UChicago OCI 2015 Forum

[N.P.H.]

Thoughts on scheduling a callback during OCI? I just got one through mass mailing (it really works) and there are no interviews on Friday the 14th. My last interview on Thursday should be over by the early afternoon, but I'm concerned about schedules shifting and rushing to catch a flight. On the other hand, it would be nice to walk into the second week with an offer either in hand or on the way.

Obviously try to take it before OCI if you can. But during is 100% fine. In fact, if people have a Friday/Monday off, they should try to do this with the NY offers that go out the first week.

[Anonymous User]

Lame anonymous from the last page - just called OCS and they were totally on board with it as well.

[Anonymous User]

Do I suck if my mass mailing didn't yield anything?

[Anonymous User]

Do I suck if my mass mailing didn't yield anything?

Not at all! It's pretty common. I got basically 0 response from mass-mailing firms with which I did not have a personal connection of some kind. Don't get discouraged! It's in no way indicative of how you'll do in OCI. These recruiters get hundreds of emails from people that are all qualified, and don't have time to respond in many cases. Also, some markets just aren't up on the whole pre-OCI interviewing thing.

[N.P.H.]

Do I suck if my mass mailing didn't yield anything?

Nah. I'd say most people get a CB out of every 20 or 30 mass mails that they do. These firms have PILES of resumes. It's just whether something in yours stuck out to someone. Mostly luck.

Shake it off and start prepping your answers for OCI

[Anonymous User]

Anon worried about sucking: thanks for the encouragement, both of you!

[Anonymous User]

how many questions should we prep for our screeenrs? any advice on questions? im having trouble coming up with good list of Qs

[Anonymous User]

The number one thing is not to prepare a rote list of questions and then read them down once you've reached the "questions portion" of the screener. You need to ask questions that derive organically from the conversation you're having with your interviewer. Don't even be afraid to interrupt in order to ask someone to expand on a point they've made or if you have a pressing question that developed naturally from an answer you've given.

For example, if you said that you're really enjoying your 1L job for X reason, and the interviewer responds by talking about how that work is sort of similar to what they do at the firm, then ask them to expand. Say something like, "oh that reminds me, I'm interested in that practice group, did you try out multiple groups during your summer? How did you end up in your practice group?"

That would be a much more natural way to ask about practice groups then just asking some question you've memorized, but that comes out of left field compared to what has been discussed in the room.

The second most important thing is to not only ask a question you want answered, but to also demonstrate that you are a smart person who's thinking about the right things. Even when you ask questions you're really showing them why you'd be a good fit for the firm.

For example, instead of asking, "Can you tell me about the free market system?" Instead, say something like "You know this summer I received my first assignment from my boss, but then it was sort of my responsibility to obtain work by building relationships with the attorneys in my office. I really enjoyed that, so I'm wondering if you might be able to tell me a little about how you transitioned into the free market system in your first year.

Now this has to be balanced by the fact that you don't want to look like an overeager douche, and sometimes just asking a pointed question is your best bet. But I still considered questions as an opportunity to demonstrate that I was a pretty good candidate and thinking about the right things. So don't be afraid to have a little introduction/exposition to your question that relates things back to your experiences.

[Anonymous User]

That being said, some good questions to have in your back pocket, to use organically and at your best discretion are:

-How do you involve a first year into a deal/case? What is their role and how can they succeed?
-Can you tell me how you like the assignment system/free market system? (Do NOT ask if the firm has one or the other, you will be expected to know that. Which is one of only a handful of things about a firm you really should know.)
-If a partner, how do you balance your substantive practice with client development and business generation?
-Can you tell me about the formal trainings at the firm (maybe cite one if you can find the names on the website), or have you had better experiences with informal mentorship and learning on the job?
-Favorite case/deal is always a pretty good one, but it doesn't pack the same punch as others. I actually enjoyed hearing this one though and can lead to more fruitful conversation later.
-What made you pick your practice area/firm/city? Be careful with this one, sometimes you have a person who wants to sell you on those things and sometimes they have the attitude that you'd be an idiot to go anywhere but their city/firm/practice area so feel it out first.

[Anonymous User]

lmao i blinked, open sign up slots just disappeared.

How do I do the go in the morning thing? How can I find out what room the firm will be at?

[N.P.H.]

lmao i blinked, open sign up slots just disappeared.

How do I do the go in the morning thing? How can I find out what room the firm will be at?

Yeah they go fast lol you really have to have it open and click the first interview spot you see to get 'em that way.

Come in before interviews start for the day (I think they start at 830? so come in around 7:45 or earlier if you want to give yourself time for unforeseeable delays). OCS has a desk in the north side of the second floor. On this desk is a list with all of the check-ins from attorneys (they let us look at it so we can do research on our interviewers). See if they are checked in yet. If they haven't, see what room they are in so you know where to look out for them.

There's also an OCS desk with the entire team there to answer neurotic questions (eg, if you don't understand this process) and mock interview (if you wanna try out that new answer you came up with). Grab Leslie Hauser - IMO she's the best of the bunch.

[Anonymous User]

Where can we find out who our interviewers are, or do we just have to go look at the list at the OCS desk the morning of?

[bearsfan23]

Where can we find out who our interviewers are, or do we just have to go look at the list at the OCS desk the morning of?

