How should I treat a callback vs. a screener? Dinged after my first callback and not sure what I did wrong. Forum

[Anonymous User]

I only have a few callbacks so I'm concerned that I'm doing something wrong. One rejection and no word on the other two yet, only two callbacks left.

[Anonymous User]

It could be that you did everything perfectly fine, but the other people were simply better. I think we need more info

[thesealocust]

It could be that you did everything perfectly fine, but the other people were simply better.

Always keep this in mind. There are so many qualified candidates that you don't have to do a single thing wrong to fail to get any particular callback or job offer - most employers struggle amongst qualified applicants choosing who to pick, rather than scrutinizing the list for people to ding.

Of course some people do screw up callbacks, so you should keep practicing and researching and doing your best, but don't panic over one ding - it's important to go through the process with modest confidence, not abject terror.

[Anonymous User]

I recently read somewhere that the average callback to offer rate is 25%. I don't know how accurate that is (and it certainly varies by firm); but, hopefully it can give you some idea that an offer is never guaranteed from a callback. This whole process is weird. A short "screener," and then a couple of hours at a firm interviewing, for a position that happens like 10 months later, that could eventually lead to a full-time offer. Nothing about this is normal outside of law. Just do your best to be friendly, likable, and sincerely interested in the interviewer's career and the firm in general. Don't oversell yourself, just let the conversation flow naturally with each interviewer. This is what has worked for me. Also, probably more important than anything else, schedule callbacks early!!!

Edit: Good to know that law isn't alone with this weird hiring system.

[anyriotgirl]

banking does it this way too, but with undergrads lol

[thesealocust]

I recently read somewhere that the average callback to offer rate is 25%.

Massively inaccurate. The average large NYC firm gives offers to ~60% or more of the people they call back (smaller firms and/or smaller markets will be different, but a large plurality of SA positions are at the biggest firms in NYC. Something like 1 in 5 SA positions nationwide are at an NYC V15-ish firm).

[Anonymous User]

How much do we really need to know about what each individual interviewer does? Is it enough to know what their practice areas are and ask how they chose them, favorite thing about them, etc. Because some of the stuff seems super complicated and I don't think I really know a whole lot about what exactly they do.

[jbagelboy]

I recently read somewhere that the average callback to offer rate is 25%.

Massively inaccurate. The average large NYC firm gives offers to ~60% or more of the people they call back (smaller firms and/or smaller markets will be different, but a large plurality of SA positions are at the biggest firms in NYC. Something like 1 in 5 SA positions nationwide are at an NYC V15-ish firm).

a lot of the big places are more like 40-45% tho

[Anonymous User]

How much do we really need to know about what each individual interviewer does? Is it enough to know what their practice areas are and ask how they chose them, favorite thing about them, etc. Because some of the stuff seems super complicated and I don't think I really know a whole lot about what exactly they do.

This also concerns me. The people I've been assigned to for my first couple seem to specialize in things I have no comprehension of!

[Anonymous User]

How much do we really need to know about what each individual interviewer does? Is it enough to know what their practice areas are and ask how they chose them, favorite thing about them, etc. Because some of the stuff seems super complicated and I don't think I really know a whole lot about what exactly they do.

This also concerns me. The people I've been assigned to for my first couple seem to specialize in things I have no comprehension of!

+1, this combined with the fact that I suffer from severe imposter syndrome has me fearing that every word adds to the likelihood of them realizing that I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone with experience shed some light on this ^^^

[Anonymous User]

I'm just a 2L going through this process, so by no means an expert, but I've been on two callbacks and both led to offers. For practice groups I know nothing about, I just asked "I see you do a lot of work in X. I don't have any experience in that area, can you talk a little about what it's like?", paired with a joke about how 1L doesn't expose you to a lot of practice areas/actual legal practice. Then when they tell you what their work is like, you can follow up and ask how young associates have been involved on their recent projects.

This worked well for me because both of the firms had flexible summer programs with no formal rotations. I have a compelling "I know I like litigation" story, but I've been pairing it with a "but who knows maybe there's an area out there that I enjoy even more, I'm excited about your flexible summer program," etc.

[jbagelboy]

They don't expect you to know what they do. You should be asking them about what they do. You should have some semblance of a grasp of the firm's practices/clients and why you want to work there.

ETA: the strategy outlined in the anon post above me is solid.

[Anonymous User]

No one expects you to know anything. If you know anything more than nothing you'll be well received. Just always be sure to make your statements or questions about substantive practice areas with a large sense of humility. The only way you can really mess up is if you say something that's blatantly wrong and act like you know what the hell youre talking about. If it's clear you're doing your best and deferring to your interviewer you'll be fine.

[Anonymous User]

at a callback a partner literally drew me to describe what she does

offer

its okay just ask, its better to be interested

[Anonymous User]

I recently read somewhere that the average callback to offer rate is 25%.

Massively inaccurate. The average large NYC firm gives offers to ~60% or more of the people they call back (smaller firms and/or smaller markets will be different, but a large plurality of SA positions are at the biggest firms in NYC. Something like 1 in 5 SA positions nationwide are at an NYC V15-ish firm).

a lot of the big places are more like 40-45% tho

This is what I've heard. They had a panel of recruiting coordinators at my school, and when they were asked about how many people they bring in compared to their open spots, each of them had a ratio of about 40%. Of course, I recently went on a call back and the recruiter said they were bringing in about 60 people to interview for about 10 spots. My general impression is that the chances for an offer after a callback are better than the chances of getting a callback after a screener.

Anyway, I wouldn't reinvent your interview strategy just cause you got one rejection after a callback. Sounds like you got a few callbacks so you must be doing something right. Might have just been you had some tough competition. A lot of it is luck too. Some people are easier to interview with. For example, if you get awkward partner A for your interview, and the next candidate gets cool partner B for their interview, the next candidate is going to be more relaxed and the interview might flow better.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks,

-Anon above