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Does anyone know what the interview/call back process is like at firms with 10-20 attorneys? Are there rounds and such like there are for big firms? Any info would be appreciated because I have 0 info.

Anonymous User wrote:Does anyone know what the interview/call back process is like at firms with 10-20 attorneys? Are there rounds and such like there are for big firms? Any info would be appreciated because I have 0 info.

10-20 attorneys total or at the office for which you are interviewing?

Total- 1 main office and one seemingly satellite office nearby

Anonymous User wrote:Total- 1 main office and one seemingly satellite office nearby

Well, I had interviews at 1 firm that had 20-30 in the office I was interviewing at but more firmwide. In that case I had what I thought was an informational interview but which was actually a screener followed by a callback that I thought was a screener walking in. Suffice it to say, I'm glad I didn't schedule any other interview back to back with that one.

I think I met the majority of the office before they decided to offer me.

Sorry to sound dumb but Im not sure what a "screener" is, and I assumed (wrongly) that "callback" was just a phone call. Is a callback an interview whereby they determine whether or not you are hired?

Anonymous User wrote:Sorry to sound dumb but Im not sure what a "screener" is, and I assumed (wrongly) that "callback" was just a phone call. Is a callback an interview whereby they determine whether or not you are hired?

You're not a 2L, are you.

A screener is the initial interview where you meet with 1 or 2 or occasionally 3-4 attorneys. After that, they make a decision on whether to call you back. A callback is a final stage interview where you usually meet with 6+ attorneys. After that, they make a decision on you. A screener is sometimes held in the firm's offices and sometimes elsewhere. A callback is always held in a firm's offices.

Sadly I am a 2L, but struck out at OCI (didn't apply to more than several firms)

Anonymous User wrote:Sorry to sound dumb but Im not sure what a "screener" is, and I assumed (wrongly) that "callback" was just a phone call. Is a callback an interview whereby they determine whether or not you are hired?

You definitely sound dumb considering the answer to that question is on this forum a billion times. But, to help you out --- a screener is the initial screening interview. You are evaluated from a broad pool of applicants who were either selected for an initial interview by the firm or through a school's lottery. Generally screening interviews are 20 minutes long.

A callback is an interview, after the screening interview, where you are called back to the firm for a round of interviews. Generally, a callback means you have a good shot (50%+ sometimes even higher) of securing the job. This is where legal interviews differ substantially from those in other industries. In a callback, you will meet with 4-5 attorneys on average, including junior attorneys and often a hiring partner or decisionmaker.

After a callback, there are generally no more interviews. You either get the job or you don't.

At a small firm, a lot of conventional wisdom goes out the window, whereas most big firms conduct their recruiting in a similar fashion. Still, most firms, because attorney billing time is so valuable, will only call a candidate in for 1 callback interview. Your best bet is to ask somebody who has interviewed at this firm before or to ask your OCS what the customs are in your specific market for firms of that size.

Anonymous User wrote:Sadly I am a 2L, but struck out at OCI (didn't apply to more than several firms)

You are a 2L who doesn't know what a screener/callback is? This may help explain why you struck out.

EDIT - ANON accident. I'm poster above.

Anonymous User wrote:Sadly I am a 2L, but struck out at OCI (didn't apply to more than several firms)

Dear lord,

Go to your nearest career services representative and put a boot in their ass. Then demand the return of your tuition money.

How would not knowing the lingo explain why I struck out? Wouldn't my strike out come into play before I would even have a chance to know the lingo? How would I know what a callback or screener is without ever getting one?

I love how all of these posts turn confrontational. I hope you are all this charming at your screeners and callbacks. Eat me.

Anonymous User wrote:How would not knowing the lingo explain why I struck out? Wouldn't my strike out come into play before I would even have a chance to know the lingo? How would I know what a callback or screener is without ever getting one?

Its just indicative of you not doing your homework adequately.

Thanks that really helps me and is exactly the information I was looking for

if you get selected for an interview you will only make one visit to the firm, when you will meet everyone you need to meet.