 - Last time I checked, anyone in the top of their class (apparently you) was entitled to whichever job they want, assuming he's not a bigger dbag than his V5 interviewer (hard to do). The bitterness from those of us (most) who missed T-10 b/c we didn't study enough in college/ for the LSAT is ridiculous. Should have stepped up last year. Glad they can feel better by blaming the economy. The T-10 kids are getting the shaft.

T25 2L - (only problem we should have is making partner with a T25 on our resume)

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54 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 11:59 AM

agree w. 36.

Oh, that I could have been a failure in a T10 law school and still gotten into BigLaw!

-T30 grad at a V30

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55 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:00 PM

45 - A lot of those Covington and Wilmer offers never came through because YLS students are, by and large, terrible in interviews. We've begun calling back fewer and fewer of you because although there is usually little doubt regarding your academic acumen, there are often grave reservations regarding you social aptitude. Knowing the right answer is important, but being able to convey the right answer without coming across as arrogant and/or awkward is almost as important, and YLS students, more than any other group of law students, fail miserably at the latter.

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56 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:01 PM

Lat - please hire a proofreader.

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57 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:01 PM

"mighty Yale looks like it ready to make some..."

I guess rather than attempt to deal with the proverbial "its" vs. "it's" that we all know is such a struggle for mysTTTal, he decided to just not attempt at all.

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58 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:01 PM

Cornell is DEFINITELY nuber 1. Get it? Nuber 1.

59 Posted by nervous T10 1L | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:04 PM

this would never happen at michigan: we were wise enough to put our eiw in august. not that i'll need the help b/c i just got another interview! woot.

*puts "good life" on repeat while daydreaming about models and bottles*

-nervous T-10 1L
email congrats to nervoust101l@yahoo.com

3 interviews :):):)
15 dings :(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
161 pending...
1 "wait until january" :/

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60 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:05 PM

The music hits me so hard
Makes me say oh my lord
Thank you for blessing me....
with a GULC JD that is TTT

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61 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:08 PM

21, at least we have enough common sense to pull down some gigantic paychecks from Biglaw after only three years of post-undergraduate education. That is, at least until the axe falls or we inevitably get tired of the utter ridiculousness of Biglaw. Que sera, sera, baby!

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62 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:09 PM

36 - you just had to validate yourself with your little clerkship and your little offer didnt you?

I agreed with the first part of your post because there are plenty of students at law schools in the 20 - 50 range who are going to be better lawyers than a lot of HLS grads, and yet they are left with no jobs and cannot prove themselves. There are a lot more unenviable places to be in the economic crisis than a HLS grad who does not have an offer to their top choice firm.

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63 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:09 PM

LOL at number 57...Its' a beautiful post IMHO.

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64 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:09 PM

36 - you just had to validate yourself with your little clerkship and your little offer didnt you?

I agreed with the first part of your post because there are plenty of students at law schools in the 20 - 50 range who are going to be better lawyers than a lot of HLS grads, and yet they are left with no jobs and cannot prove themselves. There are a lot more unenviable places to be in the economic crisis than a HLS grad who does not have an offer to their top choice firm.

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65 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:09 PM

"Models and Bottles?" Is that what T10 1L really thinks he is getting into? Ha!

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66 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:12 PM

Housing is not a problem at YLS- most 1Ls have an apartment in New Haven over the summer so they will just come back to New Haven a bit earlier than normal and YLS is considering an earlier start date for next year, too. Additionally, it does not seem that many students had a problem at FIP-- in fact, most students are happy about their summer jobs.

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67 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:12 PM

See recent post on law firms NOT providing "bottles" for new bar-passers. Ohhhh T10 1L and his outdated cliches.

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68 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:14 PM

The real idiots at this blog are the people who don't realize that T10 1L is satire.

A real 1L would not send out applications until Dec 1, which was 5 days ago. He would not have had so many dings yet, the mail takes longer than that to get to you.

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69 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:15 PM

T3 to TTT.

- Jealous/ Insecure T5 2L

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70 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:17 PM

T10 IL, throw this on instead:

So no, caviar, sharp bar, uh uh
Strictly *work* that's pretty and left over spaghetti
I know you used to slow CD's and Don P's
But tonight its eight tracks and six-packs while I hit that

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71 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:17 PM

as a lawyer at one of the firm HLS students typically put on their top lists, i can tell you that this will be viewed very negatively by professionals.

while early interview weeks in august may be convenient for law students, they are fairly inconvenient for lawyers -- staffing tends to be slim in august (lots of vacations, etc.) and those that remain around often already have a tough burden dealing with client work when things are busy. pilling on numerous early interview obligations really makes things difficult.

the result? top firms need/want to include HLS students, so this will not affect them. it may, however, affect schools a little down the scale, as there are limits to how many concurrent schools our lawyers and recruiting depts. will need to cover. so...the other schools will either need to push things earlier or later.

the time compression in the recruiting process will also mean less time to really try to assess the merits of candidates, as will the move toward P/F grading. I suspect some firms will soon require candidates to to submit your LSAT scores and college GPAs so that they can use some numerical standards to limit the number of candidates they spend the precious little time left reviewing....

