V15 Partner/OCI Interviewer Answering Questions... Forum

[Anonymous User]

thoughts re: V10, top in 99% likely practice are v. more 'lifestlye' firm, not as strong in practice area?

[itbdvorm]

thoughts re: V10, top in 99% likely practice are v. more 'lifestlye' firm, not as strong in practice area?

i don't really follow the question...what do YOU want?

[Anonymous User]

Just accepted an offer at a V10 satellite office. I really hope to move back to NY upon graduation, however. I chose the firm because they only hire ~5 SAs a year, thereby increasing my chances of corporate substantive responsibility as an SA. I imagine the name would also look great on my resume. If I get my grades up 2L year and receive a perma offer at the end of summer, would my chances for 3L OCI be rather good? I'm not too fond of the NY office of my V10.

[itbdvorm]

Just accepted an offer at a V10 satellite office. I really hope to move back to NY upon graduation, however. I chose the firm because they only hire ~5 SAs a year, thereby increasing my chances of corporate substantive responsibility as an SA. I imagine the name would also look great on my resume. If I get my grades up 2L year and receive a perma offer at the end of summer, would my chances for 3L OCI be rather good? I'm not too fond of the NY office of my V10.

this logic seems...odd

why that office, and not in NY?

corporate substantive responsibility as a SA is going to be virtually nil wherever you go (sorry). and 3L OCI is going to be a crapshoot (no one knows what the next year will bring)

I wish you luck but I'm really not sure what your thinking was in going this route instead of just trying to get a job at a firm you wanted to work at

[Anonymous User]

Just accepted an offer at a V10 satellite office. I really hope to move back to NY upon graduation, however. I chose the firm because they only hire ~5 SAs a year, thereby increasing my chances of corporate substantive responsibility as an SA. I imagine the name would also look great on my resume. If I get my grades up 2L year and receive a perma offer at the end of summer, would my chances for 3L OCI be rather good? I'm not too fond of the NY office of my V10.

this logic seems...odd

why that office, and not in NY?

corporate substantive responsibility as a SA is going to be virtually nil wherever you go (sorry). and 3L OCI is going to be a crapshoot (no one knows what the next year will bring)

I wish you luck but I'm really not sure what your thinking was in going this route instead of just trying to get a job at a firm you wanted to work at

Oh no, I really love the firm! I connected with the people there and it was my favorite of the bunch, including all the NY firms I interviewed with...Firm culture is extremely important to me and I just wanted to go somewhere I know I'll be happy, and I did not get that feeling with the NY firms that called me back. ( I only got CBs at like 5 NY firms) But I probably have to return to NY due to family circumstances. I just thought that raising my grades and securing an offer from a great firm could help translate into a more successful callback rate at NY firms, so I can have more opportunities to find the NY firm that's a better fit for me. I was always under the impression that 3L OCI is for people who received offers from their 2L SA firms but wanted a change. Is this not true?

[itbdvorm]

Just accepted an offer at a V10 satellite office. I really hope to move back to NY upon graduation, however. I chose the firm because they only hire ~5 SAs a year, thereby increasing my chances of corporate substantive responsibility as an SA. I imagine the name would also look great on my resume. If I get my grades up 2L year and receive a perma offer at the end of summer, would my chances for 3L OCI be rather good? I'm not too fond of the NY office of my V10.

this logic seems...odd

why that office, and not in NY?

corporate substantive responsibility as a SA is going to be virtually nil wherever you go (sorry). and 3L OCI is going to be a crapshoot (no one knows what the next year will bring)

I wish you luck but I'm really not sure what your thinking was in going this route instead of just trying to get a job at a firm you wanted to work at

Oh no, I really love the firm! I connected with the people there and it was my favorite of the bunch, including all the NY firms I interviewed with...Firm culture is extremely important to me and I just wanted to go somewhere I know I'll be happy, and I did not get that feeling with the NY firms that called me back. ( I only got CBs at like 5 NY firms) But I probably have to return to NY due to family circumstances. I just thought that raising my grades and securing an offer from a great firm could help translate into a more successful callback rate at NY firms, so I can have more opportunities to find the NY firm that's a better fit for me. I was always under the impression that 3L OCI is for people who received offers from their 2L SA firms but wanted a change. Is this not true?

