Why this firm? Forum

[Law Student 2848]

"So why are you interested in _________?"


I know the answer to this is really firm specific, but what are examples of good answers to this question that won't make you sound like everyone else? I'm interested in corporate if that helps.

[BigZuck]

Figure out what that specific office/firm does/is good at and pitch an interest in that. I'd probably reach out to upper classmen who have gone through OCI and (ideally) worked out those specific firms. You can also do Internet research like Vault, Chambers, whatever publications talk about deals, etc. to find out what offices actually do. Firm websites usually aren't all that helpful but sometimes attorney bios can be to see what they mostly do.

[Anonymous User]

You guys really have a great [practice group X] and I am really interested in that kind of work.

The culture here is really fantastic, and if I'm going to be working hard, I would much prefer to work at a place that cares about associates and focuses on their development.

This firm is one of the best in this city and I don't see myself leaving. I want to make a career here.

I really appreciate your [assignment system/free market system]. I think it sets up newer associates for success and really allows them to get incorporated into the group in a seemless and productive way. It also suits my personality because my previous school or job was also structure in a similar way. Here's a story that demonstrates that.

I really like how your firm is so willing to give attorneys early responsibility. I spoke with these attorneys about their work in the area and they are doing so much more relative to their peers at other firms.

[CanadianWolf]

"I have a massive amount of student loan debt & I need the money."

[Anonymous User]

I generally wasn't comfortable lying about having met someone at the firm or knowing what the hell culture is so I used:

I am really interested in [insert their largest practice area you want here] and [firm] is great at it

I want to live in NYC, because [insert personal reason here -- ex: family, concerts, culture, food, etc] and the biggest and the best deals/most sophisticated legal work is done in this city


I really like your firms [insert random slightly unique fact found from chambers and partners handbook here] for [insert generic benefit related to random fact].

[Anonymous User]

I generally wasn't comfortable lying about having met someone at the firm or knowing what the hell culture is so I used:

I am really interested in [insert their largest practice area you want here] and [firm] is great at it

I want to live in NYC, because [insert personal reason here -- ex: family, concerts, culture, food, etc] and the biggest and the best deals/most sophisticated legal work is done in this city


I really like your firms [insert random slightly unique fact found from chambers and partners handbook here] for [insert generic benefit related to random fact].

[CanadianWolf]

If the firm specializes in one area, highlight interest in that practice. Otherwise, focus on one practice area but note that you like the potential to work in another practice group if needed. In short, they just want to know that you've researched the firm.

[EvelynS]

You guys really have a great [practice group X] and I am really interested in that kind of work.

The culture here is really fantastic, and if I'm going to be working hard, I would much prefer to work at a place that cares about associates and focuses on their development.

This firm is one of the best in this city and I don't see myself leaving. I want to make a career here.

I really appreciate your [assignment system/free market system]. I think it sets up newer associates for success and really allows them to get incorporated into the group in a seemless and productive way. It also suits my personality because my previous school or job was also structure in a similar way. Here's a story that demonstrates that.

I really like how your firm is so willing to give attorneys early responsibility. I spoke with these attorneys about their work in the area and they are doing so much more relative to their peers at other firms.

I would be careful with that one. I had a few interviewers who hated either "culture" question or "culture" answer. Unless there is something very very unique about this firm's culture, don't bring it up.

[Anonymous User]

You guys really have a great [practice group X] and I am really interested in that kind of work.

The culture here is really fantastic, and if I'm going to be working hard, I would much prefer to work at a place that cares about associates and focuses on their development.

This firm is one of the best in this city and I don't see myself leaving. I want to make a career here.

I really appreciate your [assignment system/free market system]. I think it sets up newer associates for success and really allows them to get incorporated into the group in a seemless and productive way. It also suits my personality because my previous school or job was also structure in a similar way. Here's a story that demonstrates that.