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72 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:20 PM

How many 3L jobs will be available at 2009 OCI? Five? Six?

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73 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:22 PM

71, such logical commentary has no place on this board. Please repost, incorporating the phrase PEANUTS and CHEESE (whatever that means) somewhere in your reasoning.

/sarcasm

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74 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:30 PM

PEANUTS and CHEESE!

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75 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:37 PM

36 -

I wouldn't put so much faith in that 2010 offer.

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76 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:40 PM

1 looks like a douche, with the gay slicked back hair and gay mustache, and what appears to be several dozen pounds of pork rinds tucked into his stomach.

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77 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:44 PM

73 is a party-pooper!

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78 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:47 PM

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

Way to end with a bang, MysTTTal.

a) You suppose the entire HLS class will have to come back from San Diego, or some place where it isn't humid in summer?

b) August 24-28 is not the "middle of summer."

c) The average high in Cambridge on those dates is about 78 degrees, with a mean of about 70. It's one of the best time to be there.

d) "Generally un-air conditioned"? Poor much?

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79 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:54 PM

Yale, as usual, makes a laughingstock out of Harvard.

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80 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 12:56 PM

36, if you think T-10 students "aren't being affected by this mess," you're a fucking moron. There are plenty of folks without offers even at top schools.

81 Posted by TTTroll | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:05 PM

76 is a jealous loser who lacks a snazzy beard/haircut, and 78 has obviously never been to Cambridge.

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82 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:07 PM

Chrysler hires Jones Day for bankruptcy work

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83 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:12 PM

"This is far more true of those DC-bound ... WIlmer"

Haven't you heard? Wilmer is a Boston firm. Why anyone from Yale would go to the DC branch of a Boston firm escapes me.

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84 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:17 PM

"36, if you think T-10 students "aren't being affected by this mess," you're a fucking moron. There are plenty of folks without offers even at top schools."

Boo-frickin-hoo. Why should anyone expect that the bottom-third to -half of ANY school (Yale included) should be entitled to a BIGLAW job? Just b/c you performed well in U-Grad and on the LSAT shouldn't mean **anything** w/r/t law firm hiring. Do better than more than half of your classmates, you'll be fine. If you can't you should have taking the scholarship to Big-Square-State University School of Law (or, god-forbid, G'town).

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85 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:18 PM

I like the word snazzy. Its very snazzy.

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86 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:30 PM

Surely all Yale students that *really* wanted jobs at WILDMAN HARROLD got them.

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87 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:43 PM

62/63 - LOL, you got me, i did feel the need to validate.

75 - dully noted

80 - see 84

-36

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88 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:50 PM

I think some of Harvard's problem (if you want to call it a problem) is that the class size at Harvard is so large as compared to it peer institutions. Look at the class sizes at Stanford, Yale, and Chicago. You couple Harvard's class size with the financial collapse in New York and you start to have some minor issues for the students. The issue being that a large number of graduates are looking at fewer jobs. So if a firm that would normally want to hire 10 Harvard grads but now is only going to hire 8 then the other 2 are going to have to go elsewhere - presumably further down the vault list. This also has fallout for lower prestige schools as well. Because now Harvard grads are taking spots that Michigan grads would normally take, and Michigan grads are taking jobs that Georgetown grads would take, and so on down the US&WR. Everyone is feeling the pain from the financial meltdown it’s just that Harvard’s class size is making it more pronounced.

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89 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:55 PM

Harvard law students will be fine. Why on earth should I give a crap if Harvard students are getting the firms they REALLY want? Congratulations, you go to Harvard. The economic crisis doesn't effect you.


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90 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 1:56 PM

Havard is best in Asia.

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91 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:02 PM

To the "wildman harrold" guy and the "peanuts and cheese" guy.... please stop annoying everyone.

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92 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:08 PM

I agree with 91, but the problem is that this site embraces some schticks by acknowledging them in posts (like t10 1L, and frat stud) so everyone thinks its ok to perpetuate their idiot routine no matter how unfunny. while hands off would be ideal, light moderation of the posts may be in the best interest of the blog.

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93 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:20 PM

The real question is why HLS students need four days of "career planning and preparation" in advance of OCI. Are they that socially inept?

