Page 1 of 2
5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:28 pm
by Anonymous User
I've got a callback tomorrow, and my schedule has has 8 partners and 1 associate - 5 of those partners are interviewing me at the same time. Ive done a fair amount of CBs already, but I have yet to encounter this.
Anyone experience something similar? How did it go? Any advice on how to handle the situation? Did all 5 ask questions or did one ask and the others make judgments? Anything helpful is much appreciated.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:31 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:I've got a callback tomorrow, and my schedule has has 8 partners and 1 associate - 5 of those partners are interviewing me at the same time. Ive done a fair amount of CBs already, but I have yet to encounter this.
Anyone experience something similar? How did it go? Any advice on how to handle the situation? Did all 5 ask questions or did one ask and the others make judgments? Anything helpful is much appreciated.
This happened to me. Call me crazy, but I loved it. Just make sure you are fully energized. When you answer questions make eye-contact with all five. Also, a slick move since they will undoubtedly interrupt each other is to answer a question and then turn to the Partner who was just interrupted and say, "and in response to your other question:"
They will try to hammer you so just expect that going in.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:36 pm
by Richie Tenenbaum
Anonymous User wrote:I've got a callback tomorrow, and my schedule has has 8 partners and 1 associate - 5 of those partners are interviewing me at the same time. Ive done a fair amount of CBs already, but I have yet to encounter this.
Anyone experience something similar? How did it go? Any advice on how to handle the situation? Did all 5 ask questions or did one ask and the others make judgments? Anything helpful is much appreciated.
I would make sure to know which is the hiring partner and which partners are in the group(s) you're most interested in. I would make sure to have questions specific to each partner, but focus more on previously mentioned partners. Make sure you know all their names too, which is a minor point, but will be prob necessary to direct your questions. If they spend the whole time asking you questions, then should make the time pass pretty fast with 5 people directing questions. Just make sure to give all five eye contact.
Sorry if 90% of this seems very obvious.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:25 pm
by traydeuce
Apply to some crappy regional district courts for practice. They're really into doing these interviews where their 3 clerks sit in tables positioned in a 180-degree spectrum of angles from your face. Actually though, the multi-interviewer interview can be fun, especially if they're aggressive. It's a bit like doing moot court, but less overtly adversarial.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:39 pm
by npe
This thread is not nearly as sexy as the title suggested.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:47 pm
by Helmholtz
npe wrote:This thread is not nearly as sexy as the title suggested.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:53 pm
by berkeleykel06
I've had a callback with 3 partners at once and what I found helpful was asking them to compare each other's experiences and practice areas, particularly if they are from different practices. E.g. how does staffing tend to work in X practice compared to Y and Z? Are there personality differences between associates in X, Y, and Z? etc. This gets them all involved and talking rather than having you end up with awkward one-on-one conversations while the others are sitting there being silent.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:55 pm
by jim
npe wrote:This thread is not nearly as sexy as the title suggested.
At least there was this...
Anonymous User wrote:
They will try to hammer you so just expect that going in.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:56 pm
by Total Litigator
Wear protection and make sure you all can meet somewhere beforehand to talk out any potential jealousy issues.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:14 pm
by JollyGreenGiant
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:31 pm
by Anonymous User
Getting back on topic, thanks for the tips. very useful.
What does it mean when you say they will "grill" you. I have not had a CB like that to date.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:39 pm
by smokyroom26
npe wrote:This thread is not nearly as sexy as the title suggested.
Anonymous User wrote:They will try to hammer you so just expect that going in.
Total Litigator wrote:Wear protection and make sure you all can meet somewhere beforehand to talk out any potential jealousy issues.
Also,
this will probably come in handy.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:41 pm
by pleasetryagain
smokyroom26 wrote:
Also,
this will probably come in handy.
who the hell orders lube 1/2 gallon at a time?
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:42 pm
by 20121109
smokyroom26 wrote:npe wrote:This thread is not nearly as sexy as the title suggested.
Anonymous User wrote:They will try to hammer you so just expect that going in.
Total Litigator wrote:Wear protection and make sure you all can meet somewhere beforehand to talk out any potential jealousy issues.
Also,
this will probably come in handy.
