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So, I've been mass-mailing all summer in accordance with standard TLS dogma, and I was fortunate enough to get an offer a couple days ago from a good firm that does work that interests me in the market that I want to work at, and I really liked everyone I met there. Before anyone lays into me, I understand that having a good offer at this stage puts me in a really great position and that all the fretting I'm doing is typical law-student hand-wringing. That said, I've got some questions.

First, would it be nuts to just accept the first offer I get? On the one hand, I'd save myself the stress of another month of interviews and scheduling and traveling, and I honestly don't expect that I'll find a place where I like the culture/people as much as I liked this one. On the other hand, I did only get a glimpse of what it's like there through just a couple people that were trying to sell it to me, and I've always got that fear of missing out on some as-yet-unknown firm that might be even better. Plus, while it's a really good firm and a powerhouse in other markets, it's not a major player in the market that I would be going to. The prestige-whore side of me is concerned with that, although I don't have any grandiose long-term plans and don't think it is realistically an issue.

Second, what questions should I ask when deciding whether to accept an offer? I've been careful to avoid asking "lifestyle" questions throughout the interviewing process so as not to look lazy. Is now a good time to bring those up, or should I still hold off so as not to make a bad first impression on people? What other information should I be looking for? I'm frankly not sure I know all the factors that I should be considering.

Take a step back and try to view your life from the outside as if you’re in the future and have a clear mind.

Is it a job where you actually could see yourself there long-term (or at least a few years) happily?

Is the firm financially stable?

How long have other associates been at the firm? Is it a high-churn place, or do people have long tenures?

Are there other firms you’d rather work for that may be on the table?

Would you regret not waiting to accept (something like 28 days is guaranteed)?

When you picture your ideal job, how close is this to it?

Will this job advance your long-term goals?

Will you be proud to work at the firm?

I believe you have a while to accept, so you may as well wait to accept until OCI unless the role is your unequivocal first choice.

Stop thinking about what others think you should ask or do. All that matters is what you want. What will make you happy?

Cancel interviews with any firms that you would not consider going to instead of the current offer. Do those interviews and go as far as you can in the process with them. You really want to see other options before choosing a firm--especially if your current offer isn't the top dog in town. If any firms that do a callback with you also happen to be in the same market as your current offer, try to arrange a second look with the firm that has already offered you. With big law firms, you can also just ask them for a second look anyway, and they'll pay for the flight and lodging. You can ask a lot more with an offer in hand. You can ask to speak to female attorneys, diverse attorneys, ask lifestyle questions, ask about different practice areas, ask about parental leave. Obviously, read the room about the atmosphere, but generally it's your time to question them about why you should work for them.