Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing Forum
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
In regards to mass mailing, what kind of format is used for emails? What's worked best? I think i'm going to do my first foray into mm and don't want to come off as a creep...thanks!
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
-
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2015 5:13 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Anonymous User wrote:In regards to mass mailing, what kind of format is used for emails? What's worked best? I think i'm going to do my first foray into mm and don't want to come off as a creep...thanks!
I am looking for some help on this too!!!! Do you just send emails to the Partner(s) of the firm or info@/contact@ emails. My question is who do you send these mass emails too?? If its a small firm, I understand you would send it to the Attorney directly. Whom do you mail when its a big firm??
Please give us some guidelines or if there is one, kindly share the link. Many thanks...
-
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2015 5:13 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Anonymous User wrote:In regards to mass mailing, what kind of format is used for emails? What's worked best? I think i'm going to do my first foray into mm and don't want to come off as a creep...thanks!
just found a past reply....thank you TLS
Anonymous User
Posts: 274101
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:32 am
Guide - Mass Mailing
Postby Anonymous User » Thu Oct 11, 2012 2:04 pm
Mass Mailing Guide
A crucial element of finding a job is your own geographical flexibility. Refusing to work anywhere but DC is a great way to get burned, even with amazing ties. Of course, it doesn't make much sense to massmail to Denver, Colorado if you've only ever lived and worked on the east coast, but when you're deciding where to apply, keep and open mind. When it comes to the actual mass mailing process, definitely mail in order of your geographical preference, but deciding you ding yourself for a lack of ties or lack of interest is a losing strategy. It really is only a summer, and having an SA somewhere is going to serve you better than being an RA in the city you love. Apply to cities in the regions where you grew up, went to school or worked (even short-term). Also apply to cities that are a plausible hotbed for the practice areas you have an interest in. For example, just because you have never lived in Texas doesn't mean you shouldn't apply if you have something reasonably energy-oriented on your resume. Apply to Delaware if you have an interest in bankruptcy. For each city you would consider massmailing to, give them a tab in your massmail excel spreadsheet.
Now you need assemble a list of firms for each tab (again, I would go all the way through your favorite cities and send out the mass mails before moving on to second and third choices). To find firms, start with NALP, because it's easy, and because they actually hire people. I would add all the NLJ250s in cities you're applying to, and then, after doing all that, come back to any smaller firms you plan to apply to. You need to collect all the relevant information, including the firm's practice area strengths, into your spreadsheet. The info you need to collect is represented in the model spreadsheet linked below. The most important element of this is the practice areas, which are essentially the "why" of your application, and what you'll need for your "tailored" cover letters.
So then, you need to inventory what you could conceivably pitch yourself as in terms of practice area, and write an independent cover letter paragraph explaining your pitch. This will probably be informed by the information-gathering you did for firms, so you'll already have some idea what ways in which your cover letters will be tailored. You'll find my model cover letters at the bottom of my model spreadsheet. Of course, cover letters are designed to show where your background and strengths meets theirs, so I focused on my practice area interests.
Next, in the last row, you assemble RAPID FIRE a series of cover letters. You bring up your "model" cover letter that best suits the firm you're writing your cover letter for, tweak it a bit based on what notes there are in your spreadsheet, then move onto the next one. You shouldn't be doing much new writing at this stage because you should be pretty content with your model cover letters. Double check for spelling and that you haven't referenced the wro
Now you're ready to mail. You copy the cover letter and paste it into the body of an email, and do one last proof for your cover letter. Attach your transcripts and resume. Hit send. Repeat hundreds of times.
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Keep MMing everyone. Struck out at OCI earlier this year and just started getting offers a couple weeks ago after MMing upwards of 400 offices over the course of this year (just the count I have records of, I would estimate the actual figure much higher if pressed). No job is too small and nothing is beneath you. Sometimes the offers that you do not have any interest in are actually pretty influential in netting you better offers. I accepted a great offer today that I do not think would have come had I been turning my nose up at opportunities along the way, regardless of size, market, practice area, or salary potential.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
What market were you mass mailing in?
