I was looking for some advice on what to expect in an interview I have coming up. I took a consulting job out of law school (T14) at a Tier 2 shop (non-MBB). I have been thinking about switching back to law after my first year was up and out of the blue got an interview from a V20 corporate practice to be a first year associate.
The interview seems like it will be intense, meeting a few partners from different practices to see which practice is a better fit. Just wanted to know if anyone had some advice for this type of transition and if starting in consulting is going to be a huge issue?
Thanks in advance!
Career Change to First Year Associate (V20 Interview) Forum
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Anonymous User
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Anonymous User
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Re: Career Change to First Year Associate (V20 Interview)
Bump. Anyone with any experience that can provide help?
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Anonymous User
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Re: Career Change to First Year Associate (V20 Interview)
They aren't that intense. Have a good story for why you are switching.
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BigLaw_Lit
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Re: Career Change to First Year Associate (V20 Interview)
OP: Would you mind sharing how you got your job at the consulting firm? Did you have work experience and how did you apply? Thanks - just curios.
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bdubs
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Re: Career Change to First Year Associate (V20 Interview)
I don't have first hand experience but I talked to some people who knew about this.
Here are some issues and questions you should be prepared to address:
If you summered at a firm, why didn't you go there after graduation? If you didn't summer at a firm, why not?
What have you done to retain your legal knowledge while you were in consulting?
What makes you want to switch to law now? What has changed since you decided not to pursue law after graduation?
If you can answer those questions well I don't think the interviews will be that intense. Good luck.
Here are some issues and questions you should be prepared to address:
If you summered at a firm, why didn't you go there after graduation? If you didn't summer at a firm, why not?
What have you done to retain your legal knowledge while you were in consulting?
What makes you want to switch to law now? What has changed since you decided not to pursue law after graduation?
If you can answer those questions well I don't think the interviews will be that intense. Good luck.
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Anonymous User
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Re: Career Change to First Year Associate (V20 Interview)
OP here, thanks for the feedback. I definitely understand those big career change questions. For me, not working at a firm was all about grades. I didn't have them 1L year. By the time i graduated, I got my gpa up to median, but got the consulting offer prior to trying for law firms and took it. Do you think this is a bad way to express why I never interned at a firm? I don't like talking about my grades, because they were horrible 1L and pretty decent 2-3L taking corporate classes, but if its the best way to explain why I went into consulting after law school, then should I do it?
Also, to the person asking about consulting. I was referred through a friend into a group that they sometimes hire JDs into (financial services consulting). Had a few interviews, they didn't care about grades, and next thing I know I had an offer. I had substantial work experience in law school (worked in finance and for a regulator) so it was easy to spin my experience and work ethic for why consulting was for me.
Also, to the person asking about consulting. I was referred through a friend into a group that they sometimes hire JDs into (financial services consulting). Had a few interviews, they didn't care about grades, and next thing I know I had an offer. I had substantial work experience in law school (worked in finance and for a regulator) so it was easy to spin my experience and work ethic for why consulting was for me.
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bdubs
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Re: Career Change to First Year Associate (V20 Interview)
I think it's better to tackle it head on and explain the situation. Say "I went to law school because I wanted to work in a law firm doing high-level transactional work but I didn't wind up getting that opportunity so I took the next best alternative available to me." They will get that you didn't have the chance because of 1L grades after they look at your transcript (I assume that they asked you for a transcript already). I wouldn't dwell on "grades" as the issue but don't shy away from it either.Anonymous User wrote:OP here, thanks for the feedback. I definitely understand those big career change questions. For me, not working at a firm was all about grades. I didn't have them 1L year. By the time i graduated, I got my gpa up to median, but got the consulting offer prior to trying for law firms and took it. Do you think this is a bad way to express why I never interned at a firm? I don't like talking about my grades, because they were horrible 1L and pretty decent 2-3L taking corporate classes, but if its the best way to explain why I went into consulting after law school, then should I do it?
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Pokemon
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Re: Career Change to First Year Associate (V20 Interview)
Anonymous User wrote:OP here, thanks for the feedback. I definitely understand those big career change questions. For me, not working at a firm was all about grades. I didn't have them 1L year. By the time i graduated, I got my gpa up to median, but got the consulting offer prior to trying for law firms and took it. Do you think this is a bad way to express why I never interned at a firm? I don't like talking about my grades, because they were horrible 1L and pretty decent 2-3L taking corporate classes, but if its the best way to explain why I went into consulting after law school, then should I do it?
Also, to the person asking about consulting. I was referred through a friend into a group that they sometimes hire JDs into (financial services consulting). Had a few interviews, they didn't care about grades, and next thing I know I had an offer. I had substantial work experience in law school (worked in finance and for a regulator) so it was easy to spin my experience and work ethic for why consulting was for me.
First of all, these guys probably want you to join them. They will not interview you otherwise... as such I doubt they will give you hard questions or a hard time. Definitely, do not get too defensive and try to over-explain things like why you went to consulting or your grades. Tell them more what they want to listen, which is, your experience and ability to do transactional work.
