What New 1LS Need to Know About 1L Recruiting
(and I HATE what is happening)
Here’s a timeline to show how we got here & an outline of what new 1Ls can expect:
🟦 HOW WE GOT HERE
1990-2019. NALP* was in charge & set a strict schedule.
(*National Association for Law Placement).
▪️ After 1L, law schools gathered resumes, set standard deadlines, and helped firms hold in-person screening interviews on campus
▪️ Firms then offered some students half-day callbacks
▪️ Students who got offers then had until a standard date to respond (so they’d know all their offers before deciding which to accept)
At some point, this whole process got named “OCI” (the “On-Campus Interview” process).
2019:
NALP stopped regulating OCI
2020:
The pandemic forced cancellation of OCI. Students and firms began connecting directly, often through LinkedIn.
2021–2022:
Law schools tried to maintain the old process, but OCI went virtual.
2023-2024:
BigLaw firms hosted “meet-and-greet” receptions during 1L fall to recruit for BOTH 1L summer & 2L summer jobs. “Precruiting” became the norm:
Law firms started holding an “early” OCI in June after 1L for top students, with a second OCI for all students in late July.
👉 Data from 180+ large law firms shows that 47% of 2L summer job offers in 2023 were made BEFORE formal OCI.
“We’re hiring people from OCI like 80% less often than we used to. By OCI, it’s too late . . . the folks who have authentic connections with our firm, people, and interests tend to sneak in earlier.” (—A BigLaw recruiting partner)
2024–2025:
Many firms instructed 1Ls to apply for 2L summer jobs through direct-apply websites that opened early in 1L spring.
General chaos has ensued.
***
🟦 TIMELINE for 1Ls in 2025-2026
▪️ 8 Weeks Before Law School Starts—i.e. NOW
-Start identifying firms where you may want to apply.
-Contact lawyers at those firms for informational interviews.
-Be prepared for lawyers to ask to see your resume & to look at your LinkedIn profile.
▪️ 1L Fall
-Attend recruiting events
-Continue networking
▪️ 1L Winter Break:
-Apply for 1L summer jobs (—many have Jan 31 deadlines)
-Continue networking
▪️ 1L Winter:
-Interview for 1L summer jobs
-Continue networking
▪️ 1L Spring-Summer:
-Submit applications through firms’ direct-apply websites
-Be prepared for early interview opportunities
-Participate in whatever formal OCI remains
⬇️
As things remain in flux, it is impossible to predict exactly what will happen over the coming year, but one thing is clear:
The only best way for incoming 1Ls to proceed is to take control of their future job search by starting to network TODAY.
First steps include:
—Updating resume & putting it in the correct format
—Building a winning LinkedIn profile
—Thinking seriously about short-term career goals
—Researching firms
—Starting to talk to lawyers
I will be here throughout to root for you!!
💌 Amanda
#Dear1L