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Anonymous User wrote:Keep MMing everyone. Struck out at OCI earlier this year and just started getting offers a couple weeks ago after MMing upwards of 400 offices over the course of this year (just the count I have records of, I would estimate the actual figure much higher if pressed). No job is too small and nothing is beneath you. Sometimes the offers that you do not have any interest in are actually pretty influential in netting you better offers. I accepted a great offer today that I do not think would have come had I been turning my nose up at opportunities along the way, regardless of size, market, practice area, or salary potential.
What market were you mass mailing in?
-
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:28 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
I have to make a modification to this thread. Don't send letters. Go to FedEx and print 100 resumes. Get a directory of lawyers, get in your car/walk, and go beat down doors dropping your resume everywhere saying your seeking employment so if the attorney is hiring or knows anybody who is hiring, you'd be grateful for the opportunity to speak further.
This is how I scored my first job in the market right after the crash. I put on my suit and walked thru the summer heat for two days and had multiple call backs. My future ex-employer actually sold the business and went into adult movies. You'd never know it from Facebook or general life though... Anyway, knock on doors and you, too, can have a story like that.
In all seriousness, your success rate is much higher doing that. 7 years later, I'm actually a technical expert in my field and lucky enough to have multiple people calling after me each week, but I wasn't that lucky early on. Even at 5 years... But if you swallow your pride and make the right strategic moves and pay your dues, it should work out.
Just my 2 cents...
This is how I scored my first job in the market right after the crash. I put on my suit and walked thru the summer heat for two days and had multiple call backs. My future ex-employer actually sold the business and went into adult movies. You'd never know it from Facebook or general life though... Anyway, knock on doors and you, too, can have a story like that.
In all seriousness, your success rate is much higher doing that. 7 years later, I'm actually a technical expert in my field and lucky enough to have multiple people calling after me each week, but I wasn't that lucky early on. Even at 5 years... But if you swallow your pride and make the right strategic moves and pay your dues, it should work out.
Just my 2 cents...
- A. Nony Mouse
- Posts: 29293
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:51 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Are you talking about biglaw firms when you recommend this? Or solos/small firms?irishwavend wrote:I have to make a modification to this thread. Don't send letters. Go to FedEx and print 100 resumes. Get a directory of lawyers, get in your car/walk, and go beat down doors dropping your resume everywhere saying your seeking employment so if the attorney is hiring or knows anybody who is hiring, you'd be grateful for the opportunity to speak further.
This is how I scored my first job in the market right after the crash. I put on my suit and walked thru the summer heat for two days and had multiple call backs. My future ex-employer actually sold the business and went into adult movies. You'd never know it from Facebook or general life though... Anyway, knock on doors and you, too, can have a story like that.
In all seriousness, your success rate is much higher doing that. 7 years later, I'm actually a technical expert in my field and lucky enough to have multiple people calling after me each week, but I wasn't that lucky early on. Even at 5 years... But if you swallow your pride and make the right strategic moves and pay your dues, it should work out.
Just my 2 cents...
- jchiles
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2012 4:49 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Sorry but it's not clear to me - did you do this to get a job as a lawyer?irishwavend wrote:I have to make a modification to this thread. Don't send letters. Go to FedEx and print 100 resumes. Get a directory of lawyers, get in your car/walk, and go beat down doors dropping your resume everywhere saying your seeking employment so if the attorney is hiring or knows anybody who is hiring, you'd be grateful for the opportunity to speak further.
This is how I scored my first job in the market right after the crash. I put on my suit and walked thru the summer heat for two days and had multiple call backs. My future ex-employer actually sold the business and went into adult movies. You'd never know it from Facebook or general life though... Anyway, knock on doors and you, too, can have a story like that.
In all seriousness, your success rate is much higher doing that. 7 years later, I'm actually a technical expert in my field and lucky enough to have multiple people calling after me each week, but I wasn't that lucky early on. Even at 5 years... But if you swallow your pride and make the right strategic moves and pay your dues, it should work out.
Just my 2 cents...
- Mickfromgm
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2017 11:40 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
How do you even get past the receptionist? "Sir, so you have a letter for Mr. Paul Clement? You can just give it to me, sir. What, you want to hand it to him personally? Do you have an appointment? No? [presses the red panic button under the counter]." Seven security guards swarm, recreating the Rodney King incident. The end.irishwavend wrote:I have to make a modification to this thread. Don't send letters. Go to FedEx and print 100 resumes. Get a directory of lawyers, get in your car/walk, and go beat down doors dropping your resume everywhere saying your seeking employment so if the attorney is hiring or knows anybody who is hiring, you'd be grateful for the opportunity to speak further.
