How would you handle these interview questions? Forum

starrynight62 · Post by **starrynight62** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:44 pm

I was looking at interviewing tips on a law school's website (not my own school).

Two of the possible questions were:

1. What is the source of your spending money?
2. Do you have any debts?

Really? I feel like those are personal questions and inappropriate. Relevant, maybe. Appropriate, no. Can they even ask those things?

Thoughts? And how would you handle these questions, if asked?

donzoli · Post by **donzoli** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:54 pm

starrynight62 wrote:I was looking at interviewing tips on a law school's website (not my own school).

Two of the possible questions were:

1. What is the source of your spending money?
2. Do you have any debts?

Really? I feel like those are personal questions and inappropriate. Relevant, maybe. Appropriate, no. Can they even ask those things?

Thoughts? And how would you handle these questions, if asked?

If interviewing for a Biglaw position the appropriate answer to #1 is:
Hookers and blow

Veyron · Post by **Veyron** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:58 pm

starrynight62 wrote:I was looking at interviewing tips on a law school's website (not my own school).

Two of the possible questions were:

1. What is the source of your spending money?
2. Do you have any debts?

Really? I feel like those are personal questions and inappropriate. Relevant, maybe. Appropriate, no. Can they even ask those things?

Thoughts? And how would you handle these questions, if asked?

4 serious?

HugerThanSoup · Post by **HugerThanSoup** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:01 pm

These are completely inappropriate questions and I have NEVER heard of anyone asking queations even close to this.

starrynight62 · Post by **starrynight62** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:02 pm

4 serious?

Serious about the website saying that or serious about me not knowing if it is appropriate or not? It seriously said that and I was seriously shocked.

TheTopBloke · Post by **TheTopBloke** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:09 pm

None of your fucking business.

Veyron · Post by **Veyron** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:19 am

starrynight62 wrote:
4 serious?
Serious about the website saying that or serious about me not knowing if it is appropriate or not? It seriously said that and I was seriously shocked.

About the website saying it.

1234543523 · Post by **1234543523** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:27 am

You're not going to get asked those questions.

HBK · Post by **HBK** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:43 am

What is your greatest weakness?

ggocat · Post by **ggocat** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:53 am

f7u12 wrote:You're not going to get asked those questions.

Not out of the realm of possibilities. I know of a small law partner who said he would not hire someone with a lot of debt.

Sup Kid · Post by **Sup Kid** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:50 am

Just for posing these as potential questions this school should be dropped out of the T100: http://indylaw.indiana.edu/career/inter ... eQuestions (gotta love google)

Some other goodies: "Do you like routine work?", "What types of people seem to rub you the wrong way?", "How many hours a day do you think a person should work?", "Can you take instructions without feeling upset?" and "Who are your best friends? Why?"

ggocat · Post by **ggocat** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:26 am

Sup Kid wrote:Just for posing these as potential questions this school should be dropped out of the T100: http://indylaw.indiana.edu/career/inter ... eQuestions (gotta love google)

Some other goodies: "Do you like routine work?", "What types of people seem to rub you the wrong way?", "How many hours a day do you think a person should work?", "Can you take instructions without feeling upset?" and "Who are your best friends? Why?"

Probably wouldn't post these questions if they were never asked.

In one biglaw interview, the first question I got was, "What did you have for breakfast?" The second question was, "What do you think I had for breakfast?"

dr123 · Post by **dr123** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:31 am

Employers like to hire people with student loan debt, cause they know that quitting isn't really an option for them.

kublaikahn · Post by **kublaikahn** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:44 am

donzoli wrote:
starrynight62 wrote:I was looking at interviewing tips on a law school's website (not my own school).

Two of the possible questions were:

1. What is the source of your spending money?
2. Do you have any debts?

Really? I feel like those are personal questions and inappropriate. Relevant, maybe. Appropriate, no. Can they even ask those things?

Thoughts? And how would you handle these questions, if asked?
If interviewing for a Biglaw position the appropriate answer to #1 is:
Hookers and blow

Wouldn't that be uses, not sources?

donzoli · Post by **donzoli** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:00 pm

kublaikahn wrote:
donzoli wrote:
starrynight62 wrote:I was looking at interviewing tips on a law school's website (not my own school).

Two of the possible questions were:

1. What is the source of your spending money?
2. Do you have any debts?

Really? I feel like those are personal questions and inappropriate. Relevant, maybe. Appropriate, no. Can they even ask those things?

