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I sent out a ton of applications to firms that are located nowhere near my law school and did not attend OCIs at my school. Is it customary for applicants to pay for their own transportation to screening interviews? Or will firms often pay for screening interviews, as well as CBs?

Thanks!

Screening interview is usually on your dime, but if you are traveling far some firms will skip the screening interview, go directly to a full call back and pay your transportation.

I've experienced both personally. Have had 3 firms skip the screening interview.

Some will do a phone interview for screener, as well.

They may also have you meet with an attorney a closer office if the firm(s) have offices where you are located. In my experience they seem to be reasonable with that. If that's the case they'll usually suggest meeting someone in the local office to make it easier on you.

At the same time, they may also want to see you travel to make sure you are serious about living/working/moving to where the firms are located.

I had to do a phone interview for one firm. It's somewhat awkward, but I wouldn't pay exorbitant travel costs for a screener.

A non-OCI interview is just a straight up interview. You pay your way if you want the job. Don't even ask them if they are covering any of it. If they wanted to cover someone's travel they would have selected them on-campus.

I actually skyped a screener last year.

MrAnon wrote:A non-OCI interview is just a straight up interview. You pay your way if you want the job. Don't even ask them if they are covering any of it. If they wanted to cover someone's travel they would have selected them on-campus.

lol wut? 2 firms are paying for non-OCI CBs for me off mailers.

Anonymous User wrote:

MrAnon wrote:A non-OCI interview is just a straight up interview. You pay your way if you want the job. Don't even ask them if they are covering any of it. If they wanted to cover someone's travel they would have selected them on-campus.

lol wut? 2 firms are paying for non-OCI CBs for me off mailers.

+1 this is wrong. at a minimum, they would share in expenses with the callback trip "host firm" if you are doing a write-in callback with them during an interview trip.

Maybe you're right if its the ONLY interview though.

I think both responses can be credited. Firms have limited budgets to do interviews so the more they have to pay for you, the more skeptical they will be. If you lower the cost for them, it can work to your advantage.

This may be persecution complex, but I think the less well known a school, the less likely they are to cover costs. I am Top 5%, LR, and MC at a Top 25. I set up a slew of interviews more than 1500 miles away by setting up my own trip. (Received an offer from a firm that skipped the screener.) I had other applications outstanding. Two firms made it clear that if I was in the area, they'd love to interview me so I should let them know my travel plans if I made it back. I have the impression that if my school had been more of a known quantity (the T14), they would have been willing to CB me. (And I mean if I had been T14 with lesser stats... maybe 25%, no LR.) So what I am saying is, make an honest evaluation of what the demand for you as a hire is, and fork out benjamins accordingly.