NALP Perspectives on Fall 2012 Recruiting Forum

[rad lulz]

http://www.nalp.org/uploads/Perspective ... uiting.pdf

Read the whole thing

TL;DR
- basically flat 2L SA hiring on the whole with some regional variation
- 3L OCI remains a flame, with only 82 offers total in Fall 2012

My take: if you are paying sticker or close to it, don't have PI or govt. background, and don't get a 2L SA, drop out now.

[Bikeflip]

“We have seen some faltering in recruiting volumes this past fall,” says James Leipold, NALP’s Executive Director, “and that reflects the continuing faltering in the larger legal economy. If you read the client advisories coming from some of the private banks that are involved in law firm financing, it’s clear that 2013 is not likely to be dramatically better. As law firms battle for market share and compete within a global marketplace that is driving the price of legal services down, law firms continue to be cautious about bringing in more lawyers than they can confidently keep busy. I would expect flat and faltering to be characteristics of the entry-level law firm hiring market going forward, at least for the short and even medium term. Multiple experts have made the case that the legal market is not likely to return to pre-2007 levels, and the recruiting environment reflects that reality."

[09042014]

Looks like there wasn't a huge amount of no offers like people predicted.

[bowser]

http://abovethelaw.com/2013/02/summer-a ... c-in-2012/

Confirms what I've heard around my school, which is that hiring took a step back for c/o 2014 from c/o 2013. I don't really understand what law firms are up to; apparently this structural argument may have some merit.

[Anonymous User]

http://abovethelaw.com/2013/02/summer-a ... c-in-2012/

Confirms what I've heard around my school, which is that hiring took a step back for c/o 2014 from c/o 2013. I don't really understand what law firms are up to; apparently this structural argument may have some merit.

It felt this way at my school (lower t-14) also. What also really struck me is that there seemed to be little grades--vault rank matching. I pray to god that firms underestimated their needs this year and will decide to come on 3l oci...

[5ky]

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=204171

[Myself]

.

[star fox]

Why do I want to go to Law School again?

[09042014]

I wonder why they don't list out raw number of offers accepted? Because a bunch of small firms returning to hiring, even if small, would increase teh number of spots, but would actually bring down the average number of offers. I don't think it's necessarily true, but we are looking at an indicator when they probably have the actual data.

[ndirish2010]

Interesting, anecdotally it seemed much better this year than last year here.

[nmcdgt]

Interesting, anecdotally it seemed much better this year than last year here.

Atlanta was a bloodbath this year

[ndirish2010]

Interesting, anecdotally it seemed much better this year than last year here.

Atlanta was a bloodbath this year

I've heard of one person here going there from here.

We really don't rely on any one market anymore (now that Chicago is shit). It could be that we had a good collection of people this year w/ ties to good secondary markets, or that I am simply overestimating how well the 2L class did at OCI.

[rad lulz]

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=204171

[rad lulz]

http://abovethelaw.com/2013/02/summer-a ... c-in-2012/

Confirms what I've heard around my school, which is that hiring took a step back for c/o 2014 from c/o 2013. I don't really understand what law firms are up to; apparently this structural argument may have some merit.

It felt this way at my school (lower t-14) also. What also really struck me is that there seemed to be little grades--vault rank matching. I pray to god that firms underestimated their needs this year and will decide to come on 3l oci...

That lack of grades-vault matching has been true every year

[Anonymous User]

I guess this is really no surprise, especially to the many unemployed 3Ls.

[thegrayman]

Awesome find, thanks for posting!

[rad lulz]

I guess this is really no surprise, especially to the many unemployed 3Ls.

Absolutely not a surprise. But now we have stats to back it up.

[AllTheLawz]

http://abovethelaw.com/2013/02/summer-a ... c-in-2012/

Confirms what I've heard around my school, which is that hiring took a step back for c/o 2014 from c/o 2013. I don't really understand what law firms are up to; apparently this structural argument may have some merit.

A lot of firms are still dealing with the ripple effect of absorbing deferrals. Some firms took in 40 entry levels in 2010, 80 in 2011 (deferrals) and then back to 40 in 2012. If they want to avoid significant layoffs they have to wait for 2011 to filter out.

[rad lulz]

http://abovethelaw.com/2013/02/summer-a ... c-in-2012/

Confirms what I've heard around my school, which is that hiring took a step back for c/o 2014 from c/o 2013. I don't really understand what law firms are up to; apparently this structural argument may have some merit.

A lot of firms are still dealing with the ripple effect of absorbing deferrals. Some firms took in 40 entry levels in 2010, 80 in 2011 (deferrals) and then back to 40 in 2012. If they want to avoid significant layoffs they have to wait for 2011 to filter out.

Then again, Southern and Midwestern firms just straight up no-offered, so it doesn't seem like we're seeing a ripple there.

Also, 2013 first years won't really be doing the same shit as 2011 third years, so it makes me question somewhat how much the above is really true.

Also, some of those deferrals never started to begin with.

I don't think this is just a ripple.

[keg411]

The "ripple" from deferrals was back in the SA classes in 2008/2009/2010 and should've been done by 2011. I thought SA's in 2012 were going to be the "new normal", but looks like the SA 2013 classes are taking a step back.

[rad lulz]

The "ripple" from deferrals was back in the SA classes in 2008/2009/2010 and should've been done by 2011. I thought SA's in 2012 were going to be the "new normal", but looks like the SA 2013 classes are taking a step back.

I think he's referring to 2011 grads, not c/o 2011 SAs

[TTRansfer]

Thanks for the post on this. Interesting data. I agree that anecdotally it seemed better this year than it was last year. A bit surprised at the flat growth and continued 3L flaming (here's hoping that shit gets better next year -- lulz).

Atlanta was mentioned as a bloodbath -- wasn't Philly similar? I had a number of Philly interviews and just got shit on at every one of them. Perhaps it is just me, but it seemed like even the Penn kids were thinking Philly was a killer this year.

[rad lulz]

Thanks for the post on this. Interesting data. I agree that anecdotally it seemed better this year than it was last year. A bit surprised at the flat growth and continued 3L flaming (here's hoping that shit gets better next year -- lulz).

Atlanta was mentioned as a bloodbath -- wasn't Philly similar? I had a number of Philly interviews and just got shit on at every one of them. Perhaps it is just me, but it seemed like even the Penn kids were thinking Philly was a killer this year.

I lol internally when people talk about more firms shifting to more 3L recruiting.

[fatduck]

Interesting, anecdotally it seemed much better this year than last year here.

Atlanta was a bloodbath this year

multiple HLSers struck out in Atlanta this year, with ties

[TTRansfer]

Thanks for the post on this. Interesting data. I agree that anecdotally it seemed better this year than it was last year. A bit surprised at the flat growth and continued 3L flaming (here's hoping that shit gets better next year -- lulz).

Atlanta was mentioned as a bloodbath -- wasn't Philly similar? I had a number of Philly interviews and just got shit on at every one of them. Perhaps it is just me, but it seemed like even the Penn kids were thinking Philly was a killer this year.

I lol internally when people talk about more firms shifting to more 3L recruiting.

A justified lol.