What is "Fit"? (in regards to law firm employment) Forum

[gaddockteeg]

This is probably a dumb question but I see this a lot while surfing the forum.

Context:
These are the 3 things that interviewers look for: Grades, Personality, and Fit.

What is "Fit"?

[patogordo]

the opposite of diversity

[A. Nony Mouse]

It's a version of personality - will you fit in with that firm's employees/culture? Whether you do or not depends on you/the firm. Other people will have to say more about specifics because I know nothing about specific firms, but it might be something like whether the firm is chill/laid back (as much as big firms can be, anyway) v. high pressure, super casual v. business formal, bro-y v. nerd-y, requires facetime or lets you work at home, and so on.

(And yes, it does tend to allow those doing the hiring to replicate themselves.)

[m079]

I had no idea what "fit" meant until I did several multiple-round interviews. There is definitely something to it and firms take it seriously. For me, I could just by talking with the attorneys. At my first choice firm, I loooved talking with all the attorneys and just had so much fun. They were from different practice areas but they just all seemed to enthusiastic about their fields and we laughed a LOT and talked about all kinds of random life (not law) stuff. Have you done many interviews? If not, maybe you'll feel the "fit" or lack thereof after? If you have already done many interviews but haven't noticed any particular feelings of "fit", then I think it's hard to explain (sorry). IMHO I do think its more than just about whether the firm is bro-y or whatever.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I had no idea what "fit" meant until I did several multiple-round interviews. There is definitely something to it and firms take it seriously. For me, I could just by talking with the attorneys. At my first choice firm, I loooved talking with all the attorneys and just had so much fun. They were from different practice areas but they just all seemed to enthusiastic about their fields and we laughed a LOT and talked about all kinds of random life (not law) stuff. Have you done many interviews? If not, maybe you'll feel the "fit" or lack thereof after? If you have already done many interviews but haven't noticed any particular feelings of "fit", then I think it's hard to explain (sorry). IMHO I do think its more than just about whether the firm is bro-y or whatever.

Although the culture of the firm (and bro-y probably wasn't the best term, it's just shorthand) determines who "fits" and stays and ends up being one of the people doing your interview. Plus, fit in the longer term doesn't have much to do with whether you get along with your interviewers or not.

[m079]

I had no idea what "fit" meant until I did several multiple-round interviews. There is definitely something to it and firms take it seriously. For me, I could just by talking with the attorneys. At my first choice firm, I loooved talking with all the attorneys and just had so much fun. They were from different practice areas but they just all seemed to enthusiastic about their fields and we laughed a LOT and talked about all kinds of random life (not law) stuff. Have you done many interviews? If not, maybe you'll feel the "fit" or lack thereof after? If you have already done many interviews but haven't noticed any particular feelings of "fit", then I think it's hard to explain (sorry). IMHO I do think its more than just about whether the firm is bro-y or whatever.

Although the culture of the firm (and bro-y probably wasn't the best term, it's just shorthand) determines who "fits" and stays and ends up being one of the people doing your interview. Plus, fit in the longer term doesn't have much to do with whether you get along with your interviewers or not.

Your last statement may be true but it is certainly, absolutely important to the interviewers whether THEY think you're a good fit.

[Anonymous User]

If you really need a job, fit is whether the partners like you. If you already have an offer you like, fit is whether you like the attorneys.

[rad lulz]

,

[Blessedassurance]

If you really need a job, fit is whether the partners like you. If you already have an offer you like, fit is whether you like the attorneys.

hear hear

[SemperLegal]

When its not a cover for anti-diversity, fit is the combination of subjective factors that may change your happiness.

Best example, to some people a firm where everyone is best friends and goes out to drinks on Fridays is awesome. To other people, they'd like a collegial and friendly workplace, but would rather spend time with non-lawyer friends or family. Objectively, the firm's quality (even soft rankings like "happiest workplace") is unchanged, but the associates might value it differently then a firm where mandatory fun was limited to once or twice a year.

[gaddockteeg]

So is "fit" something that can't really be prepared for?

[Bikeflip]

So is "fit" something that can't really be prepared for?

You can linkedin stalk and ask anyone who works there how they like/dislike the place. Even then, there's only so much you can do.

If you really need a job, fit is whether the partners like you. If you already have an offer you like, fit is whether you like the attorneys.

Underrated.

[hmlee]

Not to be all plug-y, but this might be relevant to your interests:

http://blog.learnleo.com/how-to-choose- ... -overview/

Honestly though, while what everyone has said about lifestyle factors - when you're expected to be present in the office, whether your fellow attorneys are "bros" or "nerds" factors into it, there's a lot more to fitting in with a firm than just that. You have to remember that your daily life is going to be a lot more about work than about socializing. So, how you work and how the firm expects its associates to work is perhaps a bigger deal than whether you can have engaging conversations about your non-work life (if you even have one) with your fellow attorneys.

[ChardPennington]

If you have to ask what fit is and how you can prep you're completely boned in the fit department

[patogordo]

If you have to ask what fit is and how you can prep you're completely boned in the fit department

or possibly a perfect fit, depending on the firm

[hichvichwoh]

If you have to ask what fit is and how you can prep you're completely boned in the fit department

or possibly a perfect fit, depending on the firm

not sure if you were joking, but I agree with this sentiment. I'm aspie and introverted as fuck, and many of my interviews were really really terrible, until I got to one firm where I got along great with everyone I met because we were all aspie and introverted.

[ChardPennington]

If you have to ask what fit is and how you can prep you're completely boned in the fit department

or possibly a perfect fit, depending on the firm

"Do you guys give wedgies?"