V15 Partner/OCI Interviewer Answering Questions... Forum

[Anonymous User]

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[Danger Zone]

How do you view guys that are overweight? Is part of "fit" being in good shape? I was told that interviewers presume overweight candidates as being lazy or lacking in self-control. Should you get the elephant out of the room if it is a medical issue so that the interviewer knows it isn't?

Did you purposely use the words fit and elephant in this post

[Anonymous User]

after an interview with a large firm in V100, if they don't call me back to let me know one way or another for two weeks, is it safe to assume they simply aren't interested?

[itbdvorm]

How do grades factor into 3L big law hiring? Is it just 1L that is important? Does strength of the program someone summered at matter (e.g. V15 versus V100)?

we'll look at everything. better is better, but to a point. if you summered at Skadden and are interviewing with us that will raise more questions than if you summered at Kaye Scholer.

So then would you say "trading up" as a reason for interviewing is pretty implicit, as in, no reason to cite that when asked "why XYZ firm"?

"trading up" is a terrible answer. premier X practice is a better one.

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

how much would one poor interview at a CB impact a candidates chances? i think i really messed up in one of my 5 interviews - but the other 4 went really well. offer still possible? anything I could do to try and make up for the poor interview?

[Anonymous User]

If your firm has their commitment to pro bono posted all over their website, and a potential SA used that as a talking point (asking how they integrate pro bono, what kinds of pro bono work has the interviewer been able to work on)...would that come off as someone who would rather be in public interest?

(I was trying to show I had done research in the firm and mentioned specific pro bono areas they work in as they coincided as areas of interest for me but I'm scared I came of as someone who wants a biglaw salary to do public interest work...)

[Anonymous User]

If your firm has their commitment to pro bono posted all over their website, and a potential SA used that as a talking point (asking how they integrate pro bono, what kinds of pro bono work has the interviewer been able to work on)...would that come off as someone who would rather be in public interest?

(I was trying to show I had done research in the firm and mentioned specific pro bono areas they work in as they coincided as areas of interest for me but I'm scared I came of as someone who wants a biglaw salary to do public interest work...)

I talked about Pro Bono with some firms at OCI mentioning the moral duty lawyers have (the bs) and the fact that it provides a chance for young attorneys and summers to handle their own cases. Seems to have gone over well.

[itbdvorm]

how much would one poor interview at a CB impact a candidates chances? i think i really messed up in one of my 5 interviews - but the other 4 went really well. offer still possible? anything I could do to try and make up for the poor interview?

Always hard to know for sure (and depends on how badly). Offer definitely still possible though

[itbdvorm]

If your firm has their commitment to pro bono posted all over their website, and a potential SA used that as a talking point (asking how they integrate pro bono, what kinds of pro bono work has the interviewer been able to work on)...would that come off as someone who would rather be in public interest?

(I was trying to show I had done research in the firm and mentioned specific pro bono areas they work in as they coincided as areas of interest for me but I'm scared I came of as someone who wants a biglaw salary to do public interest work...)

I talked about Pro Bono with some firms at OCI mentioning the moral duty lawyers have (the bs) and the fact that it provides a chance for young attorneys and summers to handle their own cases. Seems to have gone over well.

I wouldn't do this with anyone more senior than a second year.

[Anonymous User]

For someone joining a capital markets practice that also does a bit of acquisition finance, is there any suggested reading you'd recommend? A book or two, or another one to build some basic knowledge about how these things work?

[itbdvorm]

For someone joining a capital markets practice that also does a bit of acquisition finance, is there any suggested reading you'd recommend? A book or two, or another one to build some basic knowledge about how these things work?

I think there are a few firms that publish books of jargon / dictionaries / guides - I would definitely look for one of those on acquisition finance and thumb through it.

Barbarians at the Gate is interesting. Acquisition finance is the private equity model generally (though many corporates are leveraged and use debt to acquire companies as well). So useful as a big picture idea.

But specifics of acquisition finance and cap markets generally are really complex and technical. I would look at a few OMs, read a bunch of different descriptions of notes, and start thinking about what goes into these things.

[Anonymous User]

When you say "fit", how do you look at an introvert guy who came from an entirely different culture (foreign) and has no common interest with the rest of the firm, other than the actual work? He is always courteous, no communication difficulty, and does try to do small talks, but still will be awkward silences during lunch, etc.? Auto-ding? Not-an-issue?

[Anonymous User]

For a 3L candidate, how do you look at his past 2L summer associate experience? Does the prestige of the past SA position, say V20 vs. V70, matter to you at all?

[Anonymous User]

Background: patent candidate trying to choose between IP boutique vs. GP (with strong IP) for the summer associate position. Currently have no idea whether the long-term goal is GP or boutique. I guess I will choose the option that gives me the most flexibility for future employment. So, the questions are:

How does a GP look at a candidates' past boutique experience?
How does boutique look at a candidates' past GP experience (in IP)?