Thoughts? And how would you handle these questions, if asked?
If interviewing for a Biglaw position the appropriate answer to #1 is:
Hookers and blow
Yup, it was an RC fail on my behalf, unless ones a pimp, then its very possible

Wouldn't that be uses, not sources?

ugchicago · Post by **ugchicago** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:03 pm

The correct response would be to not work for any law firm that asked you those questions.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:09 pm

ugchicago wrote:The correct response would be to not work for any law firm that asked you those questions.

Easy for you to say duder. That may be your only chance at an offer.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:11 pm

Since beginning law school, I have conducted approximately 130 unique interviews with attorneys at firms and judicial chambers across the country.

I have never been asked either question.

The only 'hard' question that came up with enough regularity to worry about was a form of a weakness question. O'Melveney and Weil both asked a question to the tune of 'what could you have done better in (a job I had had)' or 'what could you most improve on (in some specific context)'. Neither were plain "what is your greatest weakness" questions but instead were more targeted towards room for improvement or imperfection in prior experience.

Another hard thing were interviews that began with "So, what can we tell you about [firm]." Make sure you have a lot of intelligent questions (harder than it sounds).

Nearly every other interview question was some variation on: geographic interest, practice area interest, firm-specific interest, experience / reflection on law school, questions about (any and all) resume line items.

Veyron · Post by **Veyron** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:16 pm

ggocat wrote:
f7u12 wrote:You're not going to get asked those questions.
Not out of the realm of possibilities. I know of a small law partner who said he would not hire someone with a lot of debt.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand smallaw wonders why it STILL can't get top tallent.

Kohinoor · Post by **Kohinoor** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:58 pm

starrynight62 wrote:I was looking at interviewing tips on a law school's website (not my own school).

Two of the possible questions were:

1. What is the source of your spending money?
2. Do you have any debts?

Really? I feel like those are personal questions and inappropriate. Relevant, maybe. Appropriate, no. Can they even ask those things?

Thoughts? And how would you handle these questions, if asked?

Kick the table over and leave.

Kohinoor · Post by **Kohinoor** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:59 pm

Veyron wrote:
ggocat wrote:
f7u12 wrote:You're not going to get asked those questions.
Not out of the realm of possibilities. I know of a small law partner who said he would not hire someone with a lot of debt.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand smallaw wonders why it STILL can't get top tallent.

ITE?

ggocat · Post by **ggocat** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:09 pm

Veyron wrote:
ggocat wrote:
f7u12 wrote:You're not going to get asked those questions.
Not out of the realm of possibilities. I know of a small law partner who said he would not hire someone with a lot of debt.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand smallaw wonders why it STILL can't get top tallent.

The purported explanation was that taking on a lot of debt for a non-national law school showed bad judgment.

The cynic might suggest that small law pays lower, so the partner just wanted someone who wasn't constantly trying to jump ship for a slightly higher salary (to pay down debt).

Small law might not be getting HYS, or even most T14, but small law that pays decently ($55k-$70k) has plenty of top students from lower ranked schools.

starrynight62 · Post by **starrynight62** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:25 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
The only 'hard' question that came up with enough regularity to worry about was a form of a weakness question. O'Melveney and Weil both asked a question to the tune of 'what could you have done better in (a job I had had)' or 'what could you most improve on (in some specific context)'. Neither were plain "what is your greatest weakness" questions but instead were more targeted towards room for improvement or imperfection in prior experience.

Ugh. I hate those questions. Did you attempt to answer them "honestly" or bemoan how you are "such a perfectionist?"

Veyron · Post by **Veyron** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:57 pm

Kohinoor wrote:
Veyron wrote:
ggocat wrote:
f7u12 wrote:You're not going to get asked those questions.
Not out of the realm of possibilities. I know of a small law partner who said he would not hire someone with a lot of debt.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand smallaw wonders why it STILL can't get top tallent.
ITE?

Even ITE, I don't know anyone taking smallaw who could get biglaw or midlaw.

Edit: Besides, how do you jump ship for more $. Usually the only way you can jump is down or sideways.

dr123 · Post by **dr123** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:58 pm

What about boutique firms? or are those considered mid law?

How would you handle these interview questions? Forum

How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Register for access!

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Register now!

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Register now, it's still FREE!

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Re: How would you handle these interview questions?

Seriously? What are you waiting for?