Oh, OK. I think 3L OCI was for that...not sure if it still is anymore though. Hopefully you can (worst case) transfer to your firm's NY office...

[Anonymous User]

How are transfer students typically viewed? Are they grouped with their original school or their new school when it comes to ranking them?

[itbdvorm]

How are transfer students typically viewed? Are they grouped with their original school or their new school when it comes to ranking them?

A mixture. But grade-wise to get in the door it's based on performance at prior school (unless 3L candidate w/2L grades)

[Anonymous User]

I had a life event that killed my 1L first semester grades. It's a legit thing that I think people consider a valid reason for lower grades. My second semester grades were very good. First, would you even notice that, and would the trend help? Second, should I call attention to what happened, or would it look like making an excuse? (I did bring it up in a few interviews as it fit into the conversation, but in other interviews there was no non-awkward time to bring it up.)

[itbdvorm]

I had a life event that killed my 1L first semester grades. It's a legit thing that I think people consider a valid reason for lower grades. My second semester grades were very good. First, would you even notice that, and would the trend help? Second, should I call attention to what happened, or would it look like making an excuse? (I did bring it up in a few interviews as it fit into the conversation, but in other interviews there was no non-awkward time to bring it up.)

You might try getting a letter from the Dean of Student Services if it's sufficiently legit (ask him/her - it's in their interest that you get a job, so they'll probably help). Trend would definitely help, and I might notice, but 2nd Semester grades would have to be amazing (well above our general standards) for us to consider.

You could also include a letter from you with your transcript but I'd have a few people read it. You don't want it to look like an excuse...

[Anonymous User]

How are transfer students typically viewed? Are they grouped with their original school or their new school when it comes to ranking them?

A mixture. But grade-wise to get in the door it's based on performance at prior school (unless 3L candidate w/2L grades)

(Different poster) Are there T1 schools where someone well within the top 5% of the class wouldn't make your firm's grade cut?

[itbdvorm]

How are transfer students typically viewed? Are they grouped with their original school or their new school when it comes to ranking them?

A mixture. But grade-wise to get in the door it's based on performance at prior school (unless 3L candidate w/2L grades)

(Different poster) Are there T1 schools where someone well within the top 5% of the class wouldn't make your firm's grade cut?

Um. Not sure, to be honest. Where are you cutting off T1? I have no idea what grades it takes from Maryland, or UConn, or Penn State for example, but it wouldn't shock me if top 5% wasn't good enough.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks a lot for doing this. A couple of random questions.

1. If I have a screener with your firm in a week. Would it be out of line to contact alumni from my school currently at your firm to ask questions about your firm?

2. Closing the interview. Too forward or good move on my part?

3. It seems the common theme through the thread is grades/LR to get the screener and fit/personality to get the CB. Are there other factors that you look for to get either the screener or CB? Significant work experience, cured cancer etc.?

[Heartford]

Um. Not sure, to be honest. Where are you cutting off T1? I have no idea what grades it takes from Maryland, or UConn, or Penn State for example, but it wouldn't shock me if top 5% wasn't good enough.

I don't know whether I should feel flattered that a V15 associate thinks that we're T1, or sad that a V15 associate will never interview me...

[itbdvorm]

Thanks a lot for doing this. A couple of random questions.

1. If I have a screener with your firm in a week. Would it be out of line to contact alumni from my school currently at your firm to ask questions about your firm?

2. Closing the interview. Too forward or good move on my part?

3. It seems the common theme through the thread is grades/LR to get the screener and fit/personality to get the CB. Are there other factors that you look for to get either the screener or CB? Significant work experience, cured cancer etc.?

Screener? Yes (unless you know them personally, or friend of friend). Wait for the callback (or even better, post-offer)

Not sure what you mean by "closing the interview" - winding things up? Wouldn't recommend.

If you have amazing work experience, that definitely helps, but I do factor that into (somewhat) the fit/personality/intangible category. Still, what else is there? Grades, resume, personality is all we have in a 20-30 minute conversation

[Anonymous User]

Thanks a lot for doing this. A couple of random questions.

