Exploding Offers and Short Deadlines

You just got a BigLaw offer with a deadline that feels uncomfortably short. Maybe it is 48 hours. Maybe it is a week. The pressure is real, and the firm knows it.

Here is how to think about this.

What NALP says

The National Association for Law Placement has guidelines about offer timing. For 2L summer offers, NALP recommends that firms give students a minimum of 28 days to accept or decline. For offers extended after September 1, the deadline should be at least two weeks.

These are guidelines, not laws. Firms can and do deviate from them. But most reputable firms follow NALP guidelines, and if a firm is pressuring you to decide in 48 hours during the regular recruiting cycle, that is a red flag.

When short deadlines happen

Short deadlines are more common in certain situations:

• Off-cycle or lateral hiring where NALP guidelines are less clearly applicable
• Pre-OCI offers where the firm extended an offer before the official process
• Firms outside the NALP framework or smaller firms that do not follow the guidelines
• Late-season offers where both you and the firm are running out of time

What to do

Ask for an extension. This is almost always the right first move. Be polite and direct: "Thank you so much for the offer. I am very excited about [firm]. Would it be possible to have until [specific date] to make my decision?" Most firms will grant a reasonable extension.

Talk to your career services office. If a firm is giving you an unreasonably short deadline, your career services office can intervene. They have relationships with firm recruiters and can advocate on your behalf.

Do not panic-accept. An offer accepted under duress is a bad foundation for a multi-year employment relationship. If you need more time, ask for it.

Do not hold offers indefinitely. Be respectful of the firm's process. If you know you are not going to accept, decline promptly so the firm can extend offers to other candidates.

Is the deadline actually firm?

Usually no. Most firms will extend by a few days to a week if you ask professionally. The hard deadlines tend to be around specific dates when the firm needs to finalize its class.

A firm that refuses to give you a reasonable amount of time to make a major career decision is telling you something about its culture. Factor that into your evaluation.

Research firms and their recruiting practices on the firm directory before you start the process.