Date: July 26th, 2006 10:21 AM
Author: anonymousclerkshipapplicant

for 2L firm job? how about clerkships; is it useful to have a good LOR from a 1L employer?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6303645)

Date: July 26th, 2006 11:37 AM
Author: holowaty
Subject: depends on the employer

Covington called my 1L employer reference and had a pretty long talk with them (30 minutes). They were the only one as far as I know. Not using any employer letters for clerkship app ... just 3 profs.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6304185)

Date: July 26th, 2006 11:41 AM
Author: Renada Deshada

i was going to post a categorical no, as this had never happened to me, nor had i ever heard of it happening. so this is interesting information. i'd suggest, though, it probably isn't a wide practice, and is probably more likely at an extremely selective firm like covington. i'd imagine the 1L firm was a pretty good one, too, if there was 30 minutes of conversation in what a 1L summer associate had done.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6304223)

Date: July 26th, 2006 11:42 AM
Author: loafer

it was my understanding that every firm has a policy not to discuss past employees, except to confirm/deny things like employment, employment dates, whether they left or were fired, and factual stuff like that

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6304231)

Date: July 26th, 2006 11:47 AM
Author: holowaty

I would imagine they discussed something more considering the length of the conversation (relayed back to me by the lawyer they called at my 1L firm). It might be a regional thing - I was in a satellite office of a southern-based firm, so may be different than NYC/DC firms.

For anybody interviewing at Covington, they also had a lengthy phone call with my law prof reference and read my writing sample (discussed it with at least 1 person on my callback).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6304278)

Date: July 26th, 2006 11:58 AM
Author: feedmepie

i'm pretty sure 1 person is assigned to writing sample reading

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6304333)

Date: July 26th, 2006 11:59 AM
Author: anonymousclerkshipapplicant

thanks for the info. was it Covington DC?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6304343)

Date: July 26th, 2006 1:36 PM
Author: holowaty
Subject: yes.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6305039)

Date: July 26th, 2006 5:56 PM
Author: forest_of_phalli

Q: Why does Covington [DC] seek references?

A: Our goal in speaking with an applicant's references is to develop a more complete and detailed understanding of the candidate and his or her qualifications. Thorough inquiries of an applicants references are a distinctive and crucial element of the Firm's hiring process for potential summer and regular associates. This allows us to look beyond the candidate's paper record or relatively brief campus interview. We ask every candidate for summer or associate positions to provide two to three references who can speak to the candidate's qualifications, including analytical and writing ability, judgment, maturity, and collegiality.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6307634)

Date: July 26th, 2006 7:18 PM
Author: Gene Parmesan

Covington's process is pretty impressive.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6308285)

Date: July 26th, 2006 9:59 PM
Author: In Soviet Russia, Rule 12 violates YOU! (conducting masterful press releases)

The most impressive part is that they do all than and still don't take any longer to call people back than most other firms.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6309306)

Date: July 26th, 2006 7:37 PM
Author: fifteen pops

Many firms do it, even not-as-selective firms like Cooley Godward, among others. Cooley even states that they will up front.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6308372)

Date: July 26th, 2006 2:39 PM
Author: trolljunkie

My impression is that Covington is the only one that does this on any consistent basis.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6305661)

Date: July 26th, 2006 10:03 PM
Author: NagatachouEki

I can confirm this. Covington called my 1L firm reference and my previous boss and would not give me a callback until the reference checks even though the hiring partner really liked me.

They were probably my favorite firm in terms of personality, but their office in my target city was too small. They ended up with 3 summer associates, one from Yale and two from Harvard.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6309331)

Date: July 26th, 2006 2:29 PM
Author: The Source of Basra's Man-Eating Badgers

at least two firms (arnold & porter and my current) called my references.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6305544)

Date: July 26th, 2006 7:16 PM
Author: Mr.Tubby

Do they contact all references? Like beyond your 1L job, will they contact employers for work you did part-time while in college (I came straight from ugrad)?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#6308279)

Date: July 22nd, 2007 12:47 AM
Author: xoxoanon

Is it necessary to list a 1L summer reference if you have 2 professor references?

How should you handle this if your summer employer thinks you'll likely come back? Do you ask a partner for a ref for OCI? This seems awkward.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=461948&forum_id=2#8419333)