The Big Law career guide for law school students, graduates, and young lawyers, from landing a job at elite firms to picking a practice area
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It's been a rollercoaster year for law school students and graduates.
Schools took a hairpin turn to remote learning in the spring, and recent graduates were stuck in a state of limbo as bar exams were continually delayed, forcing firms to push back their start dates for incoming first-year associates. The tumultuous saga of bar exams continued as the primary software used for the test experienced a slew of tech glitches and accusations of cybersecurity infringement and discrimination.
Another change caused by the pandemic: on-campus interviews (OCI) for law firms' summer associate programs - the primary pipeline for new talent at firms - were pushed back from the beginning of the fall semester to later in the academic year, with January 2021 as the peak time for virtual interviews.The changes in OCI timing and format introduce uncertainty for students, many of whom feel like they're in the dark. How will law firms view spring semester's pass-fail grades? Has the pandemic affected firms' hiring needs? How can I network and make connections when everyone's confined to boxes on Zoom?
Recruiting chairs and hiring partners at some of the most prestigious Big Law firms, including Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins, share what they're looking for in an ideal candidate, from strong communication skills to an ability to work as a team player. They also discuss what students should know about their firm to demonstrate genuine interest, and share their top tips on impressing interviewers in a virtual setting.Read more:
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Last year, delays in bar exams and law firms' first-year associate start dates left many law school graduates stuck in a state of limbo. Amid uncertainty and setbacks, industry experts recommend the best ways to keeping legal skills sharp, from engaging in pro bono work to reading up on various aspects of the ever-evolving legal field.
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