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[question_TT]

Or will they just say nothing?

[stuffball]

They do pretty much what they want to do.  I think it's considered good form to send a follow-up/fuck-off letter.  However, it's not mandatory.

I've definitely interviewed with firms and never heard back.

[Robert K S]

I'm sure there are people out there that would crave working for a firm that doesn't bother to send "thanks but no thanks" notifications, but I'm glad I'm not one of them.

[QUESTWON]

There is no rule that they have to tell you anything.  I worked at a firm that would only tell the worst of the worst to go away, but would not tell candidates in the middle anything.  The reason was just that they wanted to keep them interested in case things didn't work out with the best candidates.

[horsechute]

I remember looking for a job in one of the notorious aerospace downturns, and life kind of sucked, and people not responding didn't really help (but didn't matter a lot), so later when I had some input in that kind of manner, I always made sure to treat people well. You'd think that in a relatively small, "professional" field like ours that people would realize that not only do people remember "small" slights like that, but it is rather "unprofessional." I know enough attorneys that I can sometimes match someone up with a firm, at least when times are normal, and if a law firm is rude - and most aren't - then I wouldn't bother.

[stuffball]

Agreed.  Law firms should realize that people they slight may well become pretty important in a few short years.  People don't forget that stuff and our world is a small one.

[DogDayPM 9er9er9er]

Agreed.  Law firms should realize that people they slight may well become pretty important in a few short years.  People don't forget that stuff and our world is a small one.

I was skimming the thread and thinking something along the same lines.  I've never been ignored in the fashion mentioned, but if I had, that would certainly be in the back of my mind while making decisions as to where I was sending my legal business. 

[decom]

DogDayPM, exactly! I am with you!   

[bleedingpen]

Probably 20% of my firm's work comes from being "nice" to everyone (except opposing parties), even those pesky job seekers. 

[Wiscagent]

Probably 20% of my firm's work comes from being "nice" to everyone (except opposing parties) [...]

You can even be nice to opposing parties.  I recently had a negotiation with an attorney; it went something like this:
Attny:  Hi, how are you ... [nice, nice, nice].  Regarding this case UP, RIGHT, HOT, CLOCKWISE, BLACK.
Me:  It's great to hear from you ... [nice, nice, nice].  Regarding this case DOWN, LEFT, COLD, COUNTERCLOCKWISE, WHITE.
Attny:  Rich, you have to understand here are the reasons [...] it must be UP, RIGHT, HOT, CLOCKWISE,BLACK.
Me:  I do understand your position but the only acceptable resolution is DOWN, LEFT, COLD, COUNTERCLOCKWISE, WHITE
Attny:  But I have no room to negotiate on this.
Me:  I understand you position, and I am intransigent on this matter.  Apparently we do not have a deal.
Warmest regards to your husband, and kids.  Say "Hi." to everyone at the office.  And have a good holiday weekend.
Attny:  Take care, Rich.  Have a good summer.

[log5]

Sometimes no response is may be preferable.  I recall well at least one ocassion where I received a reply questioning why such a clearly unqualified dolt as myself would even have bothered sending a resume. I have often wished over the years I had kept that letter in safekeeping.  You can be sure I still remember the name of author many years later! 

[virus_guy]

geeez, that's harsh. I'm surprised any company/firm would send out anything other than a "we've placed your resume on a database and if a position matching your qualifications becomes available, we will contact you" kind of letter.

[horsechute]

Pretty cold. If I got something like that, I might be tempted to post it on the Internet (without my name, of course). Sometimes I see cease and desist letters that have been posted on the Internet alleging infringement of patents on things like methods of playing poker, and at least to me, it makes the sender seem kind of foolish.

[trustme]

This reminds me of the purely hypothetical story of an attorney who was interviewing with one of the notorious DC sweatshops.He thought the interview went well, including the grilling from the partners. He was talking with the hiring partner on the elevator after the interview and was told that he had an offer, right down to the specifics of the salary, benefits, etc.
Well, you can guess what happened. No written offer ever materialized and when said hypothetical lawyer requested a status update after about 10 days, he received a form e-mail rejection.

Of course, if said hypothetical lawyer ever has a choice between sending work to said notorious DC sweatshop or another firm, you know who he's going to choose.