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Seeing as OCI is coming up for many of us 2Ls on this forum, I thought it would be helpful to create a thread where current Associates, SAs or those who have unique insights into what to say when interviewing with specific firms can post anonymously and help out those of us who are desperate to get a leg up ITE. Obviously, while there are other ways to research firms, such as reading the proliferation of material presented on their respective websites and talking to current associates and SAs, I think that a thread on TLS dedicated to this could be valuable, especially in gauging the quality of life at various firms, learning the idiosyncrasies of recruiters, and various other nuances of the process that we may miss in the rush of trying to be current on the culture of lots of very different firms. In addition, it would help to have this information consolidated in one place; this thread is potentially very valuable to both current and future rising 2Ls.

I don't have anything to add at the moment, however, I hope to make positive contributions to this thread as I go through the OCI process and beyond.

Current SA, relatively minor interview practice.

Pro-tip: Use the nalpdirectory. Abuse the nalpdirectory. Merge with the nalpdirectory. You need to know how big these offices is and how big their summer classes are when bidding. And most crucially, you need to know what practice areas they report their attorneys working in. Firms LOVE to have every associate list like 50 different practice areas on the website and basically list the firms as "doing" every practice area. Williams & Connolly proudly boasts that they have an M&A practice. The NALP directory listing of what areas the partners are in should quickly dispel that myth, however.

Prepare your answer for the "so you planning to stay in this area" or "where do you see yourself in 5 years" or whatever question. It will come and you need to talk about how you're fucking locked solid on that market.

Keep in mind that especially in transactional practices, the rain comes from serving clients. If you can work something about getting satisfaction out of being the counselor / adviser and helping clients out, you'll come across as having a way better understanding of the practice than the average candidate.

Understand and know both upper and lower level responsibilities in various practice areas. It's bad to be excited to do doc review and nothing else, but equally bad to be excited to argue trials and nothing else. A mature candidate is one who appreciates the lower level work is a necessity, but also has a desire to do whatever it is the senior associates and partners actually get to do.

Know enough about the firm to not ask dumb questions the website could answer, but also realize the interview is a great time for you to learn more. Thoughtful questions about how their practice works will help YOU understand if you're a good fit. It isn't an entirely one sided thing - a job with a bad fit beats the unemployment line, but your goal shouldn't just be a paycheck but an environment you thrive in. That environment is also one more likely to lead to getting hired, so it kills two birds with one stone.

Be ready with 20 minutes worth of questions. Interviews can and have started with "so what can I tell you about _____?"

Be ready to describe why you want the particular firm. It can be hard to articulate for, oh I dunno, the DLA pipers of the world. But you have to have something, and it has to not sound forced or awkward. Do your homework.

Be enthusiastic. You liked school, you want to work in a firm, you like your peers, you find the law interesting. Nobody wants to hear about your scars from 1L, and as whiny as you may be, the interview is not the time to show it.

Buy the guerrilla guide to getting the legal job of your dreams.

To thine own self be true.

Bump.

Other than the nalp site, the websites I've been using to do my firm research are:
careers.abovethelaw.com
http://www.chambersandpartners.com/USA
http://www.chambers-associate.com
http://www.vault.com (of course).

Anyone else have great firm research tips?

http://lawshucks.com/layoff-tracker/

helpful for seeing which firms laid off people.

I also want to add careers.abovethelaw.com.

thanks for sharing from ur experience! very helpful stuff...

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badfish wrote:flag

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