I really like how your firm is so willing to give attorneys early responsibility. I spoke with these attorneys about their work in the area and they are doing so much more relative to their peers at other firms.

I would be careful with that one. I had a few interviewers who hated either "culture" question or "culture" answer. Unless there is something very very unique about this firm's culture, don't bring it up.

...These obviously have to be tailored to the firm. They're just illustrative of the types of things you can say.

[ColumbiaLS2016]

You guys really have a great [practice group X] and I am really interested in that kind of work.

The culture here is really fantastic, and if I'm going to be working hard, I would much prefer to work at a place that cares about associates and focuses on their development.

This firm is one of the best in this city and I don't see myself leaving. I want to make a career here.

I really appreciate your [assignment system/free market system]. I think it sets up newer associates for success and really allows them to get incorporated into the group in a seemless and productive way. It also suits my personality because my previous school or job was also structure in a similar way. Here's a story that demonstrates that.

I really like how your firm is so willing to give attorneys early responsibility. I spoke with these attorneys about their work in the area and they are doing so much more relative to their peers at other firms.

I would be careful with that one. I had a few interviewers who hated either "culture" question or "culture" answer. Unless there is something very very unique about this firm's culture, don't bring it up.

...These obviously have to be tailored to the firm. They're just illustrative of the types of things you can say.

Yeah and this is another thing to research. There are definitely firms that pride themselves on a collegial culture. And there are definitely firms that do not.

[Anonymous User]

You should also do some research about how many attorneys are in a given practice area before mentioning interest in it. You don't want to be like "yeah, I'm really into your entertainment practice I'd like to do that" when in reality there's like 1 associate and 4 partners that do that work - if you express interest in a practice area that has no need for more attorneys, you're really shooting yourself in the foot.

Actually, you probably shouldn't indicate an interest in ANY firms entertainment practice, but that's just a general example.

[Anonymous User]

A little off topic but what exactly do we do when a firm is interviewing for multiple cities and you are genuinely interested in working in multiple cities? I had a mock interviewer who told me I needed to be more firm about wanting to work in X city, but that becomes a little difficult when you are genuinely open minded. I don't want to come off as wishy washy, but the two cities are literally across the country (NYC and SF)

[Backpacker]

A little off topic but what exactly do we do when a firm is interviewing for multiple cities and you are genuinely interested in working in multiple cities? I had a mock interviewer who told me I needed to be more firm about wanting to work in X city, but that becomes a little difficult when you are genuinely open minded. I don't want to come off as wishy washy, but the two cities are literally across the country (NYC and SF)

They will always feel more comfortable extending a CB/offer to an applicant that "absolutely wants to be in Manhattan at this particular firm," or "absolutely wants to be in SF." So I recommend targeting some firms in SF, and some in NYC, strategy wise.

[Backpacker]

"So why are you interested in _________?"


I know the answer to this is really firm specific, but what are examples of good answers to this question that won't make you sound like everyone else? I'm interested in corporate if that helps.

Reaching out to alumni at specific firms is the best way to get a handle on this.

[ManoftheHour]

Tag.

[Seffer15]

Before OCI, seek out attorneys at various firms with which you'll be interviewing and ask them what makes the firm different. Once you hear from a couple of actual practicing attorneys the things that actually differentiate firms, you can tailor those answers to your own interests and bring it up in the interview.

Ex. "Over the summer I spoke to [Attorney x] to get a general idea about the firm and practice area. He/she mentioned that the small office environment offered more opportunities to do work above your class year and to develop strong relationships with partners and senior associates. I grew up in a small town/went to a small undergrad and thrive in that environment, so I think this firm would be a good fit for me."

It shows that you've done your homework by speaking to actual people, not just looking at promotional materials, plus you are making connections between your personal preferences and what actually sets the firm apart.

[fxb3]

Actually, you probably shouldn't indicate an interest in ANY firms entertainment practice, but that's just a general example.

