Callback:Offers ratio Forum

[Anonymous User]

Since most of us are past the OCI screeners page, it only seemed appropriate to start worrying about the CB stage.

I've heard horror stories about people with 6+ CBs who end up with 0 offers. What reasons might there be for a high screener:CB conversion rate but lower CB:offers conversion rate?

About me: I was very fortunate to have converted 2/3s of my screeners into CBs (all at very selective firms, mostly in the V10), so I was completely adequate w/r/t to grades, resume, interviewing. But I am now worries about getting offers. How do people get so many CBs and end up with 0 offers? Are they usually the type of interviewer with stellar grades/resume that got them past the screener but poor social/conversational/interviewing skills that keep them from getting an offer?

Thank you all in advance.

[Anonymous User]

I'm in the same boat and just got my first cb rejection. It sucks, but I'm not going to start worrying until I get rejected from S&C or some other firm with a high offer rate at the callback stage. I can't figure out why I got rejected though...maybe I'm just boring.

[Anonymous User]

I'm in the same boat and just got my first cb rejection. It sucks, but I'm not going to start worrying until I get rejected from S&C or some other firm with a high offer rate at the callback stage. I can't figure out why I got rejected though...maybe I'm just boring.

Do firms have a historically consistent offer rate? I saw the NALP report but that's not useful for looking at individual firms. I know Columbia collects historical offer rates, but can that reliably be imputed to other law schools?

[Anonymous User]

From what I can tell (I'm 2/2 cb to offer at this point), it's all about personality at the cb stage. You'll be working with these people 10-12 hours a day. Are you weird? Do you have trouble holding steady convo? Are you someone they want to have a drink with after work? Are you an arrogant douche bag?

Ultimately you have no control now. If you try to change you will come off as awkward or disingenuous. Just be yourself and be respectful to everyone. That starts at the receptionist and continues all the way up to the hiring partner.

[Anonymous User]

I'm worried too. I have heard people at my school (usc/ucla) having 13 cbs but no offers. I have done 3 this week with no response from any but trying not to think too much on it yet.

I am also wondering what the reason is for the people who are getting tons of cbs but no offers.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know what Latham's CB --> offer ratio is? CA

[Anonymous User]

Manatt Cb --> Offer ratio? I think they only have 6 SA spots...

[Anonymous User]

I'm worried too. I have heard people at my school (usc/ucla) having 13 cbs but no offers. I have done 3 this week with no response from any but trying not to think too much on it yet.

I am also wondering what the reason is for the people who are getting tons of cbs but no offers.

Eh. High grades + moderate aspie, was able to be sociable for 20 minutes at a screener but not an entire callback. At least, I'm pretty sure that's why I'll have almost no offers if that happens to me. luckily already have one tho

[Anonymous User]

I only have had one CB and was offered and it was at a NYC V20. It was definitely more fit-based than screeners, but this firm is also known as a fit firm. I spent more time talking about sports and having people telling me what the firm does or what their practice was like. Some of the interviews were closer to them recruiting me, than an interview, and I am not from a T14 and not top 10%. I don't know if that is common, but it was my experience.


Also, my CSO was able to give me past data on the firm for people from my school. They gave me screeners - callbacks - offers - accepted offers.

[Anonymous User]

Since most of us are past the OCI screeners page, it only seemed appropriate to start worrying about the CB stage.

I've heard horror stories about people with 6+ CBs who end up with 0 offers. What reasons might there be for a high screener:CB conversion rate but lower CB:offers conversion rate?

About me: I was very fortunate to have converted 2/3s of my screeners into CBs (all at very selective firms, mostly in the V10), so I was completely adequate w/r/t to grades, resume, interviewing. But I am now worries about getting offers. How do people get so many CBs and end up with 0 offers? Are they usually the type of interviewer with stellar grades/resume that got them past the screener but poor social/conversational/interviewing skills that keep them from getting an offer?

Thank you all in advance.

I think nerves probably do a lot of people in at the callback stage. The best way to think about them, imho, is that they already like you, so just be yourself and act like you like them too (show enthusiasm, let them know you want to be there, and know more about the firm going into the CB than you did going into the screener).

[Anonymous User]

It depends a lot on the firm. There are firms in New York that give offers to the vast majority of their callbacks and those that give them to fewer than 25%. There was a CLS spreadsheet going around this site from a few years ago that I think is a good guide for those at CCN schools. That spreadsheet indicates that on average around 50% of callbacks end up with offers for CLS students in NY, but this varies widely by firm. Also, from my experience a few years ago, it was mostly those that got through the screener based on good interviews, but were otherwise average candidates, that were likely to not get offers. But there could be many other reasons such as a personality clash with one of the CB interviewers or just someone getting a bad impression of you (or a better impression of someone else).

