V15 Partner/OCI Interviewer Answering Questions... Forum

[Anonymous User]

If it's been a week since a mass-mail interview at a firm's office and only silence....ding?

Full round or just screener? Either way if mass mail hard to say. Nothing's for sure.

Screener at one and two attorneys at another (one associate said he wasn't sure whether they'd offer a callback or go straight to offer...so not sure how to classify).

Also, I edited in a second question to that post if you could answer.

[Anonymous User]

With regard to "why law school," I can't believe you get many genuine answers that scream "perfect for BigLaw." I assume most people you interview came to law school to make money; I doubt they dreamed for years of working 80-hour weeks. So my question is, if the reason I came to law school is to eventually work in public policy and I've spent time in Washington and seen how important law degrees are to policy, I can't say that, right? That makes it sound like I don't want to work for a firm. Do I just make something up that sounds better or say what's actually true?

[Anonymous User]

how much does 1L summer work factor into your decision whether to grant someone a CB?

[saladfiend]

If a student had the choice of a screening interview early in the day v. late in the day, which would you say is better? Or does it not matter?

[Anonymous User]

I received a call back offer from a V15 firm. I'm from a top 30 school, exactly top 10%, secondary journal.

Is there a strategy to scheduling the call back sooner rather than later? I want to wait a week since I'm in the middle of OCI's.

Also, do I have to be a superstar at the call back because of my stats?

Thanks for taking questions!

[Anonymous User]

I received a call back offer from a V15 firm. I'm from a top 30 school, exactly top 10%, secondary journal.

Is there a strategy to scheduling the call back sooner rather than later? I want to wait a week since I'm in the middle of OCI's.

Also, do I have to be a superstar at the call back because of my stats?

Thanks for taking questions!

BU/BC?

[BU2013]

Do firms call in response to screeners on Saturdays or Sundays. A few firms said 3-4 days, and I want to know if I should give up hope on Tuesday or Thursday.

[Anonymous User]

When you interview someone with top grades from a top school whose resume and 1L summer job look fairly public interest focused, do you tend to worry that person is using BigLaw as a short-term stepping stone to government or other public interest work? If so, how can such a student convince you in an interview that he/she really is interested in working in BigLaw, if only for a limited time? In other words, do you ask the "why private practice" question, or is that subsumed into "why X firm"?

Either way, what is a decent answer to that question given that such a student may have no interest in being a law firm attorney for his/her whole life? How much does this even matter?

Honestly, if it's too obvious that you're a public interest person, I'm probably not giving you a callback. I don't want you burning cash/time/space at my firm that could be better used by someone else.

Not the anonymous user quoted above, but how would you suggest overcoming a public service/interest oriented resume and convincing the interviewer that biglaw is what you want? It is very difficult to gain business experience ITE let alone get a job in that field these days. I'd imagine more law students than not have not had i-banking/business analyst/financial experience. Could one overcome this by emphasizing skills learned at the public interest jobs and just saying they did it cause they enjoyed it? Do you know of biglaw firms that actually value the fact one committed themselves to pro bono legal services?

[ResIpsa21]

Do firms call in response to screeners on Saturdays or Sundays?

I am assuming that the answer to this question is no, but I'm also rather curious.

[roranoa]

How bad is a 6 month to 1 year gap (between UG and LS) looked upon?

What if that gap was filled by studying the LSAT and internship?

[Cupidity]

How bad is a 6 month to 1 year gap (between UG and LS) look upon?

What if that gap was filled by studying the LSAT and internship?

... use the search function. No one would ever notice.

[roranoa]

How bad is a 6 month to 1 year gap (between UG and LS) look upon?

What if that gap was filled by studying the LSAT and internship?

... use the search function. No one would ever notice.

Thanks. But I still want to hear what OP has to say about this.

[Anonymous User]

How does your firm evaluate candidates with advanced degrees in the humanities?

[crazyblink653]

.

[Anonymous User]

How bad is a 6 month to 1 year gap (between UG and LS) look upon?

What if that gap was filled by studying the LSAT and internship?

