Recruitment Programs: Frequently Asked Questions

The overwhelming majority of jobs are obtained through networking and otherwise through direct contact with employers, NOT via on-campus interview programs. According to the National Association for Law Placement, typically less than 15% of employed recent law school graduates nationally report securing their job through their law school's OCI programs. There are a number of reasons for this. First, a very limited percentage of legal employers recruit on campus at law schools. Second, employers that do participate in OCI programs often visit numerous law schools to fill a small number of positions (sometimes only a single position). Thus, competition for positions is intense. Third, OCI employers, especially large law firms and in-house corporate legal departments, tend to have the most stringent hiring criteria, commonly targeting students ranked near the top of the class.

While we encourage you to participate in OCI if you are interested in and qualified for positions with participating employers, do not rely solely or even primarily on OCI regardless of your class standing. We recommend that all students meet with the CPC staff to develop job search strategies independent of OCI. It's particularly imperative that you look beyond OCI if you desire to pursue opportunities outside the state since the majority of employers participating in Marquette Law School's OCI are located in Wisconsin. Back to top »

Where can I find information on employers participating in OCI?
The internet provides a wealth of information about many legal employers. Most employers have web pages and web-based resources such as the NALP Directory of Legal Employers, Martindale, Westlaw and Lexis can be sources of useful information as well. Also, be sure to read very carefully any employer information that is available for participating employers under the OCI tab in Symplicity. Back to top »

Can I apply to employers if I don't meet the specified hiring criteria with regard to academic standing?
The short answer is yes. While most employers adhere to their stated hiring criteria for academic record i.e., class rank, grade point average, undergraduate field of study) rather rigidly, on occasion an employer will interview a candidate who does not meet their hiring criteria. You can bid for employer in which you are interested regardless of whether you meet the stated hiring criteria for academic standing. HOWEVER, there are important caveats. First, if an employer's hiring criteria is "required," we discourage students who do not meet that criteria from applying unless they are very close to meeting the criteria and also possess other credentials that likely will be viewed favorably by the employer. On the other hand, if the hiring criteria is not required, e.g. the employer states that it is "preferred" or does not identify the hiring criteria as either required or preferred, you can apply. Be realistic regarding your chances, however. For example, if you are in the bottom half of your class and the employer prefers that students be in the top 20% of their class, the likelihood that you will be selected for an interview is not high, other credentials you might possess notwithstanding. Second, you should NOT apply for positions that require a degree in a particular field if you do not possess such a degree, e.g., positions in Intellectual Property that require a technical background (hard science or engineering degree) or tax positions that require an accounting (or related) degree. Back to top »

For how many OCI employers should/can I bid?
There is no limit to the number of employers for which you can bid on Symplicity. However, you should apply only to those employers for which you are genuinely interested in working based on your research - research that should be conducted BEFORE you bid. Back to top »

Are cover letters necessary when submitting application materials for OCI employers?
Although OCI employers often request cover letters, cover letters are NOT requested by every employer. Do not submit a cover letter unless a cover letter is specifically requested by an employer. Check carefully the application materials required by each employer. If a cover letter IS required, make certain that your letter meets the standards for both format and content set forth in the CPC's Writing Effective Letters. Letters that are poorly crafted do not reflect well on you, the Career Planning Center, or Marquette Law School. Back to top »

How can I obtain a copy of my law school transcript?
This and other related topics are addressed in detail on the CPC's Transcripts web page. Do NOT copy and paste your transcript from CheckMarq. Transcripts are available for a particular semester once grades are posted for that semester. Back to top »

What should I provide for a writing sample and how long should it be?
These and other related topics are addressed in detail in the Writing Samples guide in your Career Planning Handbook and on the CPC's Writing Samples web page. Back to top »

How will I know if an employer has selected me for an interview?
You will be notified by the CPC via email from mulawcareers@marquette.edu whether you are 1) selected to interview with an employer, 2) selected by the employer as an alternate, or 3) not selected to interview. You are responsible for checking your email regularly. Additionally, your interview invitation status for OCI employers for which you bid will be listed on Symplicity under the OCI tab in the "Invitations" column.  Back to top »

When can I expect to learn if I have been selected for an interview?
The CPC typically asks that employers identify the students selected for interviews at least 6 or 7 days in advance of the scheduled interview date. However, it's not uncommon for the period between the applicable close of bidding and interview date to be so short that it makes it extremely difficult for the employer to receive and review applications and make the selections more than a few days prior to the interview date, e.g., 3-4 days. Please contact the CPC if you have questions regarding interview selection timing for particular employers. Under no circumstances should you contact an employer directly regarding your interview selection status. Back to top »

What are the best interview slots?
There are several schools of thought regarding which slots are best in terms of enhancing the likelihood you will have a good interview. One holds that early morning slots are best because the interviewer will be fresh and attentive during the interview. Another perspective posits that slots late in the schedule are best because the interviewer is more likely to remember the last candidates s/he meets. Similar arguments can be made supporting slots just before and immediately after the interviewer's lunch break. The reality is that it's impossible to predict the tendencies of interviewers, so we encourage you simply to pick available slots that best fit your schedule. Back to top »

What if I'm selected for an interview by an employer but unable to interview during the available interview times?
If you are selected for an interview and unable to interview during any of the slots available on the schedule you are free to try to swap slots with another student on the schedule. Symplicity does not permit students to see the identity of the other students on a particular interview schedule so you must contact the CPC if you wish to swap interview slots. Do NOT contact the employer directly. The CPC will identify students who are in slots in which you are available to interview; however, it is your responsibility to contact those students to request a swap. If you still are unable to secure a slot that fits your schedule, you should contact the CPC. We will then contact the employer to see if they are willing to make an accommodation that will enable you to interview, e.g., by adding an interview slot at the beginning or end of the schedule, scheduling the interview at the employer's office on an alternate date. IMPORTANT: Please note, however, that 1) an employer is under no obligation to grant an accommodation (and commonly employers do not), and 2) only in limited instances should a class conflict be the reason you are unable to interview during a particular time slot. Likely it will be unavoidable to miss a portion of one or more classes during OCI. Professors generally understand this reality, but we encourage you to notify in advance your professor if you will be required to miss all or a portion of their class for an interview. Nevertheless, do try to avoid missing the same class multiple times. Back to top »

What if an employer I'm not interested in selects me for an interview or I'm otherwise unwilling or unable to interview with the employer?
If you limit your applications to employers of interest based on thorough research of each employer, there should be little chance of being selected for an interview by an employer in which you are not interested. However, circumstances can arise that provide a legitimate excuse for not interviewing with an employer, e.g., you have accepted an offer with another employer. If you are unable to interview with an employer, you must complete and submit the online Interview Withdrawal Form to the CPC AT LEAST 48 HOURS in advance of the employer's first scheduled interview; the sooner the better so we can offer your spot to another student (if the employer has identified alternates). Back to top »