So I haven't been able to get a great sense of what's appropriate to ask at a second look beyond what we've already asked at CBs, and more importantly what kind of questions are going to yield useful answers. Especially for differentiating a firm from a really similar one presenting a tough/close final decision.
Any veterans of the process have tips? I'm thinking of the some of the following, though I'm not sure how helpful they'd be. Choosing a non-NY market, if it makes any difference:
What percentage of summers got offers the past few years? (Where the info is not nalp-available)
Are you friends with anyone here outside work?
Do people ever get cold offered?
How many times have you traveled for work?
Have you taken a vacation since you started here?
How many people from your starting class are still here?
What is one thing you dislike about work at your firm? If you could change anything about the firm, what would it be?
What are face time requirements like? Do you feel free to work from home in the evenings, such as if you want to have dinner with your family?
How do you feel your experience here differs from that of your friends at other firms?
How difficult is it to meet billables? [if there is lock step and no billable requirement here], do you find there is an unofficial billable requirement?
How many hours of pro bono work do you bill per year? Is it encouraged or frowned upon by partners?
What's the best part about working in your practice area? The worst?
Good Questions for Second Looks Forum
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suzige
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Re: Good Questions for Second Looks
interested in this too
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Anonymous User
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Re: Good Questions for Second Looks
Just did one yesterday and focused mostly on questions revolving around ability to take vacation, how late most people in their group stayed, and if there were any partners in the group they didn't like (and if so, could they be avoided without hurting your career). the most blunt questions were during lunch with a 6th year, and he didn't seem in the least bit phased. Also talked bluntly about some layoffs that had happened last year without anyone batting an eye.
At this point you literally have all of the leverage so as long as you express genuine interest in the firm, and its clear you are only asking because its important to your decision, I think you can basically get away with anything. If you're an asshole that is gonna turn this into you grilling them and trying to catch them in a lie about their firm you'll probably be developing some early enemies in a place you could be spending a lot of time at, which I would not advise.
At this point you literally have all of the leverage so as long as you express genuine interest in the firm, and its clear you are only asking because its important to your decision, I think you can basically get away with anything. If you're an asshole that is gonna turn this into you grilling them and trying to catch them in a lie about their firm you'll probably be developing some early enemies in a place you could be spending a lot of time at, which I would not advise.