... use the search function. No one would ever notice.

5 of my 23 screeners asked about my missing year. They can notice. Have a good explanation and is simple and requires no further thought. Mine is "I deferred for a year to care for an elderly grandparent".

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on varsity athletics on a resume?

[meatball122]

How would you view someone who worked in Marine Corps Intelligence for 5 years and deployed to Iraq once and Afghanistan twice prior to going to law school? Any major bump? Would the fact that im older than most negatively impact me?

[Anonymous User]

.

[itbdvorm]

With regard to "why law school," I can't believe you get many genuine answers that scream "perfect for BigLaw." I assume most people you interview came to law school to make money; I doubt they dreamed for years of working 80-hour weeks. So my question is, if the reason I came to law school is to eventually work in public policy and I've spent time in Washington and seen how important law degrees are to policy, I can't say that, right? That makes it sound like I don't want to work for a firm. Do I just make something up that sounds better or say what's actually true?

I don't get many genuine answers that scream "perfect for big law"...but an answer like yours (especially given the resume) would scream to me "planning on bailing for government" and I'd be somewhat loathe. Not a definite no, but a strong "yes, I always considered that, but I think learning things from the private sector / practicing is what I know I want and need to do to start my career" or something would be helpful

[itbdvorm]

how much does 1L summer work factor into your decision whether to grant someone a CB?

All depends on what it is/was. If an awesome experience that they can talk about well, it helps, sure. If fluff that they're trying to oversell, hurts.

[itbdvorm]

If a student had the choice of a screening interview early in the day v. late in the day, which would you say is better? Or does it not matter?

Doesn't matter to me

[itbdvorm]

I received a call back offer from a V15 firm. I'm from a top 30 school, exactly top 10%, secondary journal.

Is there a strategy to scheduling the call back sooner rather than later? I want to wait a week since I'm in the middle of OCI's.

Also, do I have to be a superstar at the call back because of my stats?

Thanks for taking questions!

I would get in ASAP (this applies to everyone for every firm). Sooner you're in, better shot you generally have. If they called you back they presumably do like you already - I'd talk with career services about what it generally takes to get hired at that firm from your school

[itbdvorm]

Do firms call in response to screeners on Saturdays or Sundays. A few firms said 3-4 days, and I want to know if I should give up hope on Tuesday or Thursday.

Sometimes. Depends on firm / person

[itbdvorm]

When you interview someone with top grades from a top school whose resume and 1L summer job look fairly public interest focused, do you tend to worry that person is using BigLaw as a short-term stepping stone to government or other public interest work? If so, how can such a student convince you in an interview that he/she really is interested in working in BigLaw, if only for a limited time? In other words, do you ask the "why private practice" question, or is that subsumed into "why X firm"?

Either way, what is a decent answer to that question given that such a student may have no interest in being a law firm attorney for his/her whole life? How much does this even matter?

Honestly, if it's too obvious that you're a public interest person, I'm probably not giving you a callback. I don't want you burning cash/time/space at my firm that could be better used by someone else.

Not the anonymous user quoted above, but how would you suggest overcoming a public service/interest oriented resume and convincing the interviewer that biglaw is what you want? It is very difficult to gain business experience ITE let alone get a job in that field these days. I'd imagine more law students than not have not had i-banking/business analyst/financial experience. Could one overcome this by emphasizing skills learned at the public interest jobs and just saying they did it cause they enjoyed it? Do you know of biglaw firms that actually value the fact one committed themselves to pro bono legal services?

In reality, probably not (to your last question) unless it's couched in a "opportunity to gain experience in law pre-law school or pre-firm" or something. Skills are valued much more than one's commitment to being a good person

[itbdvorm]

How bad is a 6 month to 1 year gap (between UG and LS) look upon?

What if that gap was filled by studying the LSAT and internship?

... use the search function. No one would ever notice.

I admittedly might notice. Depends on what else is on the resume. I do generally notice these things on a callback. But good answers can be anything. If you spent it travelling to Europe and have good stories about that I certainly wouldn't hold it against you.