On Campus Interviewing
What is OCI?
Large and mid-sized law firms, a few government agencies, and other legal employers participate in on-campus interviews or “OCI” by "visiting" campus (virtually via Flo Recruit) in the summer to interview law students for employment starting the following summer and fall.
Generally, law firms are looking to hire rising Full-Time 2L / Weekend 3L students to work as summer associates starting the following summer. A small number of law firms and government agencies also will participate in OCI to interview Full-Time 3L / Weekend 4L law students for positions commencing the fall after graduation.
What types of employer participate in OCI?
- Large Law Firms: These employers are able to establish their hiring needs a year in advance. Occasionally, a mid-size or small firm will participate. In general, smaller law firms do not. Instead, they recruit when they need to fill immediate openings.
- Government Agencies: Federal, state and local government agencies recruit for their summer intern programs, graduate honors programs or for entry-level attorney positions.
- Accounting & Consulting Firms: Sometimes accounting firms are interested in law graduates with accounting backgrounds for their tax departments. They are generally interested in third year students.
How does OCI work?
The CSO will be in touch with eligible students via email with a link to register for OCI via Flo Recruit. Students who wish to interview with OCI employers will need to register via the link to review the online list of employers and upload their application materials during the application period. Employers will then select the students they wish to interview. Flo Recruit will notify students whether they have received an interview and the date/time of the interview. Students invited to interview will participate in virtual screening interviews on Flo Recruit’s interviewing platform.
What types of credentials are OCI interviewers seeking?
Government employers generally seek students who are committed to the work of the agency. Large law firms generally seek students with a high class rank (top 10-20%) and/or other distinguishing academic credentials. Patent firms want a technical/science background.
Why do large law firms interview more second year students than third year students?
Large law firms tend to fill most of their first year associate needs from their previous year's summer associate class. Therefore, they focus on hiring second year students to fill future hiring needs.
Can I contact large law firms directly?
If you are interested in applying to a large law firm's summer associate program, consider applying directly to the law firm before OCI. A growing number of law firms are relying on direct applications to their summer associate programs or early interview programs during the spring as part of a process sometimes called “pre-recruiting”, rather than participating in OCI. To apply directly, begin by identifying the firms you would like to target and reviewing these firms’ “Careers” pages for direct application links or details on early interview programs.
How will I know whom I received interviews with?
Flo Recruit will inform you via email. Be sure to check your spam folder.
What should I expect when interviewing begins?
Interviews are generally scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A number of recruiters schedule only half-day schedules. Interviews are usually 20 or 30 minutes long.
If I get no interviews through OCI, what should I do?
OCI is just one avenue to legal employment and, depending on your academic credentials, career goals and practice interests, it may not be the appropriate avenue for you. If you are uncertain whether this is a program in which you should participate, or if you would like to evaluate other employment opportunities, please make an appointment to discuss your options with a career counselor.
Consider Out of State Employers:
If you are interested in an out of state employer, your cover letter should address why you wish to relocate to that city. Also, these employers will take your request more seriously if you tell them that you plan to visit their city on a certain date and that you would appreciate the opportunity to meet with them while you are in town. Keep in mind that if you want access to information about legal employers in other states, you can often gain the information by getting reciprocity to another law school career services office. To learn more about reciprocity please talk to your career counselor.
If I receive multiple offers for summer associate positions, how should I decide which offer to accept?
Focus on the work each firm engages in. What is each firm's core business? How will work be allocated? Will you rotate through practice areas as a junior associate or stay in just one? If you don't know what work you are interested in, choose a firm that will keep doors open and expose you to several practice areas. Be honest with yourself about your personality and genuine interests. Who did you really click with? Find out about the day-to-day structure of the summer program including what practice areas you will be exposed to. Speak to current and former lawyers at each firm, though bear in mind that experiences of the same firm can vary dramatically, and things may be different in two years' time. Please note, according to Loyola guidelines and policies you are only allowed to keep three OCI offers open at a time.
Cover Letters & Resumes:
We recommend that you meet with your career counselor to review your resume and a cover letter. Keep in mind that you will need to market the experience, skills (research and writing skills) and education you have acquired.
How will the Office of Career Services communicate with me regarding OCI?
You should check your Loyola email daily for communications from Flo Recruit and law-oci@luc.edu. We will not call you with changes or updates (this includes interview time changes and additional or canceled interviews).
Full-Time Students
For full-time students, all rising 2Ls (graduating in May 2027) and rising 3Ls (graduating in May 2026) are eligible to participate in the program.
Full-time 2Ls will interview for summer associate/summer law clerk positions. Full-time 3Ls will interview for full-time, entry-level attorney positions after graduation. The employers will post their hiring criteria in Flo Recruit.
Weekend JD Students
Weekend JD students who plan to graduate in December 2026 or May 2027 are eligible to participate as part-time 3Ls. Those who plan to graduate in December 2025 or May 2026 are eligible to participate as part-time 4Ls.
Weekend JD 3Ls will interview for summer associate/summer law clerk positions and weekend JD 4Ls will interview for full-time, entry-level attorney positions after graduation. The employers will post their hiring criteria in Flo Recruit. Weekend JD students with questions about OCI should contact their career counselor.
Please review emails from the Career Services Office and Folder 10 of the PEARSON Resource Library for the latest dates and deadlines for OCI.
Students can view participating employers in Flo Recruit once students are granted access to Flo Recruit and the application period begins.
Please review the “Preparing for OCI” guide saved in Folder 10 of the PEARSON Resource Library for guidance on preparing for OCI.
Please review the “Instructions for OCI” guide saved in Folder 10 of the PEARSON Resource Library.
Please review and complete the form saved in Folder 10 of the PEARSON Resource Library.
If your grade point falls just outside the GPA required by an employer to apply (for instance, the required GPA is top 15% and your GPA places you at 17%), consider drafting a letter and emailing it along with your application materials directly to the recruiter (do not upload to Flo Recruit) requesting a waiver of their hiring requirement for you and asking to interview with them on campus for OCI. Please see a sample waiver letter saved in Folder 10 of the PEARSON Resource Library and consider having your career counselor review any waiver letter that you plan to send to a firm or other legal employer.