That time of year is upon us. Second year students are in the process of preparing for the recruitment process generally and OCIs specifically. This piece seeks to provide some very high level advice for those participating in the process. A brief limiting statement is required before I start. OCIs are certainly an important part of law school for many students. It can be a source of stress and anxiety. With that said, OCIs are not the only means for finding a position with a firm. In fact, most students find articling and summer positions outside of OCIs. With that preface, here are some general pieces of advice to consider while preparing for OCIs.
1. Consult with Career Services
The Career Services Office is dedicated to your success. I found their help to be extremely valuable, particularly the mock interview. However, students need to actively seek out assistance. Being passive in this process is not conducive to succeeding. Interviewing is an art, and practice helps. Use these resources.
2. Consult with upper year students
Upper year students, particularly those who have worked at the place you are considering, are a very useful resource. They have recent insight and can often speak candidly about their experiences. Soliciting their counsel is strongly encouraged.
3. Network
The value of networking prior to the OCI or subsequent interview is paramount. Meeting with lawyers, summer students or articling students that you may know can be very insightful. It helps students understand what the firm or organization does on a day to day basis. This sort of information is key to making a good impression at the interview stage and also to evaluate whether the firm or organization is a place you could envision yourself working at.
4. The firms are not all the same
To varying degrees, the firms are different. But if this is not detectable after the OCIs and again deeper into the process, you probably have not done sufficient diligence. Repeat steps 1 to 3 and reassess. With that said, do not base your assessment solely on the OCI. You may end up liking a place where your OCI was average, and disliking a place where your OCI seemingly went well.
5. Do independent research
It is essential to research, independently, some of the matters the firm you are interviewing is working on or has worked on in the past. Applying to a litigation boutique? Read a recent judgment in one of their cases, or a factum before the courts. Applying to a full service firm? Look into the deals they have recently announced. The simple point here is to engage with the work the firm has done beyond a cursory glance at websites and press releases.
6. This list is not exhaustive
Much ink has been spilled on the topic of OCIs, and I don’t intend this list to be exhaustive. There are numerous other resources available to students. Those resources should be consulted in detail in preparation for the process.
In closing, good luck to all those participating in the process! Be sure to reach out to friends, colleagues and Osgoode resources for advice and support.