V15 Partner/OCI Interviewer Answering Questions... Forum

[aces]

Unless it's a personalized rejection letter (for instance, if it mentions something specific that would only apply to you), assume it's a pro forma nicety. Even the smallest public interest organization or midlaw firm sends dozens of rejection letters this time of year, and no employer goes through the effort of tailoring rejection letters, especially not without including something more specific than the "While we were impressed with your resume/credentials..." line. It's not like they have three different variants of rejection letters and sent you the "almost but not quite" one-- it's almost certainly the same letter they send to JoeBob, the 3.0 GPA, K-JD at Cooley. It's like how Cravath in their ding letters encourages everyone to apply for a position during 3L OCI-- it's just to be nice and end on an encouraging note, not because they genuinely want everyone who receives that letter to apply for the three or four open positions they might have a year later.

[itbdvorm]

Unless it's a personalized rejection letter (for instance, if it mentions something specific that would only apply to you), assume it's a pro forma nicety. Even the smallest public interest organization or midlaw firm sends dozens of rejection letters this time of year, and no employer goes through the effort of tailoring rejection letters, especially not without including something more specific than the "While we were impressed with your resume/credentials..." line. It's not like they have three different variants of rejection letters and sent you the "almost but not quite" one-- it's almost certainly the same letter they send to JoeBob, the 3.0 GPA, K-JD at Cooley. It's like how Cravath in their ding letters encourages everyone to apply for a position during 3L OCI-- it's just to be nice and end on an encouraging note, not because they genuinely want everyone who receives that letter to apply for the three or four open positions they might have a year later.

agreed

[Sheffield]

Before spending several hundred dollars on a [yearly] membership fee, IYO is it worth joining a school club? As a lawyer I can see how it might be worthwhile, not sure how a 2L could benefit (short of networking in the lounge). Did you join you school’s club?

Years ago my uncle had a business client who would ask him to meet at the Harvard club. For whatever reason I always thought it sounded impressive.

[rouser]

when someone is pitching for corporate, what are some less-obvious things that make you lean towards "wouldn't fit in"?

[itbdvorm]

Before spending several hundred dollars on a [yearly] membership fee, IYO is it worth joining a school club? As a lawyer I can see how it might be worthwhile, not sure how a 2L could benefit (short of networking in the lounge). Did you join you school’s club?

Years ago my uncle had a business client who would ask him to meet at the Harvard club. For whatever reason I always thought it sounded impressive.

what do you mean by school club? like the alumni club? sure, if you'd use it

[itbdvorm]

when someone is pitching for corporate, what are some less-obvious things that make you lean towards "wouldn't fit in"?

massively socially awkward's not a good one

[Anonymous User]

Let's be honest. It's all about how you like the person when you talk to um, right? Everything else is just meeting the minimum requirements, e.g. grades.

[itbdvorm]

Let's be honest. It's all about how you like the person when you talk to um, right? Everything else is just meeting the minimum requirements, e.g. grades.

not really. i mean, i shouldn't hate you. but i've called back plenty of people i didn't especially like whom i thought would be great fits / great additions to the firm overall

[rouser]

describe in a couple sentences what a random tuesday is like for you

[Anonymous User]

I will be heading to a firm for a 1L SA (lucky, I know). But I worry about my work product. I am going to split between lit and transactional. I go to a school with ungraded LRW, didnt do well in it (based on comments). What should I be doing to make sure that my work product doesnt lead to a no offer? My grades are very good... just really worried about work product. Dont know how to even prepare...

[Anonymous User]

Do firms maintain information on previous interviews? I was rejected at a firm and I've since gotten to know someone peripherally involved in hiring. Is there any chance he'd be able to get information about the grounds for rejection, even though it happened months ago; either from a database or by talking to the interviewers?

[roranoa]

Let's be honest. It's all about how you like the person when you talk to um, right? Everything else is just meeting the minimum requirements, e.g. grades.

not really. i mean, i shouldn't hate you. but i've called back plenty of people i didn't especially like whom i thought would be great fits / great additions to the firm overall

What do you mean you didn't "like" them? Like, as a potential colleague? a person?

[NDJ]

If I am a Canadian attending a T6 (or lower T14), do I have the same, or roughly the same, chances of getting a biglaw callback in NYC than my American peers? When you are conducting interviews do you give foreigners, or Canadians specifically, the same amount of consideration as American students? If I had a green card, would this be different?
Thanks a lot!