Right. Or sports. My firm has like 2 people who have done publicly-noteworthy work on sports and it's basically the same for entertainment work. It's cool but it's not really their primary practice or a big driver for the firm. But I always get people who are interested in our "sports law practice" or our "entertainment practice." Even worse is typically when I humor them and ask why, you get some response about how they are really into sports/entertainment, but don't care whether they're doing litigation, deals, or whatever. My internal monologue is always, "Yeah, I'm really into sports and entertainment, too....on nights and weekends."

A little off topic but what exactly do we do when a firm is interviewing for multiple cities and you are genuinely interested in working in multiple cities? I had a mock interviewer who told me I needed to be more firm about wanting to work in X city, but that becomes a little difficult when you are genuinely open minded. I don't want to come off as wishy washy, but the two cities are literally across the country (NYC and SF)

Can you really not decide, at all, between SF and NY? Maybe not, but just know that that comes across as very bizarre to most people who have chosen one of the two. Tons of people in each of those cities are very proud of it and think it's the best city in the world, so it just doesn't present well to say, "well, I can't decide." So, don't lie outright, but just come up with a way of explaining why you want to be in that particular city. This is especially true for SF if you have no ties.

Relatedly, for those bidding 10 different cities, this thing about "I don't care where I live, it's about the quality of the work" is pretty bad, yet I hear it a lot. Even Biglaw attorneys have personal lives and preferences about how/where to live. And no one successful in the profession really made that kind of decision. John Keker didn't end up in SF because it's the best offer he got, Fred Bartlit isn't pining to be in DC, Brendan Sullivan doesn't wish that he could practice his craft in NY. Yes, if you want to do bigtime M&A, you have to be in NYC. Yes, if you want to do FCC regulatory, you have to be in DC. But in general we expect you to pick where you want to live and find the work within that place.

[thesealocust]

Something worth mentioning is that you don't always have to isolate the firm from its peers. Like if you're interviewing with Simpson Thacher and they ask why you're interested in them, and you tell them you want to practice corporate law, and that's all in New York, and STB has a large number of strong practices... sure, maybe you kinda-sorta get extra credit if you can narrow it to something that's different as between STB and other firms that do corporate law in NYC, but it's a good starting point to be more generic. Distinguishing between similar firms can be nearly impossible - the only reason so many firms exist is because of conflict of interest rules, so a lot of them really are identical.

That's not to discourage learning about what sets firms apart, just don't read too much into "why this firm?" - they're not necessarily trying to trip you up with the narcissism of small differences.

[Tom Joad]

"Why not, bro? Is there something I should know? Lmao."

You don't want to be a stick out there. Keep it light.

[souzakid]

"Why not, bro? Is there something I should know? Lmao."

You don't want to be a stick out there. Keep it light.

dinged.

[ghostoftraynor]

Some firms really care about their culture. If so, say "I went to x event or met x people and really liked them." (throw in buzz words they like).

Otherwise, just talk about something they are good at. If the firm is good at private equity, mention private equity. If the does FCPA work, mention that. Etc.

Basically, you just need to demonstrate actual interest and knowledge. I know all of these firms seem fungible, but they 100%(ok maybe 30%) arent.

Distinguishing between similar firms can be nearly impossible - the only reason so many firms exist is because of conflict of interest rules, so a lot of them really are identical.

I disagree with this. There are probably so many firms because of conflicts, but they are different. Cravath is going to want you to know all about their unique rotation and firm culture. S&C is way more Fin Reg. based. Davis Polk really likes to play up they are the nice guys. Cleary is a bunch of likeable oddballs. STB does more PE than most v10 NY firms. Latham does great work but is super social/party oriented. Every firm has its quarks and the only way you will find these out is by talking to people. Don't rely on the internet. Talk to summers and junior associates from your law school. Most people will be more than happy to help.

[Good Guy Gaud]

"Why not, bro? Is there something I should know? Lmao."

You don't want to be a stick out there. Keep it light.

dinged.

Joad speaks truth.