Caseload

Callback Q&A

2008-08-26T14:13:25-04:00

When will firms extend callback offers?

Callback invitations may be extended any time after the on-Grounds interviewing process begins in August. A number of callbacks take place in September, but many callback invitations for UVA students aren’t extended until September or October. If you get an “early” callback, or a callback received within a week to 10 days after the on-Grounds interview, you are likely someone the firm is very impressed with. Most firms have an early callback list of superior candidates and a “hold” list made up of other candidates they also like, and if you’ve interviewed with a firm but not heard from them you are probably in the “hold” group. Employers are rarely able to fill their needs from their early callback list, and they routinely make later offers for callbacks to those on “hold.” This contributes to a “second wave” of callbacks in September and October.

What if I haven’t heard from some on Grounds interviews?

If you have interviewed with a firm and two weeks have passed without hearing anything from the firm, you should contact those firms to let them know you are still interested. A good way to do this is to email your interviewer and copy the recruiting contact on CASE. This can expedite the process of a firm giving you a callback invitation if you are in the “hold” group.

You should also let firms know if you are going to be in their city on other callbacks once you have scheduled one or more callbacks for that location.

How soon do you need to respond to a callback invitation?

Sooner rather than later. Without question, within 24 hours of receiving the callback invitation, you should return the call to acknowledge your interest in visiting. If it is a firm in which you are especially interested, you should try to schedule the callback as soon as possible. If you are not sure about going on a callback, you should still acknowledge that you received the invitation and will be getting back to them within a certain time frame to schedule the callback.

Can you turn down a callback?

You can absolutely turn down a callback. You can also cancel a callback that has been scheduled, but you should do so well in advance. Once you’ve decided you should cancel a callback, call either the attorney who extended the callback invitation or the firm’s recruiting coordinator and tell him or her politely that you’ve decided to accept another offer and that you don’t feel it’s in your or the firm’s best interests if you come. You can follow up with an email, but you should call the attorney or the recruiting administrator. Just as you should not send an email to decline a callback, you should not call at 2:00 a.m. when you know [or think] the person will not be there. As awkward as declining a callback may seem, it happens all the time. Firms expect some students to decline callbacks. Make sure you do it as soon as possible, since you don’t want the firm to waste time and resources on you, which will happen if you cancel at the last minute.

Once you get an offer or two or feel that you have enough callbacks, you may, and indeed should, cancel those callbacks you don’t really need or want [with sufficient advance notice; one day is not sufficient]. Canceling a callback may result in one of your classmate’s getting one. Don’t go on a callback just for the sake of it; if you have no interest in the firm and know that you wouldn’t accept an offer to work there this summer, don’t go.

When should you schedule the callbacks? Is October too late?

Getting there early gives you the best chance of getting an offer and gets the process moving so that the firm can extend callback invitations to others on “hold.” October is not too late, and indeed many students will use Fall Break to interview. For the firms coming on Grounds in September, October callbacks make sense.

What should you expect to be asked about?

Anything on your resume is fair game. Firms are usually okay with your transcript by this stage, but questions about classes or grades are still fair game. You should also have a few questions that you can ask when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions.

What kinds of questions should you ask at a callback?

As you did in the OGI, you should ask about the work you will be doing as a summer associate and as an associate. Questions about billable hours requirements, lifestyle, etc. are off limits. You might also want to wait to ask about splitting until after you receive an offer.

What expenses will the firm pay for?

Reasonable expenses related to your travel and accommodations. This is not the time to order pay-per-view and raid the mini-bar. If you have specific questions about what is covered, ask the recruiting contact in advance. It is usually okay to fly out of Charlottesville, unless the firm specifies otherwise or if you’re going to DC.

What about Phase 2 and September OGIs?

The deadline to sign up for September interviews is 10pm Sunday night, August 31. Only sign up for firms that you really want to interview with. If you have requested OGIs in September and have scheduled a callback for one of the interview dates, be sure to cancel your interview request on CASE before the published cancellation deadline. If you need to have your interview scheduled in the morning or in the afternoon to accommodate your already scheduled travel arrangements, please let Career Services know as soon as possible but no later than the cancellation/confirmation deadline.

It is better to go ahead with the callback and contact the OGI firm directly if you’re in this situation. Let the firm know you’ve cancelled your interview request because you had already scheduled a callback, but that you’re very interested in interviewing with that firm. Often, you can bypass the initial interview and get a callback by doing this.

Advice for 3Ls

2008-08-14T09:19:33-04:00

If you haven’t already heard, soon you will know if you will receive an offer from your summer employer. If you do not receive an offer, you will undoubtedly experience many negative emotions, but don’t feel sorry for yourself for any length of time. This is your career; you need to proactively look for opportunities and work to secure an offer. It will undoubtedly take a lot of work, but you can still be successful in your job search even if you don’t return to the firm where you worked this summer. Get in touch with Career Services sooner rather than later, and be prepared to take control of your career.

