How OCI works:

The deadline for registration and bidding for the first OCI phase is noon on Friday, August 10, 2012. No exceptions!

First, students register in Symplicity by completing or updating their profiles, uploading resumes and other materials requested by employers, and selecting the employers with whom they want to interview.

Next, the employers review the materials from students who have bid for them and select the students they wish to interview. Mitchell notifies the selected students (via Symplicity), who choose interview times on the specified day. These interviews are typically 20-30 minutes long. The selected students then interview with the employer at William Mitchell.

At this point, the focus of OCI shifts to the employers, who notify students directly if they have been selected for the much longer “call back” interview.  The “call back” takes place at the employer’s office and typically lasts between two hours to half a day and often involves a series of interviews as well as a meal. The employer then determines who will receive offers of employment. Please note that a few employers have a slightly different process.

Deciding whether or not to participate…Consider this

OCI is the only way that certain employers hire.  In particular, large firms will use OCI to hire  2014 graduates for their formal summer associate programs, from which they usually look to hire their new associates. These firms often set required or preferred grades, class ranks, and other expectations.

Other OCI employers include smaller firms, public employers (such as the Ramsey County Attorney’s office), companies and certain judicial clerkships.  These employers often do not emphasize grades and other measures as much as the large firms. Some of these employers are looking to hire 2013 graduates as new associates or judicial clerks.  Others are looking for 2014 graduates, either as summer associates, summer-only clerks or summer-only interns.

Historically, 10-15% of Mitchell students find employment through on-campus interviewing, which means that 85-90% use other means. Most employers do not use OCI to hire because their hiring patterns do not fit with a fall-only hiring season.

Last year, over 240 students registered for OCI, with about 70% getting at least one interview.

Check the OCI Section in Symplicity in July for the current list of employers registered for OCI.  The list will be updated on Symplicity as additional employers register…so check this often!

How to participate/register for OCI Step 1

Attend the mandatory information session in August (TBA)

If you will not be attending the program, you are responsible for obtaining, reading and understanding all details and information.  Except under unusual circumstances, staff will not be available to rehash this session.

The following will be covered:

4:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Presentation by Kari Jensen Thomas, Director of Recruiting, Leonard Street & Deinard – Resumes, cover letters, interviewing and the OCI Process – from a law firm’s perspective. Questions about the OCI Process & Professional Expectations

5:30 – 6:00 p.m. – Summer Associate Panel – The Student Perspective on the OCI Process

Step 2

Refine the written materials requested by employers (resume, writing sample, reference list, cover letter).

Refer to useful handouts in the Office of Career & Professional Development and in the “Tips and Resources” section of the Web site.

If you have not uploaded a resume in Symplicity before, upload it by August 1 to guarantee review by a counselor.  If you have uploaded your resume previously and want a second review, call 651-290-6326 to sign up for a resume appointment with your counselor.

Step 3

Research employers to see which ones you want to bid for.

Written Materials

NALP Directory (online as well) & OCI Firm Notebooks (in Career Office)

Online Resources

Firm Web sites, NALP Web , Martindale, and local newspaper sites for firms in the news. Some information to research:  number of attorneys employed, clients, practice groups, diversity, attorney bios (who do they attract?), male/female ratio, work-life balance, impression the Web site gives, billable hours, and professional development for attorneys.

» www.nalpdirectory.com

» www.martindale.com

The Symplicity OCI Section will continually be updated as new employers register – you are responsible for checking this regularly.

Use Symplicity to view the OCI employers looking for students in your graduation year and to see their hiring criteria/requirements.  If your graduation year is incorrect in your Symplicity profile you won’t be able to see any of the firms or bid. 

Step 4

Register for the first phase of OCI no later than noon on Friday, August 10.

Choose carefully – if you get 15 interviews, you will be required to participate in all of them.

Register by uploading your resume and other materials requested by the employers you bid for, selecting the employers you are bidding for in Symplicity, signing the Professional Responsibility Agreement, and turning the signed agreement in to the Office of Career & Professional Development. You can change your bids and upload different resumes and materials up until noon on August 10, at which time Symplicity will lock out any further changes.  You can bid for a maximum of 15 employers in the first phase.

Step 5

Attend the “Meet the Employers” reception on Wed., August 8, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Auditorium.  RSVP in Symplicity.

1. Learn more about the OCI employers, by asking thoughtful questions

2. Show your enthusiasm and interest in specific employers

3. Make a lasting and positive impression — Employers often take notes on candidates they meet that impress them. Wear professional business attire. Wine and appetizers will be served

Step 6

Prepare for interviews.

The following practice opportunities and resources are available to you.

A. Interview Coaching Appointments with Career & Professional Development Staff

20-30 minutes designed based on your individual preferences – can be a discussion, mock interview, question and answer time or a combination of any of these elements. Sign up by calling:  651-290-6326.

B. Mock Interviews with Attorneys:

20 minute interviews followed by 10 minutes of

critique. (August)

C. Interviewing Tip Sheets:

Nine different short publications are available in Career Development focusing on various aspects of interview preparation.

D. Library Resources:

New book resources on interview skills are now available!

Step 7

Sign up to participate in later OCI phases

You will be notified when employers sign up for additional phases of OCI. You can register at that time, or if you are already registered, you can submit bids for these later phases. Check Symplicity and the Docket for new employers.