2L Hoping She’ll Find the “One” During On Campus Interviews

This fall hundreds of firms will descend on law school campuses nationwide in order to pick their next crop of incoming associates. Like many law students, rising 2L Samantha Hutchenson is both excited and nervous about the upcoming campus interviews.

“OCI [On Campus Interviews] will be a tough, grueling process,” said Hutchenson. “But I just know that if I interview with the right firms and leave a good impression I will like totally find the ‘one!’”

Using her school's computerized system, Hutchenson has already ranked the suitors she'd most like to talk to and in return has been told which firms she'll be attempting to charm. Wanting to put her best foot forward, Hutchenson has already begun researching these potential employers.

"I am totally Internet stalking these places," said Hutchenson. "However, I think it's important beforehand to get a good idea what these firms look like, how much money they have and how intelligent their practice is. I just know my firm is out there somewhere!"

Ever since realizing as a little girl that she wanted to be a lawyer, the rising 2L has been waiting for the day when she'd be swept off her feet by a confident New York firm or a prestigious DC litigation shop. However, Hutchenson knew early on that she'd have to work hard to get noticed by cream of the crop.

"I studied really hard for my LSATs, got good grades my 1L year and had impressive work experience between undergrad and law school, " explained Hutchenson. "I understood from the start that for the big boys to notice me I had to be the complete package."

Hutchenson is close to achieving her dream as major law firms begin interviewing students on campus in only a few weeks. Ironically, the problem is that now there are so many suitors to choose from.

"I mean, at the beginning of law school I was super worried that I wouldn't attract any firm's attention," remarked Hutchenson. "Now, my biggest issue is that there are so many potential matches. I have heard that each suitor has its differences so hopefully those will help narrow things down for me."

Hutchenson continued: "For example, I know that Sullivan [Sullivan & Cromwell] is stuffy but with very smart lawyers, Skadden [Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meager and Flom] supposedly is very arrogant and Wachtell [Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz] is super prestigious. And there's this firm called Mofo [Morrison Forrester]. I don't know much about them but that name is hilarious!"

In an effort to woo law students, firms shower them with free food, alcohol and trinkets. Employers often give away logo-emblazoned key chains, umbrellas, flashlights, mint canisters, calculators and clothing. They rent out fancy restaurants for cocktail parties, making sure to have open bars. Some firms even take a chosen few to dinner for lavish meals.

"Oh my god, I can't wait to receive so much attention," said a clearly excited Hutchenson. "Hopefully, I can stand out enough get some second dates, so to speak."

Hutcheon was referring to the callback, or second round of interviews. After a firm expresses an interest in you, usually via a very flattering phone call, it will fly the student back to its office and put him or her up in a hotel, all expenses paid. After that second meeting with the interested employer, the lucky ones get offers to be a summer associate which usually leads to full time employment.

"This whole process is certainly stressful especially considering I need to make my choice by December," said Hutchenson. "Hopefully by then I will have been struck by an amazing firm, one that I will be happy to spend the rest of my life with. And I am sure that once I've found the perfect match and started working everything will be one big happy fairy tale."