We also strongly encourage you to read the following:

http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2008/08/letter-to-the-1.html

Lynne Traverse has excellent advice and recommendations. As she demonstrates in the article, it is possible to be successful even if you don’t receive an offer, even in this economy. The successful student will have to be prepared and work hard.

You should not speak (in person or cyberspace) negatively of your firm or your experience there. It only reflects poorly on you, and ultimately will work to your disadvantage.

You’re going to have to handle bad facts at some point in your career as a practicing attorney; here is your first opportunity to prove that you can do so with confidence, poise and maturity.

The bottom line:

Career Services is here to help. Stay in close touch with the Career Services Office or the Public Service Center, and let us help you help yourself.

Student Greeters Wanted!

2008-08-05T11:24:00-04:00

As you know, the first phase of On Grounds Interviews will take place from August 20-26, 2008, when the 1Ls will be in class and many 2Ls and 3Ls will be interviewing.

We are looking for 2Ls and 3Ls to help us greet employers and escort them to their interview rooms during this time. The time commitment will be for a couple of hours in the morning beginning at 8:00 a.m., along with an orientation on Monday, August 18 or Tuesday, August 19 (time TBD but will not conflict with Peer Advisor duties). You will be scheduled for later interviews or excused early for interviews on mornings you are greeting, but you will need to commit to help all five days.

Some of the benefits, other than having extra money to start the school year, include meeting employers and networking, getting to know some other students and us in Career Services, and did we mention extra money to start the school year?! For more information or to apply, please contact Career Services.

Special Requests

2008-07-28T10:14:52-04:00

As the August 4 deadline approaches, we would like to offer more information on the Special Request process and substance.

What is a Special Request?

A Special Request provides students with an additional opportunity to request an interview with a particular employer. If an employer you’re interested in fails to grant you an interview (NIA) or if you forget to submit an interview request, you may submit a Special Request through CASE to see that employer. Special Requests are due on CASE no later than 10:00 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2008. Special Requests, which consist of a resume, a grade report (unless being withheld), and a 150-word (or less) statement of interest, are faxed to employers in advance of their interviewing date, and employers are asked to fit those making the Requests into their interview schedules.

Employers will advise us which Special Requests they have granted either before or when they arrive at the Law School, and students must check the Interview Board in Slaughter or come to the Career Services Office (Room 231A, Slaughter Hall) on the morning of the interview date to see if your request has been granted. Special Requests are not always successful, and we will allow each student ten successful Special Requests during the fall. (Successful Special Requests do not count towards the 25-interview limit.) This limit will be strictly enforced.

How do I submit a Special Request?

Go to your All My Requests and click on the NIA. You will be prompted to enter a 150-word statement of interest and click “Submit” at the bottom of the page. If you have not requested an interview, you should click on “Create Late NIASRs” on the left hand side of the screen under Employment Opportunities on CASE.

What is appropriate to include in the statement of interest?

You should mention your interest in the firm, city, or anything else that you feel would be important for the employer to know about you. Below is an example of what a special request may look like.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t granted an initial interview with [FIRM NAME], but I am extremely interested in the firm and hope you will grant my special request. I am focusing my job search in Richmond, having gone to school there. In researching firms, I found that [FIRM NAME'S] litigation practice, especially in the Richmond office, has a strong reputation and has represented some impressive clients. I believe I could contribute to the firm given my strong interpersonal ability and my strong desire to become the best lawyer I can. I hope to be able to speak with you in person, and thank you for considering this request.”

How will I know if my Special Request has been granted?

Most likely, you will not know if your Special Request has been granted until the day of the interview. You should be prepared to interview in case your Request is successful.

When are Special Requests scheduled?

It depends. Special Requests can be scheduled at any time during the interview day, depending on the employer's wishes. Usually interviewers will shorten their lunch break or lengthen the interview day to accommodate Special Requests, so Special Request interviews at the lunch hour and after 5:00 are common.

Remember, if you make a Special Request, you must check the Interview Board in Slaughter or come to the Career Services Office (Room 231A Slaughter Hall) at 10:30 a.m. on the day of the interview to find out if you have been granted the Special Request interview.

Mid Summer Check Up

2008-07-09T13:31:40-04:00

Greetings from the Career Services Office! We hope your summer is going well. We have posted a link to this "Letter to the Summers" about seeking feedback and maximizing your chance of getting an offer. The link is available here.

As the article suggests, be sure you are actively seeking feedback and working to improve. One effective way to elicit feedback from an attorney, especially if he or she is not forthcoming with details, is for you to identify what you perceived as the weaknesses and the strengths of your work product. For example, you might say that you thought your analysis was particularly strong, but you felt that your arguments were not as persuasive as they could have been. That will focus the conversation and give the attorney a way to make specific suggestions, as well as demonstrate your desire to learn and improve. [This should be done in person and NOT over email.]

