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3L here with an upcoming 3L callback interview. I'm wondering to what extent the interview will be different than my 2L callbacks, at least as far as questions I'm asked and expected to ask. Perhaps its not different at all, but I am just assuming it is since the interview is for a full-time, full benefits position rather than just a summer stint.

Should I be preparing any differently than I did last year?

Mine was identical. Two partners, two associates, lunch with two juniors.

I think they'll expect you to be targeting a specific group.

Tiago Splitter wrote:Mine was identical. Two partners, two associates, lunch with two juniors.

Same kind of questions though? Was there no clear indication that you were essentially interviewing for a much different position?

Anonymous User wrote:

Tiago Splitter wrote:Mine was identical. Two partners, two associates, lunch with two juniors.

Same kind of questions though? Was there no clear indication that you were essentially interviewing for a much different position?

It felt a little weird because like you I figured it would be much more serious. But given that summer offers are essentially full time offers it makes sense that they don't treat 3L interviews all that differently.

DF is right that they expect you to focus on a specific group, but I was targeting corporate as a 2L and interviewed for corporate as a 3L so my answers were similar and boosted by using examples from my 2L SA. Overall though the discussion was geared mostly towards fit and just chatting for 30 minutes. Obviously just one anecdote, but I wouldn't treat it any differently than you did 2L callbacks.

As a 3L hire I agree with DF that they are assessing your fit and sincerity within their group. Your charm level may be even more dissected, in that associates and Of Counsel who rarely are selected to interview may be on your docket. You may have zero clue how you did because cats suck at interviewing and you lead the entire half hour.

Just went though through this successfully. Expect some questions about what you did this summer, of course, and make sure you know what practice group they are hiring 3Ls for--as DF said, they will expect you to know what you want to do and you should strategically target the group they have need for. I was expected to at least have some examples from my experience this summer to explain why it was I wanted that group.

Once those types of questions are out of the way, it seemed pretty similar. As another poster suggested, they seemed to want to get to know me a little better because I was interviewing with people within the specific group I was targeting.

Main advice I can give is that you should just come in with confidence and maturity from having another year of experience under your belt than you did 2L, and also armed with more knowledge and direction about what you want to do practice wise. Good luck!