Odd Interview Questions/Comments Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have heard some stuff in interviews I did not expect to hear. One guy asked me if I am republican or democrat--actually turned out to be one of the more interesting conversations I have had. One woman bad mouthed other firms. And one woman said some stuff that was just straight up racist. Wondering if I am just lucky, or if others have had some fun experiences.

[Anonymous User]

I had a discussion with one interviewer about the worst screening interviews he conducted. Some funny stories, would potentially out myself if I posted them though.

[Anonymous User]

A few weeks ago, after an extensive conversation about how part of the reason I am attracted to the firm is its being in Harrisburg*, the next question I was asked was, "So you know our firm is in Harrisburg, right?"

*Name of city changed

[Anonymous User]

Why didn't you graduate from undergrad with honors?

[buster]

My interviewer asked me "What is the meaning of life?" I stupidly answered, "Really?"

[Anonymous User]

"If you were a three course dinner, what would you be?"

[Adjudicator]

My interviewer asked me "What is the meaning of life?" I stupidly answered, "Really?"

Missed opportunity. Shoulda said "42."

[Cavalier]

My interviewer asked me "What is the meaning of life?" I stupidly answered, "Really?"

Missed opportunity. Shoulda said "42."

Or "2200 billable hours."

[12262010]

Friend was asked, "Tell me, what is the dream?" or something along those lines.

[Anonymous User]

During a screening interview: "Tell me, what does Law Review mean to you?

[Anonymous User]

"What's your favorite joke?"

[Anonymous User]

I told the interviewer that I was born in St. Louis and she replied, "That's like in the middle of nowhere right?"

[Anonymous User]

I told the interviewer that I was born in St. Louis and she replied, "That's like in the middle of nowhere right?"

I'm from a similar city, and when I told the interviewer where I was from (he asked), he said "Oh. I went to [state that's 2 states over] one time. There were a lot of chain restaurants." Then he stared at me blankly.

[Anonymous User]

"So why should I go back to my office and tell my partners to hire you despite your crappy grades? I mean you've shown a huge improvement, and I appreciate that; you also have a fantastic oral presentation and will undoubtedly make a great litigator, but your grades just make you someone we would never normally look at."

Left the room with a callback scheduled for a couple weeks later.

I'd also like to note that my grades weren't "crappy." They are right around top 25%.

[PiersonVee]

"So why should I go back to my office and tell my partners to hire you despite your crappy grades? I mean you've shown a huge improvement, and I appreciate that; you also have a fantastic oral presentation and will undoubtedly make a great litigator, but your grades just make you someone we would never normally look at."

Left the room with a callback scheduled for a couple weeks later.

I'd also like to note that my grades weren't "crappy." They are right around top 25%.

That is a pretty cool story. The interviewer was trying to challenge you, and you obviously handled it really well. Congrats.

[Anonymous User]

"So why should I go back to my office and tell my partners to hire you despite your crappy grades? I mean you've shown a huge improvement, and I appreciate that; you also have a fantastic oral presentation and will undoubtedly make a great litigator, but your grades just make you someone we would never normally look at."

Left the room with a callback scheduled for a couple weeks later.

I'd also like to note that my grades weren't "crappy." They are right around top 25%.

That is a pretty cool story. The interviewer was trying to challenge you, and you obviously handled it really well. Congrats.

Thanks! The immediate answer in my head was "because instead of being offended, your question actually challenged me to do my best to get an offer from you so that I can reject it." Haha, I didn't say that though.

I also kind of understood where he was coming from with the question though. I was barely insided the top fifty percent first semester (made it by two people), but was able to kill it and jump to within .01 of the top 25% cut off. I could see how a firm wonders what semester is a better representation of the candidate.

[Anonymous User]

I have been asked questions that are actually illegal to ask. lolz

One interviewer straight up asked me how old I was, and after I gave him a confused look, he said "scratch that."

Another interviewer said:
Interviewer: "If you plan to have kids, we have a great flex-time program"
Me: Hmm.
Interviewer: "Are you interested in those types of programs?"

I got asked some questions re: my family, but all in all we had a great conversation that stemmed from that.

[Anonymous User]

Prefer not to out self, but was asked if I agreed with a certain war based on my obvious ethnicity (no joke).

[Anonymous User]

"What distinguishes you from the other candidates?"

Stupidest question I've been asked. If I had the pile of resumes my interviewer presumabely has at his disposal I may have been able to answer that. Otherwise I am basing my answer on no authority. It's YOUR job to figure out how I distinguish myself!

