Importance of December 1st Mail Out:
Your friends will freak out about getting their stuff out on December 1st. However, engaging in this activity takes time away from studying for exams. I think there is some truth to the theory that the early bird gets the worm; however, the vast majority of firms will NOT make hiring decisions until after grades come out. Grades are typically not available until 6 weeks after the end of final exams. To summarize: mailing out resumes to firms on December 1st can be helpful, but, long-term, your grades matter much more. If you feel you must do something, but are pressed for time, go for the offices in the Firm Survey that take email delivery of resumes without a cover letter and save other targets for after exams.
How to research law firms:
CSO On Campus Interviews: Typically the job postings for the CSO will only include fairly large firms and many of the firms that actually hire 1Ls will not spend the time or money to do on campus interviews. This is an amazing resource and you should definitely take advantage of it, but do not let your job search stop here.
IPLS Firm Survey: With a few exceptions, covers all the hiring IP firms in Texas, plus many others around the US. The survey contains a lot of detailed information about each firm’s hiring needs, but do not take everything as gospel. The entries were filed by recruiting coordinators; there is sometimes a small disconnect between what they think the firm needs and what they are actually willing to hire. Also, note that a firm's website is generally geared towards potential clients, not law students, so the hiring information in the Firm Survey is more accurate.
NALP Directory: This database is wonderful for allowing you to access basic information about a lot of law firms all at once. You can even search by law firms that have historically hired 1Ls. However, smaller and mid-sized firms are not often listed. NALP is best used to create a mailing list for large firms in the city where you want to work. The NALP directory may be accessed via a link on the CSO webpage.
Martindale-Hubbell: This is another great database of law firms; however, like NALP, it is not an exclusive list. This database is another great way to create a mailing list of firms in the city where you would like to work. You can also search for practice keywords and attorneys’ university and law school (great for finding networking targets). Martindale-Hubbell can be accessed via LexisNexis. The primary problem with Martindale-Hubbell is that searches for IP practices will turn up many firms that either just happen to have one IP attorney or tort litigation shops that list IP as a “specialty” to attract more business. Thus, do some cursory background research on firms you find here.
Local Business Journals: Business journals often have a yearly issue that lists top business in many different industries and service areas. Typically there is a general law firm listing and often they also have practice area listings. This can be a great way to learn about local or regional firms that are not listed in NALP or Martindale-Hubbell. You can access copies of the business journals online for a small subscription fee. Tarlton Law Library also has the Austin Business Journal and many others.
Local AIPLA Chapter: You can often access the membership lists through the website for the specific American IP Law Association chapter (note that the Austin IP Law Association is the Austin chapter of the American IP Law Association and uses the same acronym). The membership listings typically include the name of the firm that the attorney works for. You can usually tell the big IP players in an area are by what firms the AIPLA attorneys are working for.
Networking: If you know an IP attorney or an attorney of any kind talk to them about other people they know and what firms they work for. Ask them if they know of anyone looking for a 1L summer associate. Having a connection will often get your resume on the desk of someone that may otherwise be saying they are not hiring. However, when talking to an attorney for the first time, you have a much higher chance of getting an initial response if you ask to talk to them about something besides whether they can hire you, e.g., career options or the job market. They will often ask you for your resume in the course of such a discussion, thus accomplishing your real goal. Asking for a job or just sending your resume up front puts them on the spot and their default reaction is often to ignore you. If you were referred to an attorney by someone that they know or work with, mention that up front.
Law Firm Events & Receptions
The big firms will often host receptions over Christmas in key cities and will host receptions in Austin at the start of the semester. There is certainly no reason to feel obligated to go to all of these, but it is probably a good idea to attend receptions for the firms that you are especially interested in. Any chance to network with a firm that you are really interested in will help them get to know you and remember you.
The Law School also hosts a small and midsized firm reception during the spring semester. As part of the event they provide a resume CD to the firms attending. This is a great opportunity to gain access to many local firms that don’t appear on NALP or Martindale-Hubbell.
Loyola Patent Law Interview Program
If you are interested in patent law positions, either in litigation or prosecution (especially prosecution), you should go. Period. PLIP has as many patent firms interviewing as OCI has firms total, and you can be assured that your interviewer will be an IP attorney. Furthermore, since it occurs before OCIs across the country, the firms there have more open clerkship spots than when they arrive on campus for OCI. Aside from the sheer breadth of interviewing opportunities, it's also really nice to get all of your first round interviews done in 2 days. The interview program is held at the end of July, but registration is typically in the middle of the spring, so be on the look out. Also, the IPLS will cover the application fee for paid members. We will talk about PLIP more at a meeting in the spring.
Alternatives to Law Firm Jobs
Many 1Ls do not get summer associate positions with law firms during their first summer. Law firms historically just don’t hire many 1Ls for their summer programs. If the economy is bad, these opportunities shrink even further. With that being said, not getting a law firm job during your first summer is not the end of the world and it is unlikely that it will negatively affect your job search during your 2L year. The most important thing during your first summer is to do something that is productive or worthwhile (i.e., do not spend your entire summer playing video games or lounging by the pool).
Judicial Internship: These positions are often posted via the CSO Job Bank. However, it is reasonable to assume that many federal judges and most state appellate judges accept unpaid judicial interns for the summer, so if you're interested you should apply directly to the judge for this opportunity even if there is no Job Bank posting. Many of them require a writing sample so it might not be a bad idea to spruce up your final memo from the 1L writing class over Christmas break. A judicial internship is a great chance to get writing experience and gain knowledge about the litigation process.
Public Interest: There is a public interest job fair in the spring that provides a great opportunity to get to know these organizations. You often will have the chance to get great hands on experience working with these organizations.
Internship with in-house counsel group: These may be listed through the CSO or on corporate websites and offer the chance to see what an in-house position is like.
Summer School: Your 2L year is likely to be very busy with journals, mock trial, moot court, or other extra-curricular activities. Getting some credit out of the way can be a nice way to lighten your load during 2L year. Summer school also tends to be pretty laid back.
Research Assistant: Keep your eyes open for flyers around the law school and ask the CSO about professors looking for research assistants. This is a great way to get to know a professor better and to improve your research skills. The professor that you work for as a research assistant can also serve as a great source for recommendation letters in the future.
Patent Bar: If you want to do patent prosecution in the future you will eventually be required to take the exam and many firms also require or strongly encourage it for those involved in patent litigation. Different people will give you different advice regarding when to take the exam, but if you can get it out of the way during your first summer I think it can set you apart in the job search and demonstrate a real dedication to patent law.
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