See NPH's previous post, he nails it: OCS posts the interviewers the day of. Keep in mind though that sometimes firms (esp Chicago firms) change interviewers during the day (i.e. they'll switch interviewers for morning and afternoon sessions)

[Anonymous User]

What time should we be getting to Booth? If we have a later interview, is there any reason to get there early?

[Anonymous User]

If things are similar to last year, OCS releases a list of of the interviewers on the career services page or whatever. So there's no need to get there super early, since that's the only thing you should keep on top of. Honestly it's probably better to avoid booth unless you absolutely have to be there - at least that was my preference. You just run out of things to talk about besides OCI. Or even if you try to avoid people you still see them conspicuously taking phone calls and shit. So trust your instincts.

The only thing you should keep in mind is that the summer bus schedule is a little irregular during the afternoon. So you'll have to compensate for that or just take an uber.

[WheninLaw]

What time should we be getting to Booth? If we have a later interview, is there any reason to get there early?

Try to leave early since the bus can be unpredictable and really slow.

No reason to get there early for late interviews. I'd actively discourage that.

[Anonymous User]

Might be an overly technical question but:

Generally, how long should our answers be for basic questions like "why law school" or "what practice areas are you interested in?". I feel like I'm not talking that long when I answer these, but I realize that anything over a minute and a half or so and the interviewer will zone out.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think it would be helpful to give a hard and fast rule because people and questions are so different. An answer obviously shouldn't be five minutes long, but beyond that I think you're focusing on the wrong things. Your answers shouldn't be tailored to how long your interviewer can stand listening to you; they should be compelling summations of your experiences and the reasons why you would be a good fit at the firm.

Maybe the best rule is just don't ramble. Don't say something in ten words that could be said in five, and if you find yourself wondering when the hell youre gonna stop you're probably on the wrong track.

I think a more productive way to think about your answers is to always remember that you're trying to convince your interviewer that you have a personality, that your experiences provide you with a reasonable chance at being a good attorney, and that their firm is so outstanding that you can't see yourself anywhere else. How can you best do that in the time ~20 minutes you're given? Again, there is no hard and fast rule because your resume is different from everyone else's. So make sure speak intelligently about everything you've done, and to the extent you reasonably can, try to distill the skills and experiences you have into things that would translate to the firm. Beyond that, show off your personality. Be fun and outgoing if that's you, be insightful or analytical if that's your deal. Just don't be boring. And keep the conversation moving.

One of the most important responsibilities you have is to make sure either you or the attorney is always talking during the screener. Do NOT be afraid to let the conversation go down a rabbit hole. If you find yourself talking about football or movies or outer space keep talking about it until it's clear things can naturally be moved to another topic. That is a better way to think about your answers. Be concise and convincing and enthusiastic and you'll be fine.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks to all who have contributed. Anyone have any stress-relief tips for the big day?

[Anonymous User]

Thanks to all who have contributed. Anyone have any stress-relief tips for the big day?

yes. remember: you're going to do great!

[Anonymous User]

I don't think it would be helpful to give a hard and fast rule because people and questions are so different. An answer obviously shouldn't be five minutes long, but beyond that I think you're focusing on the wrong things. Your answers shouldn't be tailored to how long your interviewer can stand listening to you; they should be compelling summations of your experiences and the reasons why you would be a good fit at the firm.

Maybe the best rule is just don't ramble. Don't say something in ten words that could be said in five, and if you find yourself wondering when the hell youre gonna stop you're probably on the wrong track.

I think a more productive way to think about your answers is to always remember that you're trying to convince your interviewer that you have a personality, that your experiences provide you with a reasonable chance at being a good attorney, and that their firm is so outstanding that you can't see yourself anywhere else. How can you best do that in the time ~20 minutes you're given? Again, there is no hard and fast rule because your resume is different from everyone else's. So make sure speak intelligently about everything you've done, and to the extent you reasonably can, try to distill the skills and experiences you have into things that would translate to the firm. Beyond that, show off your personality. Be fun and outgoing if that's you, be insightful or analytical if that's your deal. Just don't be boring. And keep the conversation moving.

One of the most important responsibilities you have is to make sure either you or the attorney is always talking during the screener. Do NOT be afraid to let the conversation go down a rabbit hole. If you find yourself talking about football or movies or outer space keep talking about it until it's clear things can naturally be moved to another topic. That is a better way to think about your answers. Be concise and convincing and enthusiastic and you'll be fine.

Dominant advice. Thanks for the input.

[Anonymous User]

I find that I sometimes give unnecessarily detailed answers. When I catch myself doing it, I say something to the effect of, "which is a long way of saying [succint answer]." The goal is that it refocuses interviewers attention, shows that I realized I talked too long, and actually answers the question. Of course, it is better to not start rambling in the first place.

[N.P.H.]

My answer is a combination of the previous two so I'll keep it brief.

Gauge the interviewers. Are they nodding and smiling and providing comments? If so, go into more detail.

Are they looking down, at the wall, out the window, at their phone, or are they pan faced/fidgety? Wrap it up.

[skers]

I would just keep in mind what the point of the interviews is--you're not there to demonstrate your crazy legal knowledge (b/c you don't really have any) or show how compelling your why law school answer is (it isn't). IMO, OCI is primarily a personality/fit screening thing, so the more you treat things just as a conversation/20 min bro out, the more comfortable it will be for both parties. Hope the first day went well for y'all. Kill it.

[Anonymous User]

how long do we have to wait for CBs for NY? did anyone get sth already?