Callbacks generally Forum

[Anonymous User]

If I was sent straight to callback in pre-OCI, are my chances basically the same as anyone else at the callback stage - basically are you assessed just on your interview and whether you fit with the firm culture? Or are things like undergrad prestige/law school prestige/grades going to still factor in heavily.

I am high in my class at a T20 but I have some worries im going to have to extra impress to compete with T6/T14 candidates who are also vying for these pre-OCI spots.

[JiveTurkey]

Depends on too many factors to give you a solid answer. I understand the worry, but it's honestly not worth thinking too hard about chances - just focus all your energy on crushing the interview.

[NYto202.5]

If anyone knows more about this please correct me, but I believe that typically biglaw callbacks are decided by one person, but whether you get an offer is decided by a committee. The committee will evaluate all factors - school, grades, interview notes, et cetera. If you met with someone on the committee and they liked you that will have special weight. At least, that's how it was at my V5 secondary office a couple of years ago.

[nixy]

No one's going to send you to callbacks without thinking you're qualified to be hired. But other people's qualifications still matter. Interview/fit are probably the most important at this point, but you may still lose out to someone else who interviews as well as you do based on their grades, school, fancy undergrad, connection to the firm through their Uncle Bob, wearing the right shoes, bonding over the same hobby, whatever. There just isn't anything you can really do about that. You should be putting your best self forward in an interview regardless - trying to impress *more* because of other people's qualifications isn't really a thing.

[Anonymous User]

No one's going to send you to callbacks without thinking you're qualified to be hired. But other people's qualifications still matter. Interview/fit are probably the most important at this point, but you may still lose out to someone else who interviews as well as you do based on their grades, school, fancy undergrad, connection to the firm through their Uncle Bob, wearing the right shoes, bonding over the same hobby, whatever. There just isn't anything you can really do about that. You should be putting your best self forward in an interview regardless - trying to impress *more* because of other people's qualifications isn't really a thing.

yeah that is a very fair point - I guess I am more worried about whether these callbacks are things I actually have a shot at or whether I'm basically just rolling up to get run out regardless of my interview. Almost certainly just psyching myself out

[nixy]

Oh, you absolutely have a shot. No one bothers to schedule interviews with someone they already know they wouldn’t hire - people are way too busy for that. So don’t psych yourself out!