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What does an offer look like?


Sureaboutnotbeingsure

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Sureaboutnotbeingsure

Hi!

When a firm calls at offer time, will they expect a response right away? Or will they email it after the call? Can we accept on the phone?

What do students say? Just a thank you?
 

What if you already have accepted an offer? Any tips?

Edited by Sureaboutnotbeingsure
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demarderozan4ever
  • Law Student

say "thank you for the offer. I need to time to reflect but I will get back to you as soon as I make my decision."

You have one day to hold an offer under the lso guidelines but it is customary to inform an employer ASAP if you will not accept an offer.

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BlockedQuebecois
  • Lawyer

They will provide the offer over the phone and expect a response immediately. You're not under any obligation to do so—you can hold an offer for up to 24 hours, though that's really not advisable. You should have your firm rankings sorted out before the 5:00 call time. If your first choice firm calls, just accept it then. If you're not sure, ask for 20 minutes to consider your options and wait to see if another call comes in. If you're getting close to 20 minutes and you haven't heard from a firm you're dying to go to, consider calling the recruiter just to confirm no call is incoming. 

If you're accepting the offer, the firm will want you to do so clearly. When I've received telephone offers I want to accept, I usually say "thank you very much, I am happy to accept" or similar. If your answer isn't clear, the lawyer on the other end will usually prompt you to make it clear whether or not you're accepting the offer. 

If you've already accepted another offer, you're technically bound by that acceptance. If you're happy with your choice, you simply decline by saying "thank you very much, I appreciate the offer but unfortunately I have accepted an offer elsewhere already" or similar. If you're not happy with your choice, that's more complicated. You can see if the other firm will release you from your commitment, but that has reputational harms attached to it. To avoid this, you really shouldn't accept an offer you aren't sure is your best one. 

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Sureaboutnotbeingsure
4 minutes ago, BlockedQuebecois said:

They will provide the offer over the phone and expect a response immediately. You're not under any obligation to do so—you can hold an offer for up to 24 hours, though that's really not advisable. You should have your firm rankings sorted out before the 5:00 call time. If your first choice firm calls, just accept it then. If you're not sure, ask for 20 minutes to consider your options and wait to see if another call comes in. If you're getting close to 20 minutes and you haven't heard from a firm you're dying to go to, consider calling the recruiter just to confirm no call is incoming. 

If you're accepting the offer, the firm will want you to do so clearly. When I've received telephone offers I want to accept, I usually say "thank you very much, I am happy to accept" or similar. If your answer isn't clear, the lawyer on the other end will usually prompt you to make it clear whether or not you're accepting the offer. 

If you've already accepted another offer, you're technically bound by that acceptance. If you're happy with your choice, you simply decline by saying "thank you very much, I appreciate the offer but unfortunately I have accepted an offer elsewhere already" or similar. If you're not happy with your choice, that's more complicated. You can see if the other firm will release you from your commitment, but that has reputational harms attached to it. To avoid this, you really shouldn't accept an offer you aren't sure is your best one. 

Thank you! Is it appropriate to ask how much time I have to hold my offer? Instead of asking to hold my offer for an X amount of time?

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Rumcola
  • Lawyer
10 minutes ago, Sureaboutnotbeingsure said:

Thank you! Is it appropriate to ask how much time I have to hold my offer? Instead of asking to hold my offer for an X amount of time?

I believe the LSO requires firms to allow students to hold an offer until 5 PM tomorrow if the offer is made today. More info here https://lso.ca/cmsctx/culture/fr-ca/-/becoming-licensed/lawyer-licensing-process/articling-candidates/finding-a-placement/2022-23-articling-recruitment-procedures

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BlockedQuebecois
  • Lawyer

You really don't want to be holding an offer for that long. It's not a great way to start a relationship with an employer. You have 24 hours, but you want to have it resolved as quickly as possible. And realistically, all the offers you're going to get are going to come within the first five to ten minutes. 

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ZineZ
  • Lawyer
47 minutes ago, BlockedQuebecois said:

You really don't want to be holding an offer for that long. It's not a great way to start a relationship with an employer. You have 24 hours, but you want to have it resolved as quickly as possible. And realistically, all the offers you're going to get are going to come within the first five to ten minutes. 

Agreed. 

Please keep in mind that firms and gov organizations are often providing offers based on rejections/acceptances of the ones they gave out first. Every minute you hold on to a spot that you do not intend to take potentially makes them lose out on another student ranked highly/takes away a spot from a student who wanted to be at that organization.  Take some time if you need it, but be respectful of your employer and your fellow students. If it's one of your top choices, I'd suggest not making them wait long. It can harm your rep with that firm (though I only care about this to a certain extent). 

That being said OP - the system is set up to allow for applicants to consider their options. You absolutely have the ability to look out for yourself and give yourself some time to breathe/consider what you want to do with your career. If you are very apprehensive about an option and want some time, you should take it. But do not take 24 hours. 

In my experience (albeit for the summer, but it was a similar process) - I had gotten a call right at 5 PM and asked for a few minutes to consider my options. Turned around an acceptance in about ten minutes. Not everyone would do this - but I had planned in advance to give myself that ten minutes or so regardless of what offer came in. I was very happy with the places where I had interviewed, and wanted to make sure I considered them fully. 

 

 

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