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Will the firm vet the candidate before extending an offer, or wait till during the background check?

What do you mean by "vetting"? You seem to have in mind something separate from the background check?

Are you asking about BigLaw? Midlaw? Small law? As a lateral? As an intern? As a summer associate? Details are important.

I meant enquiring around about the candidate. Big law. Associate position.

LakeBanana wrote:I meant enquiring around about the candidate. Big law. Associate position.

"Enquiring around"??

For lateral candidates, firms decide who they want to interview based on the application materials sent in. They are not going to "enquire around" town about applicants' reputations. If by "enquire around" you mean will they contact your current employer to verify your employment, they won't do so until the background check phase, after they've extended (and you've accepted) a provisional offer contingent on clearing background & conflicts checks. Even then, you can typically request that they postpone verifying your current employment until after you've cleared conflicts and the remainder of your background check.

Thanks. That is good to know. I heard a firm called an office managing partner about a candidate, and just wondered whether it is common because ppl will know one is talking with other firms.

LakeBanana wrote:Thanks. That is good to know. I heard a firm called an office managing partner about a candidate, and just wondered whether it is common because ppl will know one is talking with other firms.

That is absolutely not ok and is unheard of. It might happen if somebody listed that managing partner as a reference after the candidate gives notice, but what you've described almost never happens.

Definitely not listed as a reference. The call happened, though it could happen after the offer, which I am not certain.