Offers

Does your choice of a job for next summer have much impact on a later clerkship search? The short answer is no, not enough to make the clerkship angle a deciding factor.

Review our webpage on splitting a summer to determine if a split is a good idea for you and to learn about some of the disadvantages associated with splitting.

As you decide between or among EIP offers and offers from firms this summer, we remind you to review our webpage on Holding and Responding to Offers for information on timelines and requirements for responding.

If you have an offer from Preview and asked for an extension until August 19 in order to participate in EIP, with that deadline fast approaching you may find yourself wanting more time to finalize your decision.

As you begin to hear back from employers after your callback interviews, we want to remind you about the timing guidelines for responding to offers. Employers participating in HLS organized recruitment programs agree to comply with our employer recruiting policies regarding these timing guidelines, and it is important that you understand the guidelines.

With EIP behind you, it’s time to get serious about evaluating the firms where you are attending callbacks. Before you get too far into the process, review the OCS webpage on Evaluating Firms for Your Own Success.

If you received an offer to return to your summer firm for permanent employment (prior to September 2), you will have until October 1 to accept the offer (or 28 days if the offer is made after September 2).

Offers may come soon after callback interviews, and we want to remind you about the timing guidelines for responding to offers. Employers participating in our on-campus recruitment programs agree to comply with our employer recruiting policies regarding these timing guidelines, and it is important that you understand the guidelines.

If you have an offer from Preview, be sure you understand our policies on holding offers. If you asked for an extension until August 19 in order to participate in EIP, you will need to plan your EIP callbacks carefully, and be mindful of that upcoming deadline.

If you have offers from Preview, you may have sought an extension until after EIP. With EIP Week behind you, you should again evaluate your offers and promptly decline any offers you feel confident you will not accept.

If you have multiple offers from Preview, remember you need to narrow your list down to no more than three offers.

You will soon find out whether you have obtained an offer for full-time employment from your summer employer.

As you wrap up this summer’s job, you may be considering a move to another firm, options outside of big law, or be worried you will not receive an offer from your summer firm.

With Preview wrapping up and EIP ahead, you may find yourself in the enviable but difficult position of having to choose between multiple offers. There are several different factors you may wish to consider when narrowing down your choices.

If you are in the fortunate position of having received an offer (or offers) through Preview, be sure to familiarize yourself with our policies on holding and responding to offers.

Toward the end of the summer, your firm will likely ask you to rank your practice area preferences with an eye toward placing you as a first-year associate. Be flexible and strategic as you consider your choices.

You may be scheduling Preview interviews or looking ahead to EIP. Before you get too far into the process, review the OCS page on Evaluating Firms for Your Own Success. Knowing in advance how to evaluate the firms can help you know what to look for or ask about in your interviews.

Preview interviews may occur in the next few weeks, and some of those interviews could result in offers to join the firm. Our podcast on Early Offers discusses some of the unique considerations to weigh if you receive an offer prior to EIP.

Our website contains a thorough discussion about when splitting a summer is appropriate and highlights some risks associated with splitting. We recommend reviewing that page if you are considering trying to split your 2L summer.

If you are splitting your summer between two different firms, you must stay conscientious and focused because you will need to make a lasting impression on each firm in half the time. Work hard at both firms. Take on as many assignments as possible and build strong relationships with as many attorneys as you can in both firms.

You may be wondering how to firms you interviewed with this winter fit in with EIP. Some of you may be in the rare situation where a firm has already given you a 2L summer offer after interviewing you this winter.