1. If I have a screener with your firm in a week. Would it be out of line to contact alumni from my school currently at your firm to ask questions about your firm?

2. Closing the interview. Too forward or good move on my part?

3. It seems the common theme through the thread is grades/LR to get the screener and fit/personality to get the CB. Are there other factors that you look for to get either the screener or CB? Significant work experience, cured cancer etc.?

Screener? Yes (unless you know them personally, or friend of friend). Wait for the callback (or even better, post-offer)

Not sure what you mean by "closing the interview" - winding things up? Wouldn't recommend.

If you have amazing work experience, that definitely helps, but I do factor that into (somewhat) the fit/personality/intangible category. Still, what else is there? Grades, resume, personality is all we have in a 20-30 minute conversation

I think "closing the interview" is meant in the sense of "always be closing," i.e. sales. Poster is asking whether they should try to at some point get feedback from their interviewer towards the end of the interview and actively attempt to "seal the deal."

EDIT: Before law school, somebody (an MBA grad) I was interviewing at a startup tried this tactic on me, actually. They asked if I would support their candidacy right before I passed them on to our VP. It didn't work.

There were times, however, when I knew I liked the candidate a lot and the last 5 minutes of the interview I would coach them for the next interviewer. Maybe the best way to "close" is try to steer the conversation towards the other people you are meeting and see if the interviewer has any insight on them. If helpful insight is offered, it could be a good sign.

[itbdvorm]

Thanks a lot for doing this. A couple of random questions.

1. If I have a screener with your firm in a week. Would it be out of line to contact alumni from my school currently at your firm to ask questions about your firm?

2. Closing the interview. Too forward or good move on my part?

3. It seems the common theme through the thread is grades/LR to get the screener and fit/personality to get the CB. Are there other factors that you look for to get either the screener or CB? Significant work experience, cured cancer etc.?

Screener? Yes (unless you know them personally, or friend of friend). Wait for the callback (or even better, post-offer)

Not sure what you mean by "closing the interview" - winding things up? Wouldn't recommend.

If you have amazing work experience, that definitely helps, but I do factor that into (somewhat) the fit/personality/intangible category. Still, what else is there? Grades, resume, personality is all we have in a 20-30 minute conversation

I think "closing the interview" is meant in the sense of "always be closing," i.e. sales. Poster is asking whether they should try to at some point get feedback from their interviewer towards the end of the interview and actively attempt to "seal the deal."

Still no. Even worse. A final pitch of how much you like the firm is great..."so, you're calling me back" is not

[Anonymous User]

Closing the issue is mainly used in sales settings, but is generally framed in the "is there any thing that you see now that would cause you to not move me forward in the interview process?" It is generally expected if interviewing for any type of sales job.

That one who is well versed in recruiting and is not familiar with it suggests that it would be inappropriate in the legal context.

[itbdvorm]

Closing the issue is mainly used in sales settings, but is generally framed in the "is there any thing that you see now that would cause you to not move me forward in the interview process?" It is generally expected if interviewing for any type of sales job.

That one who is well versed in recruiting and is not familiar with it suggests that it would be inappropriate in the legal context.

Definitely inappropriate, IMHO. Generally the "anything else you want to know?" question comes from me to the candidate during my interview...

[Anonymous User]

Different poster but similar q:

V5 (with a culture I'm not crazy about; don't dislike it, just wary) vs. a boutique w/ below-market pay and shaky-ish financials? I like the boutique but the V5 will have no issue weathering a double-dip whereas I have no clue what would happen to the boutique. I liked people a lot at both, it's just the hours differential will be significant as possibly the culture.

What would you do?

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 3L and have an offer from a v10. Before I got an offer, I applied to some state government and public interest legal jobs because that's where my real passion is. These places will definitely not get back to me by the firm's deadline. I'd like to ask the firm to make good on the NALP guideline that recommends firms to extend offer deadlines pending public interest searches (the exact language is: "Candidates may request that an employer extend the deadline to accept the employer’s offer until as late as April 1 if the candidate is actively pursuing positions with public interest or government organizations," --LinkRemoved-- ... _Employers). (re-posted from another topic because OP will probably know best).