[Anonymous User]

If your firm has their commitment to pro bono posted all over their website, and a potential SA used that as a talking point (asking how they integrate pro bono, what kinds of pro bono work has the interviewer been able to work on)...would that come off as someone who would rather be in public interest?

(I was trying to show I had done research in the firm and mentioned specific pro bono areas they work in as they coincided as areas of interest for me but I'm scared I came of as someone who wants a biglaw salary to do public interest work...)

I talked about Pro Bono with some firms at OCI mentioning the moral duty lawyers have (the bs) and the fact that it provides a chance for young attorneys and summers to handle their own cases. Seems to have gone over well.

I wouldn't do this with anyone more senior than a second year.

Talk about pro bono at all/use it as a talking point? Or what the other anon said - talking about it giving younger associates a chance to handle their own cases (I did not say that, and personally would not say that. I was only asking about talking pro bono as a draw to a firm.)

[itbdvorm]

When you say "fit", how do you look at an introvert guy who came from an entirely different culture (foreign) and has no common interest with the rest of the firm, other than the actual work? He is always courteous, no communication difficulty, and does try to do small talks, but still will be awkward silences during lunch, etc.? Auto-ding? Not-an-issue?

Not an auto-ding, but not an auto-yes. Good grades, etc., could overcome that, as could speaking intelligently about various topics

[itbdvorm]

For a 3L candidate, how do you look at his past 2L summer associate experience? Does the prestige of the past SA position, say V20 vs. V70, matter to you at all?

Everything matters.

[itbdvorm]

Background: patent candidate trying to choose between IP boutique vs. GP (with strong IP) for the summer associate position. Currently have no idea whether the long-term goal is GP or boutique. I guess I will choose the option that gives me the most flexibility for future employment. So, the questions are:

How does a GP look at a candidates' past boutique experience?
How does boutique look at a candidates' past GP experience (in IP)?

Sorry, too specific a question. If you want to do patent I would compare quality of patent practices. A boutique with a great practice will help, a boutique with a crap practice won't

[itbdvorm]

If your firm has their commitment to pro bono posted all over their website, and a potential SA used that as a talking point (asking how they integrate pro bono, what kinds of pro bono work has the interviewer been able to work on)...would that come off as someone who would rather be in public interest?

(I was trying to show I had done research in the firm and mentioned specific pro bono areas they work in as they coincided as areas of interest for me but I'm scared I came of as someone who wants a biglaw salary to do public interest work...)

I talked about Pro Bono with some firms at OCI mentioning the moral duty lawyers have (the bs) and the fact that it provides a chance for young attorneys and summers to handle their own cases. Seems to have gone over well.

I wouldn't do this with anyone more senior than a second year.

Talk about pro bono at all/use it as a talking point? Or what the other anon said - talking about it giving younger associates a chance to handle their own cases (I did not say that, and personally would not say that. I was only asking about talking pro bono as a draw to a firm.)

I wouldn't bring up pro bono at all.

[Anonymous User]

Hey, I cracked the V5 in NYC but I have an attractive offer from one of the two market players in Philadelphia. I'm wondering if you think the training/ opportunities in NYC are worth sacrificing the cost of living benefits in a city like Philly. I've heard a lot of, "You can always go back to Philly." Do you think that's true? I also think with respect to "exit options" being at one of the two known firms in a city has some upside that Vault rankings does not necessarily translate into. Care to shed any light?

[itbdvorm]

Hey, I cracked the V5 in NYC but I have an attractive offer from one of the two market players in Philadelphia. I'm wondering if you think the training/ opportunities in NYC are worth sacrificing the cost of living benefits in a city like Philly. I've heard a lot of, "You can always go back to Philly." Do you think that's true? I also think with respect to "exit options" being at one of the two known firms in a city has some upside that Vault rankings does not necessarily translate into. Care to shed any light?

My personal view is that you get more traction long term cranking through two years of junior associate pain at a top firm than with a mid-market player. That said, if your goal is to make partner in Philly I would try to get back to there no later than your 4th year.

But if your goal is to go in-house in the Philly area, I think you would do just as well (if not better) coming from a V5 in NY than a top Philly firm.

[Anonymous User]

Are thank you emails to call back interviewers necessary or just a waste of time?

[itbdvorm]

Are thank you emails to call back interviewers necessary or just a waste of time?

Generally a waste. Doesn't hurt but absence of one doesn't make me change my view dramatically

[Anonymous User]

Most of the lit partners i have interviewed with have come form the DOJ/AUSA. I am curious, if the safest way to partner at a big law firm for litigation is a stint in one of those two places, what firm/firms are the best for getting a young litigation associate into the AUSA/DOJ? Is a litigation powerhouse like PW better than a more prestigious firm like Simpson?