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I recently got a biglaw offer contingent on "background clearance." Is it just about criminal records stuff? I don't have any one of them, though.

Anonymous User wrote:I recently got a biglaw offer contingent on "background clearance." Is it just about criminal records stuff? I don't have any one of them, though.

You'll have to sign a background check authorization form which will spell out the maximum scope of the search. I just had one done recently and was surprised to see how much they could review. Criminal background, credit history, even the results of prior drug tests (even though I didn't have to take one for the actual position). But at the end of the day that whole list is just what I was authorizing them to search, it doesn't mean they actually reviewed everything listed.

My firm had me do the same thing. Mine required me to list employment history, a long ways back of my addresses to run criminal state and fed checks, and references. The investigation confirmed all my degrees, my employment, credit report with all my accounts, state and fed criminal check, and they also put together a social media report (!) which I had no idea was going to happen (I couldn't see the report so I don't know what it produced). There was no problem though; I didn't get fired. Word to the wise - go ahead and make sure all your social media accounts are private if not already.

doofus1985 wrote:My firm had me do the same thing. Mine required me to list employment history, a long ways back of my addresses to run criminal state and fed checks, and references. The investigation confirmed all my degrees, my employment, credit report with all my accounts, state and fed criminal check, and they also put together a social media report (!) which I had no idea was going to happen (I couldn't see the report so I don't know what it produced). There was no problem though; I didn't get fired. Word to the wise - go ahead and make sure all your social media accounts are private if not already.

Mind asking a vault range of your firm?

Anonymous User wrote:I recently got a biglaw offer contingent on "background clearance." Is it just about criminal records stuff? I don't have any one of them, though.

This is very routine; any firm or company these days (possibly excluding solo practitioners and the tiniest partnerships) will likely require a background check of some sort prior to commencement of employment. As other posters have noted ITT, the checks will verify your educational history and (lack of) criminal record. (The social media check is new to me - I don't think I've had one of those done.) As long as you didn't lie on your resume, and as long as you don't actually have any citations on your record (other than run-of-the-mill traffic violations), I wouldn't worry about it at all. These checks cost money; firms only conduct them for folks they actually want to hire. Firms don't go into the process looking for excuses to ding people.

If their checks turn up any concerns (generally along the "we were unable to verify X" line), you'll be contacted and given an opportunity to supply supporting information (e.g., documentation, contact information, etc.). For example, I once had to roust an old professor to verify that I had, in fact, worked for him as stated on my resume, since my college no longer maintained student employment records from that time.