This is how I scored my first job in the market right after the crash. I put on my suit and walked thru the summer heat for two days and had multiple call backs. My future ex-employer actually sold the business and went into adult movies. You'd never know it from Facebook or general life though... Anyway, knock on doors and you, too, can have a story like that.
In all seriousness, your success rate is much higher doing that. 7 years later, I'm actually a technical expert in my field and lucky enough to have multiple people calling after me each week, but I wasn't that lucky early on. Even at 5 years... But if you swallow your pride and make the right strategic moves and pay your dues, it should work out.
Just my 2 cents...
- splitterfromhell
- Posts: 678
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:37 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Post removed.
Last edited by splitterfromhell on Sat Aug 12, 2017 2:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.
-
- Posts: 1867
- Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2015 2:51 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
No.splitterfromhell wrote:Does it make sense to mass mail before spring grades come out?
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
When should we start mass mailing? I'm assuming after spring grades & ranking comes out, but otherwise? Mid June? July? After OCI interviews are handed out?
- Slytherpuff
- Posts: 5401
- Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:50 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Right away. If you have spring grades, then start this week. Some classes will fill up in June - you don't want to wait on this.Anonymous User wrote:When should we start mass mailing? I'm assuming after spring grades & ranking comes out, but otherwise? Mid June? July? After OCI interviews are handed out?
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Assuming you haven't heard back from your initial mass mail to a particular firm and you decide to follow-up (let's say two-three weeks later), what is appropriate to say in the follow-up email?
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Jul 19, 2017 1:05 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
I just asked career services at my law school and they said they do not recommend mass mailing...what? They said that I should wait until after OCI to see what happens and then meet with them to discuss options later this fall. I thought it was a good idea to mass mail since my 1L GPA is less than ideal, but now i'm confused on whether I should or not.
Get unlimited access to all forums and topics
Register now!
I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:17 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Is it legit to mass mail without including a transcript until asked? Cover letter+resume suffice?
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
The career services office at my school told me the same thing when I brought up mass mailing. I'm not sure whyzoelee0827 wrote:I just asked career services at my law school and they said they do not recommend mass mailing...what? They said that I should wait until after OCI to see what happens and then meet with them to discuss options later this fall. I thought it was a good idea to mass mail since my 1L GPA is less than ideal, but now i'm confused on whether I should or not.
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Mass-mailed about 4 weeks ago now. Should I follow up, if i haven't heard anything? If so, should I just reiterate my interest?
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Great question. Anyone willing to trade/edit/share mass mailing sample materials?Anonymous User wrote:Mass-mailed about 4 weeks ago now. Should I follow up, if i haven't heard anything? If so, should I just reiterate my interest?
Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.
Register now, it's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
what school?zoelee0827 wrote:I just asked career services at my law school and they said they do not recommend mass mailing...what? They said that I should wait until after OCI to see what happens and then meet with them to discuss options later this fall. I thought it was a good idea to mass mail since my 1L GPA is less than ideal, but now i'm confused on whether I should or not.
-
- Posts: 428561
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Mass mailed 4-5 weeks ago. Not much traction so far. Is it too late to send out apps to more firms at this point?
-
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2014 9:42 pm
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
I go to a shitty school. I have read all the advice from TLS re: the possibility of getting a big law or mid law SA. is it even worth mass mailing or applying to the law firms that post on my schools symplicity?
-
- Posts: 11730
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:53 am
Re: Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing
Not sure what you mean by "worth"Porkypots wrote:I go to a shitty school. I have read all the advice from TLS re: the possibility of getting a big law or mid law SA. is it even worth mass mailing or applying to the law firms that post on my schools symplicity?
If someone walked up to you and gave you a free lottery ticket that had a billion dollar prize but low odds of winning would you just throw it in the trash? Or would you keep it long enough to at least check the numbers to see if you might have won?
Seriously? What are you waiting for?
Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!
Already a member? Login