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As I'm trying to sharpen my interviewing skills for OCI I recalled a difficult question that I was asked during a 1L SA interview and was wondering how you guys would respond to it/what would be the best answer.

A partner, after seeing that I had a 4.0 for the first semester, asked if I had to work hard for my grades. I answered honestly saying that I believe that I work very hard because law school is the most important thing in my life right now and I would rather overprepare for an exam and do well rather than underprepare and leave the exam feeling that I could have done better had I taken more time to prepare.

I'm wondering if by saying that I work very hard comes across as showing that I need to compensate for a lack of intelligence by working super hard and thus placing somewhat of a ceiling on the amount of production I could offer the firm or if it shows that I have the drive to excel in the law firm environment.

On the converse, would by saying that I don't work hard for my grades show untapped potential that would be desireable to the firm or come across as someone who is naturally lazy and unable to adapt to the work-a-holic lifestyle of BigLaw?


Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks!

I think the answer you gave is best. I like the idea of people thinking I didn't have to work hard for my grades, but from an employers perspective, if 1L year couldn't make you give it your best effort, what will? So even if there were untapped potential, how would they ever get it out of you?

I find it difficult to believe there would be a negative perception attached to your response. My assumption is that most people with good grades at law school do work hard and the question really answers itself. Working hard for a grade isn't indicative of stupidity. It just shows you care enough to properly prepare, regardless of your innate intelligence, IMO.

It sounds like a good answer.

As a piggy-back to your question, how is the best way to answer an even thornier question -- what if you're asked why your grades dropped after one semester? Unfortunately, this is the case with me -- no real reason, it's not like there was anything going on that I could point to, no illness/family issues, etc.

Your answer was appropriately modest, and you don't need to second guess yourself.

THIS is a thorny question in the legal industry?

Sadly i didnt get to quite rajesh88's little bit about interviewing with TI and how hard that was and how smart he is.. oh well..

rajesh88 wrote:THIS is a thorny question in the legal industry?

Sounds like a truly thorny question for you might be: "what steps are you actively taking to lose your virginity?"


Op: Your answer is good. Don't change it. Law firms care way more about work ethic than IQ, etc. Its the law, not rocket science.

rajesh88 wrote:THIS is a thorny question in the legal industry?

No, it's not.

I don't know why but with everything else on my resume they always keyed into that "so you were indicted for having a dead hooker in your trunk?" I always try to put some spin on that, yes indicted is the key word here, then go on to show how this is a vauvlble skill the firm needs: "as we both know this happens more than we would like to admit to at a firm as big as yours, I think the lesson here is I was indicted, not convicted, its a niche skill, one that might come in handy once summer SA boat parties ramp up again. Sure any run of the mill vandy grad can throw a dead hooker after a firm event in the dumpster, but in the TRUNK, with car service? That's skill Joan. It's ok I call you Joan right?"

So the key here is to turn a small negative into a positive.

You definitely need to make sure you craft a good answer on this one. You need to find a way to explain that 4.0 to interviewers, or it will be unemployment for you!

romothesavior wrote:You definitely need to make sure you craft a good answer on this one. You need to find a way to explain that 4.0 to interviewers, or it will be unemployment for you!

I'm an OL and this is one of my biggest concerns going into law school.

Patriot1208 wrote:

romothesavior wrote:You definitely need to make sure you craft a good answer on this one. You need to find a way to explain that 4.0 to interviewers, or it will be unemployment for you!

I'm an OL and this is one of my biggest concerns going into law school.

I'm actually going to shoot for a 3.8 or 3.9 so I can say, "Well I worked really hard, but I feel like I have some upward potential. I left a few issues hanging on the one exam and it hurt me."

romothesavior wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:

romothesavior wrote:You definitely need to make sure you craft a good answer on this one. You need to find a way to explain that 4.0 to interviewers, or it will be unemployment for you!

I'm an OL and this is one of my biggest concerns going into law school.

I'm actually going to shoot for a 3.8 or 3.9 so I can say, "Well I worked really hard, but I feel like I have some upward potential. I left a few issues hanging on the one exam and it hurt me."

I was more thinking, get a 4.0 and say "well I worked my ass of for a couple months to study for the lsat, but law school itself is a breeze, I guess this shit just comes natural to me."

Okay, so now that we're all in agreement that OP has nothing to worry about and probably just wanted to brag about that 4.0, can we make something constructive happen here? What are some interview questions that actually are potential pitfalls?

romothesavior wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:

romothesavior wrote:You definitely need to make sure you craft a good answer on this one. You need to find a way to explain that 4.0 to interviewers, or it will be unemployment for you!

I'm an OL and this is one of my biggest concerns going into law school.

I'm actually going to shoot for a 3.8 or 3.9 so I can say, "Well I worked really hard, but I feel like I have some upward potential. I left a few issues hanging on the one exam and it hurt me."

I think i good response to 4.0 question is "Well i worked pretty hard for that 4.0, as you know i got a high ranked school, so our cruve is pretty burtal, 3.99 out of a 4.0, so bovisoluy I'm just better at the law than most of my classmates"

jayn3 wrote:Okay, so now that we're all in agreement that OP has nothing to worry about and probably just wanted to brag about that 4.0, can we make something constructive happen here? What are some interview questions that actually are potential pitfalls?