Remember, it's called constructive criticism for a reason! Use it to your benefit and improve your performance.

Preparing your Writing Sample

2008-07-03T21:04:00-04:00

You should have a writing sample of 8-10 pages, double-spaced, available as you prepare for interviews. DO NOT upload this to CASE; you will only need it at the interview. Employers will sometimes ask for a writing sample before interviews begin, but generally do not ask until the actual interview. It is essential to have your writing sample with you at your interviews.

What should you use?

The short answer is your best writing, whatever you think accurately and most positively reflects your legal reasoning and analytical skills. Some students use writing from a summer project, but before you do you need to first confirm with your supervisor and be sure to redact any confidential or client-identifying information. Most students use a portion of their legal research and writing brief. It is okay to use a part or section of a longer writing, because your writing sample should be between 8 and 10 pages, but no more than 12 pages max. If you use a section of a longer writing, you may include a cover page with your name, and a brief (no more than a short paragraph) description of the facts, procedural posture, your position, or any other relevant facts. Don’t get caught up in restating the statement of facts, just give the reader an overview of what they will be reading and an idea of where it fits in the longer writing sample. Be sure to print it out and double and triple check it for punctuation, grammar, and stylistic errors. Be prepared to discuss your writing sample in an interview, whether it is an OGI or a callback.

Callbacks and Course Selection

2008-07-03T14:03:17-04:00

Today’s post is in response to questions we’ve received from students regarding class schedules and callbacks. We will post much more information on the callback process and strategy as the interview season approaches. For now, we’ve limited this discussion to scheduling issues as they relate to callbacks. For the September OGIs (September 18-24), we will not schedule any interviews during classes; no exceptions.

Should I plan my class schedule to have one day each week free?

First and foremost, you should plan to take the classes that are most interesting to you. What usually ends up happening is that most law students don't schedule classes on Friday, so students will try to schedule callbacks for Fridays. Firms are bringing back many students from many different schools, and Fridays tend to book up quickly. Your better bet would be to try to schedule callbacks for another day, although again you need to be flexible. Some students wait until fall break (which is October 6-8 this year) to schedule callbacks, but we recommend going on a callback as soon as possible.

Will I need to have weekends free to interview?

Generally, no, although it somewhat depends on the market(s) you are considering. If you are planning to interview on the west coast, it would make sense to plan to visit a few firms and stay for a longer period of time. In that case it might make sense to include a weekend. If you're looking on the east coast (DC, Richmond, NY, Atlanta, etc.) you can make more frequent trips and shouldn't have to plan on spending a weekend. Because callbacks are scheduled on weekdays, the only times you would spend a weekend would be if you were visiting more than one firm or if you had personal reasons for staying over the weekend (but then you wouldn't stay at the hotel for more than one night).

I am considering signing up for a short course. When should I expect to be finished with callbacks? What is the timeline for callbacks?

Attendance at all short courses is mandatory, so you would probably be wise not to schedule a short course this fall unless it begins later in the fall. You should consider seriously whether you can make such a commitment, and consider taking the short course another semester.

Callbacks usually begin after Labor Day and go through October or November, although some students are finished by October. It really varies by student. A few students will get many early callbacks, while others will not get or schedule callbacks right away. There are many prestigious firms coming to interview in late September, so those callbacks will obviously not happen until late September/early October. Again, September OGIs will be scheduled around your classes and interviews will under no circumstances be scheduled during class time.

Resume Advice

2008-06-19T11:56:00-04:00

As the July 13 deadline approaches, your resume should be ready to be uploaded to CASE. Once you have uploaded your resume to CASE, you will need to open the file and check that the document appears as you intended it to. Sometimes strange things happen in the conversion to PDF, so make sure that your resume is only one page and that it looks exactly right.

A note about email accounts and cell phones: even if you use gmail or yahoo as your primary email, you should list your UVA email address on your resume. It is more professional. If you have an email signature, you should also check your email signature to make sure it is accurate and professional. Likewise, your cell phone greeting should be professional. Employers will be calling you on your cell phone, so keep that in mind as you record your greeting.

Fall 2008 Interviewing

2008-06-09T15:11:00-04:00

It isn’t too early to begin thinking about the Fall On Grounds Interview process. The first thing students should do is email your resume to Career Services before June 30 to be reviewed and updated with your current summer position. Next, you should consider your target markets and employers. Review the resources online, and make an appointment with Dean Hopson or Dean Lawson if you have further questions. Given the change in the NALP timing guidelines, you would be wise to create an excel spreadsheet to track your interviews, callbacks, offers, and offer expiration date. This can be an important tool in organizing your job search.

New Link

2008-05-16T12:56:07-04:00

Please notice the addition of a link to the Career & Professional Development Blog, part of the Law Professors blog network. Here you will find timely and sage advice as it relates to your career development.