Is there a consensus on how firms react to this type of extension request? How should I phrase the request?

Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 3L and have an offer from a v10. Before I got an offer, I applied to some state government and public interest legal jobs because that's where my real passion is. These places will definitely not get back to me by the firm's deadline. I'd like to ask the firm to make good on the NALP guideline that recommends firms to extend offer deadlines pending public interest searches (the exact language is: "Candidates may request that an employer extend the deadline to accept the employer’s offer until as late as April 1 if the candidate is actively pursuing positions with public interest or government organizations," --LinkRemoved-- ... _Employers). (re-posted from another topic because OP will probably know best).

Is there a consensus on how firms react to this type of extension request? How should I phrase the request?

Thanks.

No relevant experience to add, but I will say that the quote you provided from NALP says "candidates may request" - firm can certainly say no.

[Anonymous User]

Just accepted an offer at a V10 satellite office. I really hope to move back to NY upon graduation, however. I chose the firm because they only hire ~5 SAs a year, thereby increasing my chances of corporate substantive responsibility as an SA. I imagine the name would also look great on my resume. If I get my grades up 2L year and receive a perma offer at the end of summer, would my chances for 3L OCI be rather good? I'm not too fond of the NY office of my V10.

this logic seems...odd

why that office, and not in NY?

corporate substantive responsibility as a SA is going to be virtually nil wherever you go (sorry). and 3L OCI is going to be a crapshoot (no one knows what the next year will bring)

I wish you luck but I'm really not sure what your thinking was in going this route instead of just trying to get a job at a firm you wanted to work at

Oh no, I really love the firm! I connected with the people there and it was my favorite of the bunch, including all the NY firms I interviewed with...Firm culture is extremely important to me and I just wanted to go somewhere I know I'll be happy, and I did not get that feeling with the NY firms that called me back. ( I only got CBs at like 5 NY firms) But I probably have to return to NY due to family circumstances. I just thought that raising my grades and securing an offer from a great firm could help translate into a more successful callback rate at NY firms, so I can have more opportunities to find the NY firm that's a better fit for me. I was always under the impression that 3L OCI is for people who received offers from their 2L SA firms but wanted a change. Is this not true?

Oh, OK. I think 3L OCI was for that...not sure if it still is anymore though. Hopefully you can (worst case) transfer to your firm's NY office...

How hard is it to transfer offices from where you SAed?

[itbdvorm]

Different poster but similar q:

V5 (with a culture I'm not crazy about; don't dislike it, just wary) vs. a boutique w/ below-market pay and shaky-ish financials? I like the boutique but the V5 will have no issue weathering a double-dip whereas I have no clue what would happen to the boutique. I liked people a lot at both, it's just the hours differential will be significant as possibly the culture.

What would you do?

I'd probably bite the bullet and go with the V5. If a double-dip, hours requirement will probably be lower and V5 still around. If not, probably have another shot at the boutique in a year or two.

[itbdvorm]

I'm a 3L and have an offer from a v10. Before I got an offer, I applied to some state government and public interest legal jobs because that's where my real passion is. These places will definitely not get back to me by the firm's deadline. I'd like to ask the firm to make good on the NALP guideline that recommends firms to extend offer deadlines pending public interest searches (the exact language is: "Candidates may request that an employer extend the deadline to accept the employer’s offer until as late as April 1 if the candidate is actively pursuing positions with public interest or government organizations," --LinkRemoved-- ... _Employers). (re-posted from another topic because OP will probably know best).

Is there a consensus on how firms react to this type of extension request? How should I phrase the request?

Thanks.

No relevant experience to add, but I will say that the quote you provided from NALP says "candidates may request" - firm can certainly say no.

Really don't know what we'd do in this case, though I've certainly seen people do some wacky things. I'd probably tell them you're looking at things but would like to accept. If you get a sweet public interest job you're never coming back this way anyway, right? Either way, if you tell them this or don't, your odds of hanging around there long-term are presumably low...