Lateral interview - technical questions? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hey guys, I just went to a lateral interview and they actually surprised me by giving me an exam similar to a mock law school exam and told me to follow the instructions and that I had 1 hour.

Is that normal? Do most lateral interviews test you like that?

[Anonymous User]

Seriously? Never heard of that. I made a lateral move and interviewed with a few different firms. And while the interview structure and style was different at each, nothing like an exam. At times, I would get slightly more substantive questions and discussion regarding the specialty area I was looking to join. But it was usually me opening that door as a way of showing that I am engaged in the area, even though I wasn't previously working in that area.

But since I was a junior lateral, 95% of the time it was no different than OCI callback interviews.

[Anonymous User]

Hey guys, I just went to a lateral interview and they actually surprised me by giving me an exam similar to a mock law school exam and told me to follow the instructions and that I had 1 hour.

Is that normal? Do most lateral interviews test you like that?

I haven't heard of this. I have heard Schiff Hardin does something like this though in hiring, making people take a writing exam thing as part of interview process.

Edit: To clarify, I thought that they usually did this was OCI/entry level, not with lateral.

[Anonymous User]

I've done a hand full of lateral interviews, NYC corporate, on both coasts and I have never heard of this. I was always amazed at how easy lateral interviews were (basically just fit).

[Anonymous User]

Wanted to clarify that this was a technical test related to the practice group I would be joining. I am also a junior associate lateraling.

[Pineapple12]

The only time I've ever seen (and heard of) technical questions is people interviewing for positions in tax. Mcdermott made a friend of mine take an exam as part of his second interview.