I prefer the full gallon glide, myself.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:43 pm
by smokyroom26
pleasetryagain wrote:smokyroom26 wrote:
Also,
this will probably come in handy.
who the hell orders lube 1/2 gallon at a time?
Someone who's doin it right?

Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:48 pm
by jeeptiger09
tag for entertainment purposes, thank you all for distracting me from my failed job search
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:37 pm
by Stanford4Me
Helmholtz wrote:npe wrote:This thread is not nearly as sexy as the title suggested.
OP, are you able to ask upperclassmen who may have interviewed with this firm? Hopefully they can provide some insight on what to expect. Possibly talk to OCS/CSO and see of there are resources to let you know who interviewed/worked there last summer.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:58 pm
by 20160810
Thread met expectations
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:24 pm
by Total Litigator
smokyroom26 wrote:
Also,
this will probably come in handy.
I'm sorry but that product had probably the most entertaining "People who bought this also bought" that I've ever seen. We're talking 8 ounce "travel" liquid containers, Justin Timberlake's FutureSex / Lovesounds album, brass knuckle coffee cups (wtf), 50 packs of pregnancy tests, a book called "Anal pleasure and a Man's Health," rectal thermometers, and Yves Saint Laurent cologne, tissues, 20 packs of batteries, and extra large trash bags, and a 40 back of condoms.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:40 pm
by mrloblaw
Total Litigator wrote:smokyroom26 wrote:
Also,
this will probably come in handy.
I'm sorry but that product had probably the most entertaining "People who bought this also bought" that I've ever seen. We're talking 8 ounce "travel" liquid containers, Justin Timberlake's FutureSex / Lovesounds album, brass knuckle coffee cups (wtf), 50 packs of pregnancy tests, a book called "Anal pleasure and a Man's Health," rectal thermometers, and Yves Saint Laurent cologne, tissues, 20 packs of batteries, and extra large trash bags, and a 40 back of condoms.
Don't forget the Outback Steakhouse gift card. You're going to want a bloomin' onion or two when you're done with that shiznizzle.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:42 pm
by mrloblaw
Anonymous User wrote:Total Litigator wrote:smokyroom26 wrote:
Also,
this will probably come in handy.
I'm sorry but that product had probably the most entertaining "People who bought this also bought" that I've ever seen. We're talking 8 ounce "travel" liquid containers, Justin Timberlake's FutureSex / Lovesounds album, brass knuckle coffee cups (wtf), 50 packs of pregnancy tests, a book called "Anal pleasure and a Man's Health," rectal thermometers, and Yves Saint Laurent cologne, tissues, 20 packs of batteries, and extra large trash bags, and a 40 back of condoms.
Don't forget the Outback Steakhouse gift card. You're going to want a bloomin' onion or two when you're done with that shiznizzle.
That was not intended to be anon.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:44 pm
by kaiser
My very best interviews were those when I was dealing with a team of interviewers. The most I've had was 3, but I would love 5 at once. Gives you so many people to play off of, guarantees that there won't be any awkward silences, etc. And if you can maintain your cool and confidence in the face of 5 partners, they will certainly respect that.
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:57 pm
by SleekFire
kaiser wrote:My very best interviews were those when I was dealing with a team of interviewers. The most I've had was 3, but I would love 5 at once. Gives you so many people to play off of, guarantees that there won't be any awkward silences, etc. And if you can maintain your cool and confidence in the face of 5 partners, they will certainly respect that.
So. many. jokes. What to say first? Ahhhhh it hurts!!!!
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 11:13 pm
by Anonymous User
redacted. those mods are quick
Re: 5 partners at once - advice?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 11:15 pm
by Walfredo47
on a serious note, 5 partners at once should not affect you. The key is that the firm has selected this format because they feel it is most conducive to getting to know the associate. So, the best thing to do is have a conversation, and, I don't know, open up! Seriously, partners want to know what makes you tick -- my sense is that they will not likely be aggressive -- if they are, that's not a good way to recruit associates to their place. They want to learn more about you...if you have received a call-back and go to law school, I am sure you have plenty of interesting stories to talk about. Everyone is interesting, it's all in the presentation. Good luck OP!