On-campus Interviews (OCI)
Much of the hiring of our students is facilitated through Duke Law’s extensive on-campus interview program (OCI) , one of the largest among all American law schools. Hundreds of employers come to Duke, eager to interview Duke law students because they know our graduates make great lawyers.
Each Fall approximately 300 legal employers visit the Duke campus to interview second- and third-year law students for summer clerkships as well as permanent employment. We also host a myriad of legal employers each spring for first-year on-campus recruiting.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is Symplicity?
The web-based recruiting system and job bank used for the OCI process and job/resume solicitations, personalized calendar of career programming events, and personal student employment profile center. Visit the Symplicity page to learn more. - What are segments?
The on-campus interview season is divided into two segments (Segment I and Segment II). There is a separate bidding process for each segment to make the process more manageable. - What is bidding?
Duke Law students are scheduled for on-campus interviews through a lottery system. Students bid on the employers with whom they would like to interview by ranking the employers in preferential order. Symplicity then awards interviews to students through a lottery system. - How does the lottery system work?
Once students have bid on employers, Symplicity awards interviews to students through a random lottery system. The program attempts to give as many students as possible their highest ranked interviews, taking student class schedules and geographic preference into account. Employers do not have input as to whom the computer will select for interviews. Additionally, employers do not see the student bidding ranks but do see students’ multi-office preferences (for employers interviewing for more than one geographic location). - How many employers may I bid for in each segment?
You are encouraged to bid on a reasonable number of employers with whom you are genuinely interested, taking into consideration the intensity of the busy fall interviewing season and your ability to maintain a high level of professionalism. You may bid on up to 40 employers during each Segment. *It is extremely difficult to drop interviews once schedules are final. - How many employers do I need to bid on to get “enough” interviews?
The answer to this question depends significantly on your research into the type of employer you are interested in as well as your geographic area(s) of interest. It is hard to estimate how many interviews you will receive from a certain number of bids as it depends on many factors, including how many other students are bidding on a particular employer and your rank for a particular employer. In prior years, some students bid on 20-30 employers per segment and received anywhere from 5-25 interviews per segment. Other students with more focused interests only bid on 5 employers and that proved sufficient. You should focus on employers in whom you are genuinely interested and that match your career goals. - Does it matter when I bid during the bidding period?
There is no first come, first served time restriction during the “bidding” period. It does not matter when you bid or change your bids during this period. The scheduler does not run for a particular segment until after bidding has closed for that segment. It will not matter whether you submitted your bids during the first minute of bidding or the last day of bidding. Please note, however, that it is not wise to wait until the very last minute of bidding in case there is a problem with your computer. Once bidding closes, it is not possible to change or submit bids.
Wait list and dropping interviews
- What is the wait list?
If you do not receive an interview with an employer that you bid on in the initial lottery, you are automatically placed on that employer’s wait list. By remaining on a wait list, you are affirmatively expressing your interest to interview with that employer in the event that an opening on the employer’s schedule arises. Students on the wait list will be pulled from the wait list into an open interview slot on that employer’s schedule as slots become available. These students will be notified via e-mail at least one day before the scheduled interview and are expected to attend the interview. Again, by remaining on the wait list, you are agreeing to be automatically added to an employer’s available interview slot and are expected to attend the interview. This use of the wait list helps to optimize the number of opportunities available to each student. - How do I know if I am on an employer’s wait list?
If you do not receive an interview with an employer that you bid on through the initial lottery, you are automatically placed on that employer’s wait list and the employer will be able to review your resume. In order to see the employers for which you are wait listed, you must review your bid summary. The category “not selected/no interview” means that you were not awarded an interview and have been placed on the wait list of each employer where this appears. - How do I add and remove myself from an employer’s wait list during bidding?
During the Wait List Opt-in/Opt-out period in Segment I, students have the opportunity to remove themselves from the wait lists of employers that they are no longer interested in by choosing the opt-out feature. Conversely, students who did not originally bid for an employer during the bidding period have an opportunity to add themselves to an employer’s wait list in hopes of being awarded an interview as openings for time slots arise by choosing to opt-in an employer’s wait list.
After the Wait List Opt-in/Opt-out period closes for Segment I, the lottery scheduler is run for a second time and students on the wait list will be automatically added to any available interview time slot on an employer’s schedule.
Students may also be awarded interviews from the wait list after schedules are final. These students will be notified via e-mail at least one day before the scheduled interview and are expected to attend the interview. By remaining on the wait list, you are agreeing to be automatically added to an employer’s available interview slot and are expected to attend the interview.
Segment I: In order to avoid being pulled from the wait list in Segment I and placed on an employer’s schedule once schedules are finalized, should openings arise, you must Opt-out during the Wait List Opt-in/Opt-out period in Segment I.