[Anonymous User]

Any advice on the following scenario?:

1L who will hopefully (bad first semester) enter 2L OCI at median from T6. For summer, deciding between office of general counsel at Dept. of Ed. in DC or diversity/in-house position with big bank in NY (think morgan stanley, goldman sachs, etc.). Want to do private practice for a couple of years in either DC or NY, but end up in DC, maybe doing gov. work. Would i be making a mistake by declining the latter offer? the name-prestige is nice, but i wonder how much it will be qualified by fact that it was a 1L position

[pbfoot]

Not sure if this has been asked/answered, but how hard should I be selling my interest in a firm/particular office and myself in a 1L OCI as opposed to simply conversing? I know once you get an interview firms generally consider you qualified so it's mostly about making sure you're not a rube and will be a "fit" for the firm, but how do you make sure you are giving off the persona that "fits"?

[itbdvorm]

I will be heading to a firm for a 1L SA (lucky, I know). But I worry about my work product. I am going to split between lit and transactional. I go to a school with ungraded LRW, didnt do well in it (based on comments). What should I be doing to make sure that my work product doesnt lead to a no offer? My grades are very good... just really worried about work product. Dont know how to even prepare...

try talking to LRW prof about it. presumably a student / JSD guy? or junior faculty? might be willing to help. and practice, practice, practice

[itbdvorm]

Do firms maintain information on previous interviews? I was rejected at a firm and I've since gotten to know someone peripherally involved in hiring. Is there any chance he'd be able to get information about the grounds for rejection, even though it happened months ago; either from a database or by talking to the interviewers?

maybe. but not much good can come from this

[itbdvorm]

Let's be honest. It's all about how you like the person when you talk to um, right? Everything else is just meeting the minimum requirements, e.g. grades.

not really. i mean, i shouldn't hate you. but i've called back plenty of people i didn't especially like whom i thought would be great fits / great additions to the firm overall

What do you mean you didn't "like" them? Like, as a potential colleague? a person?

as in "i don't think i would be great friends with this person, but for x/y/z reason i think they would be a good lawyer in our firm"

[itbdvorm]

If I am a Canadian attending a T6 (or lower T14), do I have the same, or roughly the same, chances of getting a biglaw callback in NYC than my American peers? When you are conducting interviews do you give foreigners, or Canadians specifically, the same amount of consideration as American students? If I had a green card, would this be different?
Thanks a lot!

probably roughly the same. if there are real immigration issues that's one thing. don't really know, ask your career services

[itbdvorm]

Any advice on the following scenario?:

1L who will hopefully (bad first semester) enter 2L OCI at median from T6. For summer, deciding between office of general counsel at Dept. of Ed. in DC or diversity/in-house position with big bank in NY (think morgan stanley, goldman sachs, etc.). Want to do private practice for a couple of years in either DC or NY, but end up in DC, maybe doing gov. work. Would i be making a mistake by declining the latter offer? the name-prestige is nice, but i wonder how much it will be qualified by fact that it was a 1L position

if you want to work at a big firm, the latter position will likely be mcuh more helpful

[itbdvorm]

Not sure if this has been asked/answered, but how hard should I be selling my interest in a firm/particular office and myself in a 1L OCI as opposed to simply conversing? I know once you get an interview firms generally consider you qualified so it's mostly about making sure you're not a rube and will be a "fit" for the firm, but how do you make sure you are giving off the persona that "fits"?

it's always better to know more about the firm when interviewing. if you've done your homework about a firm and can ask good questions about a person / practice / etc you are much more likely to have a chance

[whatsthat]

How much do you care about the format of a resume? Been looking at examples, saw a group of column resumes, and they seem way more aesthetically pleasing than every other sample legal resume I've seen.

As long as it's kept clean (i.e. without colors or crazy font), does it even matter? Or would it be better to just stick with conventional regardless? (I guess along the lines of minimizing any potential negative impression. Most of the samples I've seen seem to be from the tech industry.)

[itbdvorm]

How much do you care about the format of a resume? Been looking at examples, saw a group of column resumes, and they seem way more aesthetically pleasing than every other sample legal resume I've seen.

As long as it's kept clean (i.e. without colors or crazy font), does it even matter? Or would it be better to just stick with conventional regardless? (I guess along the lines of minimizing any potential negative impression. Most of the samples I've seen seem to be from the tech industry.)

not really sure what you mean. but clean and neat

[Anonymous User]

I will be interning in DC this summer and DC is my ultimate goal. Any advice for how to use my time there to help my chances for OCI? Would contacting recruiters and trying organize a lunch/coffee be appropriate or not advisable? I'm a 1L and my school is not in the area so I want to make the most of my time.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous User]

If a firm is providing various start dates for first year associates, how should one pick his or her start date? What are the drawbacks of starting later?