Meeting for an informal interview with a retiring sole prac Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hello,

I am meeting with an attorney who is looking to take on a junior associate. He is elderly, intends to practice for a while longer and then sell the business to the junior associate sometime down the road (3-5 years). He is deciding right now between hiring an associate or merging with another attorney.

Obviously I am applying to be that junior associate. I am a non-traditional mid 30s law student graduated from a tier 1 (not t14), top 1/3rd grades. We are meeting tomorrow. What do I ask? How do I approach this? This is to be honest something I am really looking for and feel it is perfect.

Any advice from anybody I would appreciate.

[AReasonableMan]

I'd want to know how he's getting the clients. Is the business coming from his friends or the brand? If it's all because of him then why wouldn't the clients go to another friend once he left?

[rdawkins28]

Just be nice. Chances are you won't have to say much. These old guys love to have someone to talk to. So just be a good listener.

Then just act like a pupil who's willing to learn and do anything. Ask about what the cases that he gets, how he gets his clients, how to actually do things. Ask him how he started out.

Don't try to oversell yourself. Just be humble and likeable and tell him you have no problem doing grunt work to learn.

[smallfirmassociate]

I might have some advice. Can you tell us the state? Or feel free to PM me.