V15 Partner/OCI Interviewer Answering Questions... Forum

[Anonymous User]

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[potted plant]

T10 school as well. I sent an email to a partner at a firm I'm interested in, and he responded with an offer to chat over coffee or lunch. I responded stating my interest, but have not heard back from him in over 24 hours. Should I assume he is busy, or should I assume he is no longer interested?

How is this a serious question? He's busy. Calm down.

[manofjustice]

T10 school as well. I sent an email to a partner at a firm I'm interested in, and he responded with an offer to chat over coffee or lunch. I responded stating my interest, but have not heard back from him in over 24 hours. Should I assume he is busy, or should I assume he is no longer interested?

How is this a serious question? He's busy. Calm down.

I'm sure he loves you a lot. But he has to take care of his clients paying him a stack an hour. Can you give him a day?

[guano]

T10 school as well. I sent an email to a partner at a firm I'm interested in, and he responded with an offer to chat over coffee or lunch. I responded stating my interest, but have not heard back from him in over 24 hours. Should I assume he is busy, or should I assume he is no longer interested?

How is this a serious question? He's busy. Calm down.

I'm sure he loves you a lot. But he has to take care of his clients paying him a stack an hour. Can you give him a day?

Pro-tip: when you say yes, tell him/her your availability (I'd love to chat. I'm available Monday afternoon, Wednesday morning, or any time Thursday)

Also, give him time. This isn't open heart surgery or a hostile takeover. There's plenty of time

[Anonymous User]

I have just transferred and will have a limited number of interviews slots to fill at my new school's OCI. Prior to transfer, I applied via website to a firm and was dinged by email. If I have the opportunity to use one of my limited interview slots on this firm at my new school's OCI, would it be worth it? I am extremely interested in this firm, but I don't know if firms are willing to reconsider a rejection that was based on Cover Letter/Resume/Prior school.

This firm is very international, and that is why I am interested. I have transferred precisely because of my interest in focusing on international law. The firm does not recruit at my old school and obviously recruits actively at the new school. All of these factors make me wonder if it is possible to overcome the prior rejection. That being said, I don't want to waste limited interview slots if their decision is definitely final. Thanks for any input.

[Anonymous User]

T30 school, just below top third, so everything I can do to help matters

For my writing sample, I did not have anything at my summer position that will work. It's just not the type of job that would create a good writing sample. Should I use something from my 1L writing class (or moot court, which is the latest writing), even though my writing has improved since the last non-moot court writing, or try to write something new?

[Anonymous User]

What is a good answer to the "Why did you transfer?" question in OCI screeners? The truth is I took a very conceited gamble and attended a low T1 school with a great scholarship, knowing that I'd be at the top of my class and could transfer out in order to save money.

I've had one interview so far via a job fair and the question came up. I talked about always striving to better myself, wanting better job prospects, transferring for better class selections since my resume clearly screams business finance but my prior school is largely international law and public interest focuses....yada yada yada. Does that answer sound too cheesy? What good responses do you normally hear from transfers? This answer is true in part, but I'm pretty sure the real truth will leave interviewers hating me.

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

Can you give some examples of common bad answers to "why law?"

[brotherdarkness]

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[Anonymous User]

Do you ever interview someone with high grades and come away with the impression that they're not as smart as their grades suggest?

[Anonymous User]

Do you ever interview someone with high grades and come away with the impression that they're not as smart as their grades suggest?

This has been answered earlier ITT.

ETA: accidental anon.

[Anonymous User]

I am not sure if this has been discussed already but are you involved at all with 3L hiring at your firm? If so would you say your GPA cutoffs are the same? Or are they less stringent because you have a more immediate need? So far this OCI season I have gotten the attention of firms who completely ignored me during 2L OCI. I raised my GPA by .06 (but still below what I believe to be the cutoffs) and I interned with biggov this summer, but other than that I am essentially the same on paper. Wondering if 3L hiring focuses less on things like GPA. I am sure this will vary from firm to firm but I wanted to get your perspective. Thanks

[itbdvorm]

I am not sure if this has been discussed already but are you involved at all with 3L hiring at your firm? If so would you say your GPA cutoffs are the same? Or are they less stringent because you have a more immediate need? So far this OCI season I have gotten the attention of firms who completely ignored me during 2L OCI. I raised my GPA by .06 (but still below what I believe to be the cutoffs) and I interned with biggov this summer, but other than that I am essentially the same on paper. Wondering if 3L hiring focuses less on things like GPA. I am sure this will vary from firm to firm but I wanted to get your perspective. Thanks

all depends on how the firm did 2L year and what they project their needs as. but, in general, standards are same/higher

[Anonymous User]

How should I handle a LOR? I received a LOR from the Judge I'm clerking for. Specifically, their spouse is a senior partner at a firm I would love to work at. Any advice on this would be great.

ask the judge to pass along to spouse

OP

What about at other firms? For instance, how would you feel after an interview if the interviewee said "I have a LOR from Justice Joe Blow I would love for you to look at."