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94 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:23 PM

The real bloodbath for 2L summer jobs came at schools 14-40. The bottom 2/3's of the classes there were never going to have much of a shot at being a summer associate - no interview at most OCI's - but the economic collapse turned recruting into "Law Review or bust" for most of these schools.

Lots of people who are jobless right now pending smaller firms figuring out what they are actually doing for the summer in the spring.

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95 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:31 PM

93 - yes.

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96 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:36 PM

71 is full of shit. If he really were a Biglaw partner, he'd know that the associates and junior parters responsible for OCI do not take vacations.

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97 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:38 PM

FWIW: Middle-of-the-class T25 2L with a V100 offer. Suck it.

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98 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:44 PM

70 - Congrats on being dumb. It's not "sharp bar," it's SHARK Bar. Stick to torts and civ pro. Your knowledge of hip hop lyrics is seriously lacking. You're actually embarrassing yourself. Additionally, you have informed all readers of your lack of knowledge about upscale restaurants in NY.

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99 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:45 PM

21 - this is all I got from your rantings: "all of associates' successes are due to double-dealing, economic thuggery, and unsavory cronyism."

Thanks for the tips, I'll be sure to employ them as I make my loads of undeserved cash.

- 3L ready to start in Biglaw

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100 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:47 PM

V100? Since when did that impress? Oh how far we have fallen.

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101 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:49 PM

V100? Since when did that impress? Oh how far we have fallen.

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102 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 2:53 PM

97 - Suck your unemployment when your V100 firm no-offers your unjustifiably cocky ass to keep itself out of bankruptcy for one more week.

Top-of-the-class T25 2L w/ 3 V5 offers. (didn't sit on them - don't get irate, H/Y kids).

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103 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:01 PM

94, that wasn't true at all at my school (T25). The vast majority of those in the top third that were looking for firm jobs got them.

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104 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:11 PM

43 & 44, I still don't think the policy makes sense. If the economy gets worse between September and October, then Harvard students face a tougher market than their peers (under the OCI schedule as it is). If the economy gets better between September and October, then Harvard students face an easier market than their peers (under the OCI schedule as it is). So the fact that Harvard students don't apply for jobs at the same time as everyone else could either work in their favor or against them. It happened to work against them this year, but it could well work in their favor next year.

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105 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:14 PM

103 - Law students lie (and don't talk about their disappointments).

Wait for the NALP forms. Those summer class cuts aren't coming out of the T14.

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106 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:21 PM

I'm so happy to hear that Harvard and Yale students are getting offers from firms the REALLY want, as opposed to offers from every firm that interviews them. Thank God! They're gonna make it!!

Ridiculous.

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107 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:23 PM

97 = future Adams & Reese employee from Vanderbilt

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108 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:24 PM

96 is clearly not a big firm lawyer. if he really were a lawyer he would have (1) noticed that 71 never said whether s/he was a Biglaw partner, (2) known that lots of folks (beyond senior partners) do indeed take vacations in August and (3) known that the senior partners who do take vacations in August need/want senior associates and junior partners available to handle their clients when they are away (instead of going travelling around the country to do interviews).

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109 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:31 PM

Like other commentators have noted, this is a completely idiotic and irrational reaction to a happenstance September meltdown. If the financial crisis had taken place in January, perhaps schools would have been well-advised to move their OCI back to December of the 1L year, right?

. . . wrong.

OCI should remain in early September because August is the prime vacation season.

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110 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:37 PM

Not gonna matter once summer class recisions and no-offers start happening.

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111 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:52 PM

Harvard and Yale are fighting the last war. This year being last definitely hurt them in my DC firm, but most of the ones we would hire are going to clerk so they will have a second bite at the apple.

My firm (and others like them) have been keeping slots open for Harvard and Yale. I believe that normally benefits students from these schools. Other schools could not do the same thing, because firms will not hold spots open for other schools.

The problem this year was that hell broke loose in the middle of hiring season (not before, not after) AND we had more acceptances than expected from the other schools. But if Harvard and Yale move OCI up, there will be NO reason to keep slots open for them. It will just be a head-to-head competition among students from ALL schools. I do not think this will benefit Yale and Harvard students. I am not saying that Harvard and Yale students do not compare favorably, because they do. But these schools will no longer get the quota because it won't be needed. Students at the other top schools should be happy about this.

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112 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 3:59 PM

Yale is only considering this move because of harvard. They are afraid of harvard picking up all the good spots.

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113 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 4:14 PM

who is going to be hurt by HLS and YLS moving up OCI?

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114 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, December 5, 2008 4:57 PM

Seriously 36, do not count on that offer.

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