[Anonymous User]

I think that is what the interviewer was going for, as he was talking about the pictures of his children on his desk. People seem to like to talk about their children to me, seemingly oblivious to the fact that not all women in the their late 20s want or even like children. It makes for a wall of awkward and borderline inappropriateness from both sides.

What if you had been asked "why don't you want or even like children?"

[Anonymous User]

"So why should I go back to my office and tell my partners to hire you despite your crappy grades? I mean you've shown a huge improvement, and I appreciate that; you also have a fantastic oral presentation and will undoubtedly make a great litigator, but your grades just make you someone we would never normally look at."

Left the room with a callback scheduled for a couple weeks later.

I'd also like to note that my grades weren't "crappy." They are right around top 25%.

This is me. Just wanted to follow up. I was comfortable with my choices for second half of the summer, but still had this callback to go to so I decided to just call the partner I interviewed with and cancel it.

HE WOULDN'T LET ME! Exact words "I've been recruiting for the past 17 years. I know a good fit for this firm within 5 minutes of them sitting in the room with me. I think you're a good fit, and I think you can be a great lawyer for us. I'm not going to let you shut us out without at least coming by to see if you like it here. Call me whenever and we'll schedule a new date."

That conversation really just underscored to me why I was happy to shun the rat race that is NY/DC/etc... biglaw (although I don't know what my chances at that were from this school anyway, so I suppose I made that decision when I decided not to attend any of the higher ranked schools that I got into that were in those markets). I don't think something like that would ever happen in one of those markets. If I had it to do again, I'd take the 100-130k salary & the laid back atmosphere of secondary markets every single time over the "prestige" of NY/DC.

[Anonymous User]

"So why should I go back to my office and tell my partners to hire you despite your crappy grades? I mean you've shown a huge improvement, and I appreciate that; you also have a fantastic oral presentation and will undoubtedly make a great litigator, but your grades just make you someone we would never normally look at."

Left the room with a callback scheduled for a couple weeks later.

I'd also like to note that my grades weren't "crappy." They are right around top 25%.

This is me. Just wanted to follow up. I was comfortable with my choices for second half of the summer, but still had this callback to go to so I decided to just call the partner I interviewed with and cancel it.

HE WOULDN'T LET ME! Exact words "I've been recruiting for the past 17 years. I know a good fit for this firm within 5 minutes of them sitting in the room with me. I think you're a good fit, and I think you can be a great lawyer for us. I'm not going to let you shut us out without at least coming by to see if you like it here. Call me whenever and we'll schedule a new date."

That conversation really just underscored to me why I was happy to shun the rat race that is NY/DC/etc... biglaw (although I don't know what my chances at that were from this school anyway, so I suppose I made that decision when I decided not to attend any of the higher ranked schools that I got into that were in those markets). I don't think something like that would ever happen in one of those markets. If I had it to do again, I'd take the 100-130k salary & the laid back atmosphere of secondary markets every single time over the "prestige" of NY/DC.

Amen, man. It will probably take me a year or two longer to pay back my loans than my classmates in NYC Biglaw, but I think being in a beloved smaller city with more relaxed attitudes is well worth it.

[LjakW]

I don't know how rare this question is, but "Did you study with a group?"

[Anonymous User]

Latham & Watkins (multi-office): "Do you like children?"
Pircher Chicago: "You should talk to A, she's married with kids and can tell you about balancing work and family."
Too many firms to count: "We can set you up to talk with B, she's on flex time."

I'm mid-twenties female, I was married for -1 to 1 weeks at the time, don't have children, didn't mention children, I don't look like I could hide a pregnancy, and no plans for children in the next decade. I seriously doubt those things would be said to a newly married man, and definitely not as many times as I heard them.

[Anonymous User]

Latham & Watkins (multi-office): "Do you like children?"
Pircher Chicago: "You should talk to A, she's married with kids and can tell you about balancing work and family."
Too many firms to count: "We can set you up to talk with B, she's on flex time."

I'm mid-twenties female, I was married for -1 to 1 weeks at the time, don't have children, didn't mention children, I don't look like I could hide a pregnancy, and no plans for children in the next decade. I seriously doubt those things would be said to a newly married man, and definitely not as many times as I heard them.

I was always set upwith a pregnant interviewer, a mom, or a mom whose kids were actually at the office that day for some reason. I don't plan on having kids, so I thought this was annoying.

They are just trying to be nice though. I think the fact that I'm a woman helped rather than hurt me in my job search.