Segment II: In order to be removed from the wait list in Segment II, email Camesha McAllister a request listing all employers from whose wait list you wish to be removed during the Cancel Interview period. If you do not send this email, you are choosing to remain on wait lists. - How do I decline or remove myself from an interview during the bidding process?
1. Cancel interviews during the “Cancel Interview Period.”
2. Wait list Opt-in/Opt-out period (explained above). - Can students drop interviews once schedules are final?
Once schedules are final, there are three circumstances in which a student may miss an interview and that qualify as “Excused Absences”. These are:
1. Extreme illness or death in the family and notification to the Career Center as soon as practical.
2. Acceptance of an offer of employment and notification to the Career Center prior to the time of the interview.
3. Notification to the Career Center in accordance with its “Advance Cancellation Policy.”
Advance Cancellation Policy:
Notify CPDC IN WRITING NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. 3 BUSINESS DAYS (unless otherwise specified) BEFORE THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW. This 3 business day window allows us time to notify the employer and contact any students on the wait list. Please send your written notification to Camesha McAllister via email. If it is less than 3 business days before the day of your interview, please plan on attending the interview. (Example: Interview with Employer X on Friday, August 18, at 3:20PM. Must email cancellation request by Tuesday, August 15, at 5:00PM).+
Students with Excused Absences 1 or 2 must submit a written apology to the interviewer (with a copy to the Career Center) within three days of the missed interview, or as soon as practical, explaining the reasons for the student's failure to appear.
The failure to attend an interview under any other circumstances is an “Unexcused Absence.” Each Unexcused Absence will subject the student to a fine of $50, as well as a written apology. More than one (1) Unexcused Absence may lead to the suspension of interview privileges. (Checks will be made payable to Duke Law School, memo line: PILF donation.) This timing allows students on the wait list to be added, followed by a general announcement of open slots and time for students to respond, while allowing the employer to receive a final schedule 24 hours before arrival.
Resumes
- How can my resume be reviewed over the summer?
Contact CPDC via email or phone and we will be happy to review your resume and/or arrange a time to talk with you. If you would like to have your resume reviewed by a CPDC Counselor before bidding begins, please contact Tedi Mason at Mason@law.duke.edu. - Will I be able to update my resume during the bidding period?
Yes, you may update and resubmit a new “default resume” to Symplicity anytime before the close of bidding. This new (default) resume will automatically be changed for each employer that you previously bid for in that segment. Once bidding closes, you may not update your resume. - What if my resume needs to be updated after bidding for a segment has ended?
The resume that is uploaded to Symplicity on the bidding end date of each segment is the resume that will be submitted to the employers interviewing during that segment. However, you should bring the updated version of your resume to the interview so that the interviewer will have your resume with your most recent accomplishments and information. If you join a journal or work on an interesting project after bidding closes, for instance, bring your updated resume to the interview and be sure to highlight the change – a great chance to draw attention and talk about an impressive topic of your choosing. - Will my resume affect my chances of getting an on-campus interview?
Because Duke Law School has a lottery system, your resume will not affect your chance of getting an on-campus interview through the lottery. Your resume will, however, affect your chances of getting a callback interview and a job offer. Thus, both the version submitted to Symplicity and the updated version that you bring to the interview must be professional and perfect. Visit Resumes for information on how to write a professional resume. - What materials must I bring to each of my interviews?
Updated resume
Short Writing sample (no more than 10 pages)
List of Professional References
Copy of official transcript - Can I miss class for an on-campus interview?
A student is not allowed to miss class for an on-campus interview. As a condition of interviewing on campus, each student participating must enter his or her entire class schedule as an “unavailable time” in Symplicity for every day of OCI and keep this information current as the student’s class schedule changes. Missing a class for an on-campus interview will cause the student’s interview privileges to be revoked. - What happens if my class schedule changes after bidding is over?
You should update your class schedule on Symplicity and check your interview schedule for conflicts. If you have a conflict, please contact CPDC as soon as possible. - What is a resume solicitation?
Some employers are not able to interview on campus at Duke but are very interested in receiving resumes from Duke Law students. Most resume solicitations are posted in the Symplicity job bank. You may apply directly to these employers via Symplicity. Some of the resume solicitations are due before school starts, so it is to your advantage to check out the list over the summer and begin preparing your resume now. - Can I interview if I am a four-year joint degree student?
Four-year joint degree students have two 2L years (for interviewing purposes). During one of your 2L years, you may have full interviewing privileges. During the other year, you are limited to 20 bids per segment. You may choose which year you would like to have full interviewing privileges and let CPDC know. - Are there other policies that I should know?
Yes. Please be certain to read Section VI of the Law School Rules & Policies.
