Callback Interview Advice Forum

[SBUalex]

To those of you who have been through the process before, what advice can you give?

[psu2016]

1. a couple days before your callback, ask for a list of who you'll be interviewing with and research those people so you know what practice areas they are in. look them up on their bio page/in lexus to see what they've been working on. brainstorm things to talk about with these specific people.

2. prepare your questions for "do you have any questions for me" ahead of time. i had about three or four in reserve, though i didn't get to all of them.

3. make sure you treat the paralegals/receptionists/support staff as respectfully as you do the the attorneys. i observed someone make this mistake during a firm tour (given by a paralegal) and it was extremely uncomfortable.

4. bring copies of your resume with you in case someone doesn't have one in front of them (it happened).

5. prepare for a very, very long day. i was exhausted by the end of it because it was a ton of being "on" for a long stretch of time.

[Joscellin]

While you still need to continue to be 'on' to get that offer, you also need to start thinking more about and asking questions with respect to why you should choose this firm over another. At this stage, you're as much a buyer of the firm as you are a seller of yourself.

Especially if you have numerous callbacks, they can blend together to some extent, and this is probably your best chance to figure out which firm fits you best.

[Anonymous User]

For someone with only one callback so far, how should we respond to someone asking "where else are you interviewing" if asked?

[purpl333]

For someone with only one callback so far, how should we respond to someone asking "where else are you interviewing" if asked?

If you are asked, and not everyone asks, keep it vague. I would probably say something like, "I'm focusing only on firms in the [geographical area]." If pressed, then say something about the firms you are still waiting to hear from whether due to OCI or mass mailing. There's not need to point out that you only have one CB unless absolutely necessary.

[Anonymous User]

What about if you're asked where else you're interviewing, is it better to name peer firms? Or if it's a V40 vs V5, do you tell the V40 you're doing a V5 interview?

[Atmosphere]

What about if you're asked where else you're interviewing, is it better to name peer firms? Or if it's a V40 vs V5, do you tell the V40 you're doing a V5 interview?

I always worry about getting my bluff called on the off chance your interviewer knows someone at the other firm you say you're interviewing at. Is that even something to worry about?

[Anonymous User]

What about if you're asked where else you're interviewing, is it better to name peer firms? Or if it's a V40 vs V5, do you tell the V40 you're doing a V5 interview?

I always worry about getting my bluff called on the off chance your interviewer knows someone at the other firm you say you're interviewing at. Is that even something to worry about?

Anon from above. I'm wonder if you actually have those two interviews.

I wouldn't be surprised if firms talk.

[WheninLaw]

What about if you're asked where else you're interviewing, is it better to name peer firms? Or if it's a V40 vs V5, do you tell the V40 you're doing a V5 interview?

I always worry about getting my bluff called on the off chance your interviewer knows someone at the other firm you say you're interviewing at. Is that even something to worry about?

Do not lie. About anything. Use some common sense.

[stoopkid13]

For someone with only one callback so far, how should we respond to someone asking "where else are you interviewing" if asked?

Say you are interested in some other firms in the area or that do similar work, but this firm is your top choice/your most interesting option at the moment.

Also, as others have mentioned, don't lie.

[Anonymous User]

.

[Anonymous User]

I have a question also: Is it okay to recycle questions and ask two or three attorneys the same question? (of course not in a group interview)

[Anonymous User]

Advice on scheduling please:

Does the time of day matter? Thoughts on evening callbacks with cocktail reception?

[2014]

For someone with only one callback so far, how should we respond to someone asking "where else are you interviewing" if asked?

"I'm only interviewing with big firms in [big city] and since I think I'm most likely going to end up in corporate, I'm focused on firms that have a breadth of strong corporate groups and intend to take advantage of the opportunity to try as many as possible as a summer"

I doubt you'll get pressed for more, but as others said do whatever you can not to lie.

I have a question also: Is it okay to recycle questions and ask two or three attorneys the same question? (of course not in a group interview)

Yes but make sure they are questions where the individual response is useful - e.g. repeating "what led you to choose this firm" can elicit different and interesting responses from everyone, while "tell me about [firm's] litigation practice" will be 90% less interesting when heard from a second mouth. By and large assume that all interviewers compare notes with each other to be safe - if you were in their shoes and would be put off by the fact that someone asked the same question to both you and your colleague, don't ask it twice.

Advice on scheduling please:

Does the time of day matter? Thoughts on evening callbacks with cocktail reception?

I've come full circle on this since starting - I was all in on doing lunches, receptions, dinners, etc. but having seen the other side I'm now more convinced that opting into more interviews brings perhaps unnecessary risk of losing an offer you may have received had you done the afternoon slot with only 4 interviewers. No one gets an offer over lunch but they definitely lose them.

This being said, if you are in a position where you are sitting on an offer from somewhere you'd be happy to accept, getting in front of more people is the best way to get information about firms and that's what ultimately matters once you transition from "need job" to "need to find best fit". Second looks can be exhausting and challenging to fit into your schedule, so if you can avoid needing to do one by showing up to a reception or adding a lunch with juniors to your callback, all the better.