Tell me about yourself.

jayn3 wrote:Okay, so now that we're all in agreement that OP has nothing to worry about and probably just wanted to brag about that 4.0, can we make something constructive happen here? What are some interview questions that actually are potential pitfalls?

Interviewer: "Why does your Facebook status say, 'Interviewing with my safety firm today'?"
Interviewee: "Uhh..."

Leeroy Jenkins wrote:

jayn3 wrote:Okay, so now that we're all in agreement that OP has nothing to worry about and probably just wanted to brag about that 4.0, can we make something constructive happen here? What are some interview questions that actually are potential pitfalls?

Tell me about yourself.

I'm 5'8, short black hair, hazel eyes, athletic build. I like hanging out with friends and I love playing sports. And I'm just looking for a woman I can have fun with but can also dress up and get serious with me when the mood is right.

jayn3 wrote:Okay, so now that we're all in agreement that OP has nothing to worry about and probably just wanted to brag about that 4.0, can we make something constructive happen here? What are some interview questions that actually are potential pitfalls?

Our client is a mid-sized technology firm that has recently been involved in a number of lawsuits, including, 1) A patent infringement case with potential liability of $50 million, 2) A product liability class action suit filed over one of the components it designed for a major car manufacturer with potential liability of over $100 million, 3) Numerous employment discrimination lawsuits filed by current and former employees who are claiming they were unfairly discriminated on account of their gender. Assuming you are the go-to partner for this client, briefly describe your litigation strategy for each of these pending cases.

Patriot1208 wrote:

Leeroy Jenkins wrote:

jayn3 wrote:Okay, so now that we're all in agreement that OP has nothing to worry about and probably just wanted to brag about that 4.0, can we make something constructive happen here? What are some interview questions that actually are potential pitfalls?

Tell me about yourself.

I'm 5'8, short black hair, hazel eyes, athletic build. I like hanging out with friends and I love playing sports. And I'm just looking for a woman I can have fun with but can also dress up and get serious with me when the mood is right.

You forgot to mention that you love long walks on the beach.

jayn3 wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:

Leeroy Jenkins wrote:

jayn3 wrote:Okay, so now that we're all in agreement that OP has nothing to worry about and probably just wanted to brag about that 4.0, can we make something constructive happen here? What are some interview questions that actually are potential pitfalls?

Tell me about yourself.

I'm 5'8, short black hair, hazel eyes, athletic build. I like hanging out with friends and I love playing sports. And I'm just looking for a woman I can have fun with but can also dress up and get serious with me when the mood is right.

You forgot to mention that you love long walks on the beach.

I used too... before the tar balls

reasonable_man wrote:Sadly i didnt get to quite rajesh88's little bit about interviewing with TI and how hard that was and how smart he is.. oh well..

rajesh88 wrote:THIS is a thorny question in the legal industry?

It'll be kinda arrogant if I inform you that the TI question wasn't really "hard" for any self-respecting electrical engineer

Leeroy Jenkins wrote:

jayn3 wrote:Okay, so now that we're all in agreement that OP has nothing to worry about and probably just wanted to brag about that 4.0, can we make something constructive happen here? What are some interview questions that actually are potential pitfalls?

Our client is a mid-sized technology firm that has recently been involved in a number of lawsuits, including, 1) A patent infringement case with potential liability of $50 million, 2) A product liability class action suit filed over one of the components it designed for a major car manufacturer with potential liability of over $100 million, 3) Numerous employment discrimination lawsuits filed by current and former employees who are claiming they were unfairly discriminated on account of their gender. Assuming you are the go-to partner for this client, briefly describe your litigation strategy for each of these pending cases.

I'll get back to you in a year or two on that one. Sorry, I was just hoping to get a nice mix of advice and horror stories from people who've already been through OCI.

legal interviews are personality tests, all lawyers have really obnoxious personalities, they're not trying to figure out anything about your competence - like they do in engineering interviews, they're trying to figure out if they can stand being around you during firm outings. They'll figure out if you're a good enough lawyer by using economic proxies like your grades, where you went to school, etc. etc, and during your summer associate stint.

See, the interviewing challenge isn't to rise above and beyond - just try to curb your inner jerk for 15 minutes during the screening interview, and 3 hours for the callback. You're competing with a bunch of low-life personalities (other law students), the task ISN'T THAT HARD. Take an acting class.

Leeroy Jenkins wrote:

jayn3 wrote:Okay, so now that we're all in agreement that OP has nothing to worry about and probably just wanted to brag about that 4.0, can we make something constructive happen here? What are some interview questions that actually are potential pitfalls?

Our client is a mid-sized technology firm that has recently been involved in a number of lawsuits, including, 1) A patent infringement case with potential liability of $50 million, 2) A product liability class action suit filed over one of the components it designed for a major car manufacturer with potential liability of over $100 million, 3) Numerous employment discrimination lawsuits filed by current and former employees who are claiming they were unfairly discriminated on account of their gender. Assuming you are the go-to partner for this client, briefly describe your litigation strategy for each of these pending cases.

Me: Hmm, good question Joan. As the head partner in charge of this my response would be: You guys are fucked, I'm lateralling out of this shithole.