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Hey all - I have interviews coming up for OCI and had one question for which I couldn't seem to find an answer already: unlike many law students in my position, I am married and have a kid (under 1 year old at the moment). I'm not super-old as far as law students go (just turned 29), but I'm wondering if it will hurt or help me if interviewers find out that I'm a parent. I hear wildly different things from different people - some people tell me that managing to get good grades, participate in extracurriculars (journal, moot court), etc. while raising a kid shows an ability to multitask and balance a personal life with school/work. On the other hand, I hear that at least some firms don't want married or family people at their firm because they want lawyers who will focus on work and not have anything at home keeping them from working late nights at the office.

So is being a parent something I can spin into a positive? Is it a potential deal-killer? Does it depend on which firm I'm talking to, and if so how can I subtly find that out? Or should I just avoid the whole situation by taking off the wedding ring before interviews and not mentioning anything family-related?

Being married is no big deal. Having a kid probably isn't either, but it may be to some people. That said, I sincerely doubt this type of information will come up in an OCI screener. Unless you plaster it on your resume ("Interests: child-rearing"). So I just wouldn't bring it up. It doesn't have anything to do with the practice of law or why you would make a good attorney any way.

I did OCI a couple of years ago with a kid. Didn't seem to matter. Just so happens that I was able to connect on a more personal level to interviewers with kids.

I have a kid. During screeners I bring it up after the "tell me about yourself" question after my Schpeel if they seem unimpressed. It probably humanizes you and lets
you connect to the interviewer. Can't see the downside. If a firm doesn't want you to have kids and you have kids then you probably don't want to work there anyway.

I talked about it, but then it was a major part of the reason for my transfer so it was the lead to the inevitable "why'd you transfer" question (which has fewer obvious answers when you're talking about T1 to top 20).

You are venturing into the hr questions that are usually off-limits.

It is likely that the firm will not mention your martial and parenthood status.

Just be yourself.