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Fordham Law Lashes Out at Reed Smith Rudeness
Dean Treanor to firm: Don’t come ‘round here no more.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 1:21 PM - By David Lat

Fordham School of Law logo.JPGWe’ve heard from many frustrated law students who bid on a particular law firm for on-campus interviewing only to learn, after using up a bid or an interview slot, that the firm in question wouldn’t be coming to OCI after all. We’ve even heard from students who were told, mid-interview, that the office they were supposedly interviewing for wouldn’t be having a summer program (but more on that later).

Law firms are certainly entitled to pick which schools they want to interview at. But, as a matter of basic professional courtesy and respect, they should make those decisions as early in the process as possible. When a law firm withdraws from the fall recruiting process at a given school at the eleventh hour, it causes great inconvenience to law students and schools.

What do most law schools do when firms pull out from OCI at the last minute? As far as we know, nothing. In this economy, law firms are in the driver’s seat. They’re the people with jobs to dole out.

But at least one law school has decided to take a stand against rudeness. After Reed Smith announced its late withdrawal from the recruiting process at Fordham Law, the school struck back, banning the firm from recruiting at Fordham for the next five years.

Dean William Treanor announced the move to the law school in a saucy email that truly puts the “F.U.” in Fordham University. The Fordham law folks are located at Lincoln Center rather than Rose Hill, but this message suggests they can brawl like their Bronx brethren.

Update (8/13/09): The firm’s response to the situation appears here.

Read the dean’s complete email message, and vote in our reader poll — yes, another one, we can’t help ourselves (we love to get your opinion on such matters) — after the jump.

DEAN WILLIAM MICHAEL TREANOR — FORDHAM UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW — MEMORANDUM

From: Dean William Michael Treanor
Date: Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Subject: EIW: Reed Smith
To: Fordham Law School community

Dear Students,

Ethics and professionalism are at the heart of the legal profession. At Fordham Law, we strive to impart to our students the importance of these principles through our curriculum, clinics, and activities—and during the job search process. The importance of law schools instilling the tenets of professionalism in students is a theme we continually hear from legal employers.

I am disappointed, therefore, to advise you that, after the release of EIW interview schedules, Reed Smith contacted us to withdraw from this year’s EIW program. While the firm intends to have a 2010 Summer Associate Program and to keep its commitment to interview at other schools, Reed Smith decided to no longer interview at some schools, including Fordham. Despite our attempts to engage the firm in discussion, its decision remains.

While disappointing, Reed Smith’s action is more disheartening because of the lack of professionalism it conveys. The firm could have made its decision earlier; in fact, it received its interview schedule prior to canceling its participation. In my seven years as Dean, no other firm has canceled its interviews after the schedule was released. Thus, we have informed the firm that it will not be invited to participate in our OCI program for the next 5 years. I have never imposed such a sanction on an employer, and I was saddened to do so.

At Fordham Law, we require our students to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism, and we expect employers to demonstrate the same high standards.

Best,
Bill

Update (8/13/09): The firm’s response to the situation appears here.

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Posted in: Fordham School of Law, Job Searches, Law School Deans, Reader Polls, Reed Smith, Rudeness

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