[Anonymous User]

It depends a lot on the firm. There are firms in New York that give offers to the vast majority of their callbacks and those that give them to fewer than 25%. There was a CLS spreadsheet going around this site from a few years ago that I think is a good guide for those at CCN schools. That spreadsheet indicates that on average around 50% of callbacks end up with offers for CLS students in NY, but this varies widely by firm. Also, from my experience a few years ago, it was mostly those that got through the screener based on good interviews, but were otherwise average candidates, that were likely to not get offers. But there could be many other reasons such as a personality clash with one of the CB interviewers or just someone getting a bad impression of you.

Do you have any theories as to why this might have been the case?

[Anonymous User]

It depends a lot on the firm. There are firms in New York that give offers to the vast majority of their callbacks and those that give them to fewer than 25%. There was a CLS spreadsheet going around this site from a few years ago that I think is a good guide for those at CCN schools. That spreadsheet indicates that on average around 50% of callbacks end up with offers for CLS students in NY, but this varies widely by firm. Also, from my experience a few years ago, it was mostly those that got through the screener based on good interviews, but were otherwise average candidates, that were likely to not get offers. But there could be many other reasons such as a personality clash with one of the CB interviewers or just someone getting a bad impression of you.

Do you have any theories as to why this might have been the case?

Not sure, but likely has something to do with the entire hiring committee deciding on your application rather than just one or two people. Also, your chance of connecting really well with every callback interviewer is lower than connecting with just one or two people at a screener.

[Anonymous User]

It depends a lot on the firm. There are firms in New York that give offers to the vast majority of their callbacks and those that give them to fewer than 25%. There was a CLS spreadsheet going around this site from a few years ago that I think is a good guide for those at CCN schools. That spreadsheet indicates that on average around 50% of callbacks end up with offers for CLS students in NY, but this varies widely by firm. Also, from my experience a few years ago, it was mostly those that got through the screener based on good interviews, but were otherwise average candidates, that were likely to not get offers. But there could be many other reasons such as a personality clash with one of the CB interviewers or just someone getting a bad impression of you.

Do you have any theories as to why this might have been the case?

Not sure, but likely has something to do with the entire hiring committee deciding on your application rather than just one or two people. Also, your chance of connecting really well with every callback interviewer is lower than connecting with just one or two people at a screener.

I was an average candidate at CCN and a good interviewer (12 callbacks, 16 screeners) and I had an offer at every callback I went to. I don't think the above is true.

[Anonymous User]

It depends a lot on the firm. There are firms in New York that give offers to the vast majority of their callbacks and those that give them to fewer than 25%. There was a CLS spreadsheet going around this site from a few years ago that I think is a good guide for those at CCN schools. That spreadsheet indicates that on average around 50% of callbacks end up with offers for CLS students in NY, but this varies widely by firm. Also, from my experience a few years ago, it was mostly those that got through the screener based on good interviews, but were otherwise average candidates, that were likely to not get offers. But there could be many other reasons such as a personality clash with one of the CB interviewers or just someone getting a bad impression of you.

Do you have any theories as to why this might have been the case?

Not sure, but likely has something to do with the entire hiring committee deciding on your application rather than just one or two people. Also, your chance of connecting really well with every callback interviewer is lower than connecting with just one or two people at a screener.

I was an average candidate at CCN and a good interviewer (12 callbacks, 16 screeners) and I had an offer at every callback I went to. I don't think the above is true.

thank god.

[Anonymous User]

3 CBs, 2 offers. Couldn't be that great of an interviewer since i did 50some screeners to get those CBs.

[BVest]

It seems to vary by firm and possibly even by office. I know of at least one firm whose local office initially issues only as many CBs as they have SA slots. If they then decide to offer those CBs and the offers are accepted, they don't CB anyone else. The result is a handful of candidates who get no CB, but don't get dinged until October.

[09042014]

I think a good interviewer will bat above the average. However, sometimes you get a CB because you just happened to "click" with the screener. The chances of that happening to all your CB interviews, is a lot lower.

[baal hadad]

Since most of us are past the OCI screeners page, it only seemed appropriate to start worrying about the CB stage.

I've heard horror stories about people with 6+ CBs who end up with 0 offers. What reasons might there be for a high screener:CB conversion rate but lower CB:offers conversion rate?

About me: I was very fortunate to have converted 2/3s of my screeners into CBs (all at very selective firms, mostly in the V10), so I was completely adequate w/r/t to grades, resume, interviewing. But I am now worries about getting offers. How do people get so many CBs and end up with 0 offers? Are they usually the type of interviewer with stellar grades/resume that got them past the screener but poor social/conversational/interviewing skills that keep them from getting an offer?

Thank you all in advance.

