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State of BIGLAW update (NYU 2L)

post #1 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:26pm
Thread Starter 
Well, OCI is approaching and I'm preparing for the bloodbath. I have poor grades (I think around bottom 1/3), which I hear didn't used to matter too much, but things have changed. No more median-->Skadden. I'm just wondering what the BIGLAWYERS think will happen. What %% of people from places like NYU will be able to get v100? More layoffs? Salary cuts? etc.
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post #2 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:27pm
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post #3 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:30pm
Thread Starter 
Why do you find it funny that my life is imploding? *cries*
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post #4 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:34pm
Your prospect for big (or relatively big) law is not looking so hot. Who can give you percentages? All you can do is bid for OCI and see what happens with interviews. Part of it will be how you can sell yourself, the other part will be luck (e.g. whether you have great rapport with whoever the firm sends out for OCI). If you have 40 or 50 bids, pray that you get a handful of callbacks. But being bottom 1/3, I wouldn't count on it - for big law anyway.
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post #5 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:34pm
It's just funny that the OP reads exactly like one of Teger's posts when he's mocking people.
Not laughing at your misfortune.
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post #6 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:38pm
You know what? Fuck Biglaw. The business model is to get rid of 3/4 (or more) of all associates before year 4, so if you aren't a plugger you probably wouldn't have made it anyway. Plus you would have hated it.

You are going to have a hard time finding a job, period. No one is hiring, and there are a million qualified applicants already laid off from biglaw or the like who are also looking. My advice (seriously) is to go to Europe and get an LLM. They are not that expensive, most of the programs are in English, and you can learn something interesting. Whether or not it helps your career in the long run, who cares? You'll get to spend some time in an interesting place with interesting people. If you concentrate on EU competition law you may actually be able to find a job when you are finished.

Also, don't rely on OCI's - do your own networking. Most lawyers do not get jobs through OCI's even in the best of times.
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post #7 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by teddieriley View Post
Your prospects for big (or relatively big) law is not looking so hot. Who can give you percentages? All you can do is bid for OCI and see what happens with interviews. Part of it will be how you can sell yourself, the other part will be luck (e.g. whether you have great rapport with whoever the firm sends out for OCI).

Why did this happen right before I went to law school? This sucks so bad. The amount of debt I will have is sickening. I'm honestly contemplating dropping out if I don't get something at OCI.
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post #8 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:42pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big A View Post
You know what? Fuck Biglaw. The business model is to get rid of 3/4 (or more) of all associates before year 4, so if you aren't a plugger you probably wouldn't have made it anyway. Plus you would have hated it.

You are going to have a hard time finding a job, period. No one is hiring, and there are a million qualified applicants already laid off from biglaw or the like who are also looking. My advice (seriously) is to go to Europe and get an LLM. They are not that expensive, most of the programs are in English, and you can learn something interesting. Whether or not it helps your career in the long run, who cares? You'll get to spend some time in an interesting place with interesting people. If you concentrate on EU competition law you may actually be able to find a job when you are finished.

Also, don't rely on OCI's - do your own networking. Most lawyers do not get jobs through OCI's even in the best of times.

NYU cost ~70K year when you count housing etc. I NEED biglaw just to make a living.
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post #9 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:46pm
While Big A's advice sounds nice, adding the cost of living in Europe and the cost of tuition is nothing to scoff at. There is still a big difference between owing $150K and $200K, and I wouldn't do it. You'd be digging a bigger hole for yourself. And that's assuming you can even get financial aid to finance this little excursion.

Don't blame the economy. Blame your own inability to get in the top quarter of the class. Maybe you should have gone to a lesser school and been top 10%. Your shot at big law (likely outside of NYC) would have gone up dramatically. There are kids still going to get summer positions at these firms, despite this economy.
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post #10 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by teddieriley View Post
While Big A's advice sounds nice, adding the cost of living in Europe and the cost of tuition is nothing to scoff at. There is still a big difference between owing $150K and $200K, and I wouldn't it. You'd be digging a bigger hole for yourself.

Don't blame the economy. Blame your own inability to get in the top quarter of the class. Maybe you should have gone to a lesser school and been top 10%. Your shot at big law (likely outside of NYC) would have gone up dramatically. There are kids still going to get summer positions at these firms, despite this economy.

I really don't feel like I would have done much better at another school because I don't feel like my class ranking was a reflection of my studying/intelligence.

Also, in a good economy, it didn't seem to matter where you ended up. (unless you wanted s&c, wachtell etc.)
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post #11 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:54pm
that's how the economy works.
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post #12 of 128
7/31/09 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manhappenin View Post
I really don't feel like I would have done much better at another school because I don't feel like my class ranking was a reflection of my studying/intelligence.

Also, in a good economy, it didn't seem to matter where you ended up. (unless you wanted s&c, wachtell etc.)

Not sure what you mean, but as an employer, my take would be that you were lazy, didn't do what it takes just to be the top (wherever you want that to take you whether big law, clerkship, etc.) or you just aren't the brightest of the bunch. And I think the badge that one went to a top 10 school as a free pass for a big law gig (whatever that is worth these days) is no longer. Thus, you probably shouldn't set your sets on big law. And if you're doing it for the money so you can pay back your loans, well then, i don't think you had any clue what law school is about before you matriculated.

In any event, good luck. Never know what can happen.
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post #13 of 128
7/31/09 at 1:08pm
Don't expect advice from other law students. In true law school form, they are all too competitive to help you get a job that they are also seeking. And right now as you post, they are ripping pages out of books in the library
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post #14 of 128
7/31/09 at 1:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyquik View Post
Don't expect advice from other law students. In true law school form, they are all too competitive to help you get a job that they are also seeking. And right now as you post, they are ripping pages out of books in the library

Why does the vandalism of the books in the library matter anyway? All you need is your own class notes, previous outlines from former students and your case books. Students tearing out pages to any hard copy sample/prior tests or answers thereto that are only available in the library, would be disadvantageous, however.
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post #15 of 128
7/31/09 at 1:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyquik View Post
Don't expect advice from other law students. In true law school form, they are all too competitive to help you get a job that they are also seeking. And right now as you post, they are ripping pages out of books in the library

Please give me better (hopefully encouraging) advice
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