Strange indeed
Twice this week I've been contacted by New York firms looking for 1Ls to work in their Japanese offices. After innumerable rejection letters from firms over the last couple of months, I feel almost guilty saying to them, "I'm sorry, I've accepted a position at another firm for the summer. But please keep me in mind for next year."
I mean, I know they're not heartbroken, and they'll just go to the next name on the list. Still, I almost want to go interview just to make the nice voice on the other end of the line happy. Mostly, I try to mitigate this by pointing them to a colleague or two who might still be looking.
The whole thing is very irrational, but there you go.
Comments
My 2 cents: There's nothing wrong with scheduling and going to an interview even though you've accepted a position elsewhere, if time permits. You will make a new contact and give yourself a free, no-pressure chance to impress them for future opportunities. If you get an offer, you can impress them even more by politely declining because you accepted another offer.
Ethical questions? I don't think so. This interviewing process for law students is still a part and parcel of business. It's business for the firms, so why shouldn't it be for students? And a part of doing good business is keeping your options open. Going to an interview even though you've accepted elsewhere is no more "unethical" than sending your resume to a law firm while you're an attorney at another law firm.
yculcogPosted by: UCL | March 21, 2004 11:21 AM
I've had the opposite experience. With years of experience living and working in Japan as a professional translator, one would think that I would be a natural choice for BIGLAW firms in Tokyo. Not so. Granted, my law school (a top 15) doesn't carry the cachet of CLS and I am only in the top 1/3 of my class, but one would think that my linguistic ability and commitment to the country would mean something to these big firms. Guess not.
tpowlePosted by: JohnJacobs | September 29, 2004 01:07 PM
I've had the opposite experience. With years of experience living and working in Japan as a professional translator, one would think that I would be a natural choice for BIGLAW firms in Tokyo. Not so. Granted, my law school (a top 15) doesn't carry the cachet of CLS and I am only in the top 1/3 of my class, but one would think that my linguistic ability and commitment to the country would mean something to these big firms. Guess not.
igpedPosted by: JohnJacobs | September 29, 2004 01:08 PM