Just do Sullivan n Cromwell bro

They offer every antisocial weirdo w a high GPA

And you get a free bonsai tree

[Anonymous User]

Above usc/ucla anon. Conversion rate seems a lot worse for non-NYC markets too. What I'm hearing about LA firms is that this year a lot of them are calling back a lot more people (maybe even 2x) than they could have spots for. Each of the 3 cbs i've gone to in LA i've found I was always surprised how many other people got CBs

[Anonymous User]

Any advice for call backs to small litigation boutiques?

[Anonymous User]

Since most of us are past the OCI screeners page, it only seemed appropriate to start worrying about the CB stage.

I've heard horror stories about people with 6+ CBs who end up with 0 offers. What reasons might there be for a high screener:CB conversion rate but lower CB:offers conversion rate?

About me: I was very fortunate to have converted 2/3s of my screeners into CBs (all at very selective firms, mostly in the V10), so I was completely adequate w/r/t to grades, resume, interviewing. But I am now worries about getting offers. How do people get so many CBs and end up with 0 offers? Are they usually the type of interviewer with stellar grades/resume that got them past the screener but poor social/conversational/interviewing skills that keep them from getting an offer?

Thank you all in advance.

Just do Sullivan n Cromwell bro

They offer every antisocial weirdo w a high GPA

And you get a free bonsai tree

I actually have the opposite problem. I have a solid but not extraordinary resume/grades . . . but I'm an articulate, outgoing and confident interviewer. Frankly I'm kind of worried that the hiring committee will get together and what is in front of them (my non-top 10% grades and lack of LR, moot court, etc.) will outweigh the interview evaluations (no matter how good they are).

[Single-Malt-Liquor]

Since most of us are past the OCI screeners page, it only seemed appropriate to start worrying about the CB stage.

I've heard horror stories about people with 6+ CBs who end up with 0 offers. What reasons might there be for a high screener:CB conversion rate but lower CB:offers conversion rate?

About me: I was very fortunate to have converted 2/3s of my screeners into CBs (all at very selective firms, mostly in the V10), so I was completely adequate w/r/t to grades, resume, interviewing. But I am now worries about getting offers. How do people get so many CBs and end up with 0 offers? Are they usually the type of interviewer with stellar grades/resume that got them past the screener but poor social/conversational/interviewing skills that keep them from getting an offer?

Thank you all in advance.

Just do Sullivan n Cromwell bro

They offer every antisocial weirdo w a high GPA

And you get a free bonsai tree

I actually have the opposite problem. I have a solid but not extraordinary resume/grades . . . but I'm an articulate, outgoing and confident interviewer. Frankly I'm kind of worried that the hiring committee will get together and what is in front of them (my non-top 10% grades and lack of LR, moot court, etc.) will outweigh the interview evaluations (no matter how good they are).

I might be wrong but I've been told by multiple sources that if you've been offered a callback that you can rest assured that you won't be dinged for grades.

[Anonymous User]

Since most of us are past the OCI screeners page, it only seemed appropriate to start worrying about the CB stage.

I've heard horror stories about people with 6+ CBs who end up with 0 offers. What reasons might there be for a high screener:CB conversion rate but lower CB:offers conversion rate?

About me: I was very fortunate to have converted 2/3s of my screeners into CBs (all at very selective firms, mostly in the V10), so I was completely adequate w/r/t to grades, resume, interviewing. But I am now worries about getting offers. How do people get so many CBs and end up with 0 offers? Are they usually the type of interviewer with stellar grades/resume that got them past the screener but poor social/conversational/interviewing skills that keep them from getting an offer?

Thank you all in advance.

Just do Sullivan n Cromwell bro

They offer every antisocial weirdo w a high GPA

And you get a free bonsai tree

I actually have the opposite problem. I have a solid but not extraordinary resume/grades . . . but I'm an articulate, outgoing and confident interviewer. Frankly I'm kind of worried that the hiring committee will get together and what is in front of them (my non-top 10% grades and lack of LR, moot court, etc.) will outweigh the interview evaluations (no matter how good they are).

I might be wrong but I've been told by multiple sources that if you've been offered a callback that you can rest assured that you won't be dinged for grades.

I think this is a common misconception. Just from my experience, grades matter much much less at a callback than at a screener, but they still do matter although they are definitely not the primary consideration.

[Old Gregg]

You guys are giving your interviewers too much of a benefit of the doubt. Have some self-respect. Odds are that the people interviewing you are about as socially retarded as the typical law student (and I mean "odds are" literally; always a good chance that any big law firm on any day will have social morons and a great chance that they're interviewing you).

Once you're at the callback stage, the goal should to be to present your personality honestly. Be genuine. You can't really control whether or not someone else will like you. Just don't commit any faux pas and you're more than half way there. The rest of the shit comes down to minute shit that you can't control and is not worth obsessing over.