Firm to pay for traveling expenses for interview? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm currently clerking for a a judge in a small town and have been applying to firms in a bigger city. Two firms expressed an interest in interviewing me in the next few weeks and wanted to know my availability. The interviews haven't been scheduled, but I was wondering whether I can get the firms to pay for my traveling expenses. One firm is small and the other is a medium sized firm. Do firms typically offer to pay for traveling expenses up front, or is it something to be asked? I am hoping I can schedule both interviews at the same time and have them share the expenses, but not sure if this is a good strategy outside the OCI process.

[Myself]

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[EvilClinton]

I'm currently clerking for a a judge in a small town and have been applying to firms in a bigger city. Two firms expressed an interest in interviewing me in the next few weeks and wanted to know my availability. The interviews haven't been scheduled, but I was wondering whether I can get the firms to pay for my traveling expenses. One firm is small and the other is a medium sized firm. Do firms typically offer to pay for traveling expenses up front, or is it something to be asked? I am hoping I can schedule both interviews at the same time and have them share the expenses, but not sure if this is a good strategy outside the OCI process.

Small firms usually do not offer to pay and big firms do.

[aces]

While it is standard for biglaw firms to pay for interview travel expenses, smaller firms may have different practices (NALP guidelines don't require them to and I know at least some small firms that do not do so). The same is true of splitting travel costs if a candidate is doing multiple interviews on a single trip. That makes it a more difficult situation for you to negotiate.

What I might do is schedule one interview first (the position you want more) and then tell the second firm that you have set aside a few days to interview in that city and ask to interview the day before or the day after your other interview(or two days before/two days after or whatever is convenient for you). After your interviews are scheduled, I would then inquire whether travel costs will be reimbursed and whether the firm was willing to split travel costs.

[TooOld4This]

I'm sure you already know this, but you would need to run funding by your judge, and may need to disclose where you are interviewing.

I would ask the HR contact whether travel is reimbursed. Be up front about looking at two firms with one trip. If one won't pay, don't be surprised (and perhaps even offer) to split the cost, with you picking up 1/2.