[itbdvorm]

How should I handle a LOR? I received a LOR from the Judge I'm clerking for. Specifically, their spouse is a senior partner at a firm I would love to work at. Any advice on this would be great.

ask the judge to pass along to spouse

OP

What about at other firms? For instance, how would you feel after an interview if the interviewee said "I have a LOR from Justice Joe Blow I would love for you to look at."

not worth it. it's on your resume. if it's an impressive achievement it'll speak for itself.

[Anonymous User]

From your experience, do you think taking several days to respond to a callback request cost somebody an offer?

[itbdvorm]

From your experience, do you think taking several days to respond to a callback request cost somebody an offer?

no...but it could lead to a delay in scheduling it, and thus being behind the 8-ball in terms of having a better chance at an offer

[Anonymous User]

In your estimation, what are the odds of me finding a position through 3L OCI or job fairs? You've referenced wanting "exceptional" candidates...

Top 15% MVB, LR and a secondary, WE before law school. 2 summer SAs, but at public interest firms. I didn't go after OCI as a 2L, nor did I bomb out this summer and get no offered--I took the job knowing they don't extend them.

I have a decent explanation on why the change.

[itbdvorm]

In your estimation, what are the odds of me finding a position through 3L OCI or job fairs? You've referenced wanting "exceptional" candidates...

Top 15% MVB, LR and a secondary, WE before law school. 2 summer SAs, but at public interest firms. I didn't go after OCI as a 2L, nor did I bomb out this summer and get no offered--I took the job knowing they don't extend them.

I have a decent explanation on why the change.

too early to tell for sure. there's a chance but no guarantees

[Anonymous User]

My OCS keeps telling me to bring the interviewer back on track if we get off topic or talk about my interests section for too long.

I generally like to go at the pace of the interviewer and make a good connection, rather than try to squeeze in as many transferrable skills as possible.

I did this at a callback and had success, but should I take the same approach in screeners at OCI?

TL;DR Do you have to fill out a sheet with a rating of the candidate's skills (ie legal writing, project management, teamwork, etc.) and THEN check a box saying I'd like working with this person OR do you just recommend whether to bring them back for a callback or not?

[itbdvorm]

My OCS keeps telling me to bring the interviewer back on track if we get off topic or talk about my interests section for too long.

I generally like to go at the pace of the interviewer and make a good connection, rather than try to squeeze in as many transferrable skills as possible.

I did this at a callback and had success, but should I take the same approach in screeners at OCI?

TL;DR Do you have to fill out a sheet with a rating of the candidate's skills (ie legal writing, project management, teamwork, etc.) and THEN check a box saying I'd like working with this person OR do you just recommend whether to bring them back for a callback or not?

Very hard to tell. That trail could be (a) the interviewer being bored, deciding you have no chance; (b) the interviewer having already decided to call you back; (c) the interviewer being really tired on interview # 7 of 15, etc.

I usually have a pretty good sense w/in 5 minutes of whether this kid has a chance.

[Anonymous User]

My OCS keeps telling me to bring the interviewer back on track if we get off topic or talk about my interests section for too long.

I generally like to go at the pace of the interviewer and make a good connection, rather than try to squeeze in as many transferrable skills as possible.

I did this at a callback and had success, but should I take the same approach in screeners at OCI?

TL;DR Do you have to fill out a sheet with a rating of the candidate's skills (ie legal writing, project management, teamwork, etc.) and THEN check a box saying I'd like working with this person OR do you just recommend whether to bring them back for a callback or not?

Very hard to tell. That trail could be (a) the interviewer being bored, deciding you have no chance; (b) the interviewer having already decided to call you back; (c) the interviewer being really tired on interview # 7 of 15, etc.

I usually have a pretty good sense w/in 5 minutes of whether this kid has a chance.

Thanks for the response. Do you have a sheet that you fill out that includes your opinion on certain skills? Or do you just say yes callback or no callback?

[Anonymous User]

My OCS keeps telling me to bring the interviewer back on track if we get off topic or talk about my interests section for too long.

I generally like to go at the pace of the interviewer and make a good connection, rather than try to squeeze in as many transferrable skills as possible.

I did this at a callback and had success, but should I take the same approach in screeners at OCI?

TL;DR Do you have to fill out a sheet with a rating of the candidate's skills (ie legal writing, project management, teamwork, etc.) and THEN check a box saying I'd like working with this person OR do you just recommend whether to bring them back for a callback or not?

Very hard to tell. That trail could be (a) the interviewer being bored, deciding you have no chance; (b) the interviewer having already decided to call you back; (c) the interviewer being really tired on interview # 7 of 15, etc.

I usually have a pretty good sense w/in 5 minutes of whether this kid has a chance.

If grades are good, I assume it just comes down to personality. What about someone's personality allows you to know so quickly whether or not that person has a shot?

[Anonymous User]

On scheduling callbacks:

I will be interviewing through OCI with some of my most desired firms this coming Monday. The soonest I would be able to go on a callback with any of them would be a full 2 weeks later (the first week i have OCI interviews every day. The second, my school's Law Review requires its new members to be around for orientation/training for the entire week).

Is this kind of gap between OCI screener and earliest possible CB date a possible detriment to my chances of receiving an offer?