Summer Associate Background Check Forum

[candycane7990]

Can someone explain the pre-employment background check process at the typical BigLaw firm? What does the summer check usually require and investigate? Timing? Does the pre-summer check differ from the post-graduate check?

[Anonymous User]

bump

[Anonymous User]

This may vary by firm. I split both my 1L and 2L summers. I did not have to do a background check for any of the four firms. I only had to do conflicts checks. One firm I applied to for a 1L summer diversity position had me do a full conflicts and background check when I was just a finalist.

[AJordan]

I had a background check at both firms I summered at as a 1L and a 2L. It was farmed out to a third party company. I filled out a ~15 page questionnaire and they checked my degree for accuracy as well as my criminal record in the places where I'd lived for the last decade. I listed references from previous employers but they were never contacted. I feel like it was an "obvious problems" check for future bar admission. Like, if you had a criminal conviction it most likely would have pinged. But they're not digging particularly hard.

You also get the chance to explain yes answers just as you did on your law school application and just as you will on your bar application. There's probably some utility in consistency in those explanations.

[candycane7990]

I had a background check at both firms I summered at as a 1L and a 2L. It was farmed out to a third party company. I filled out a ~15 page questionnaire and they checked my degree for accuracy as well as my criminal record in the places where I'd lived for the last decade. I listed references from previous employers but they were never contacted. I feel like it was an "obvious problems" check for future bar admission. Like, if you had a criminal conviction it most likely would have pinged. But they're not digging particularly hard.

You also get the chance to explain yes answers just as you did on your law school application and just as you will on your bar application. There's probably some utility in consistency in those explanations.

Do you mind me asking how recent this was? And could you provide an approx. Vault range? Everyone seems to have a different experience, and I'm wondering if I should anticipate yours being similar to mine by virtue of firm "tier," as it were. And finally could you describe the extent to which your past employment was verified vis a vis dates and roles?

[candycane7990]

One firm I applied to for a 1L summer diversity position had me do a full conflicts and background check when I was just a finalist.

What was the extent of the background check?

[Anonymous User]

I had a background check at both firms I summered at as a 1L and a 2L. It was farmed out to a third party company. I filled out a ~15 page questionnaire and they checked my degree for accuracy as well as my criminal record in the places where I'd lived for the last decade. I listed references from previous employers but they were never contacted. I feel like it was an "obvious problems" check for future bar admission. Like, if you had a criminal conviction it most likely would have pinged. But they're not digging particularly hard.

You also get the chance to explain yes answers just as you did on your law school application and just as you will on your bar application. There's probably some utility in consistency in those explanations.

Do you mind me asking how recent this was? And could you provide an approx. Vault range? Everyone seems to have a different experience, and I'm wondering if I should anticipate yours being similar to mine by virtue of firm "tier," as it were. And finally could you describe the extent to which your past employment was verified vis a vis dates and roles?

Lmao worried about lies on your resume?

[becodalapa]

For my 2L SA at a V50, I got an email from a background check company asking me to fill out a form with my recent addresses (not sure what the exact timeframe was, maybe 5 years?), three or four most recent employers with dates and contact information, educational institutions with degree and GPA, and maybe some other basic info. They also either asked for my SSN or had received it from the firm.

Once I filled out the form, they went through every local, state, and federal criminal database you can think of, checked for judgments and liens, checked for bankruptcies, checked sex offender registries, confirmed my previous employment, confirmed my education and GPA, etc. I had to provide further documentation for one of my jobs the employer never responded, but it was a relatively painless process (uploading a pay stub). The entire process took about a week.

I went through the same process when I joined the firm full-time after graduation.

[Anonymous User]

For my 2L SA at a V50, I got an email from a background check company asking me to fill out a form with my recent addresses (not sure what the exact timeframe was, maybe 5 years?), three or four most recent employers with dates and contact information, educational institutions with degree and GPA, and maybe some other basic info. They also either asked for my SSN or had received it from the firm.

Once I filled out the form, they went through every local, state, and federal criminal database you can think of, checked for judgments and liens, checked for bankruptcies, checked sex offender registries, confirmed my previous employment, confirmed my education and GPA, etc. I had to provide further documentation for one of my jobs the employer never responded, but it was a relatively painless process (uploading a pay stub). The entire process took about a week.

I went through the same process when I joined the firm full-time after graduation.

Thank you! This is pretty much what I is was looking for.

[Anonymous User]

One firm I applied to for a 1L summer diversity position had me do a full conflicts and background check when I was just a finalist.

What was the extent of the background check?

FYI, this was a V50 firm and it was in 2019. The check was similar to the one I am now doing as an incoming associate (at a different firm) but seemed more intensive. Employment history, address history, educational background, criminal history, and credit check. The financial/credit check went back indefinitely, which was tricky for me because I had an old default judgment and there are no longer any records available. At any rate, I passed C&F with the same issue of lack of records.

[Anonymous User]

I received a notification from my undergrad asking if it was ok for them to verify my participation in a program to the background check company. This was one line on my resume and I was surprised they had actually inquired about it. Was for a V5.

[Anonymous User]

I did not have to complete a background check for my SA, even though it is a major DC player that does a lot of government work. Doing a background check for an SA position seems odd; I thought only DOJ/government positions required that.

[candycane7990]

I did not have to complete a background check for my SA, even though it is a major DC player that does a lot of government work. Doing a background check for an SA position seems odd; I thought only DOJ/government positions required that.

Major DC player as in V100? Did you offer letter not stipulate that offer was contingent on background check? How recent was this?

[Anonymous User]

I received a notification from my undergrad asking if it was ok for them to verify my participation in a program to the background check company. This was one line on my resume and I was surprised they had actually inquired about it. Was for a V5.

If they called your school to verify rather than a student org it must have been some sort of academic honor or elective society, which seems reasonable absent a transcript, no? And do you recall which BG check company your firm used?

[Anonymous User]

I did not have to complete a background check for my SA, even though it is a major DC player that does a lot of government work. Doing a background check for an SA position seems odd; I thought only DOJ/government positions required that.

Major DC player as in V100? Did you offer letter not stipulate that offer was contingent on background check? How recent was this?

As in W&C/Cov/GDC/WH for this year’s program. I thought we were discussing background checks for summer programs, not full time employment.

[Anonymous User]

I did not have to complete a background check for my SA, even though it is a major DC player that does a lot of government work. Doing a background check for an SA position seems odd; I thought only DOJ/government positions required that.

Major DC player as in V100? Did you offer letter not stipulate that offer was contingent on background check? How recent was this?

As in W&C/Cov/GDC/WH for this year’s program. I thought we were discussing background checks for summer programs, not full time employment.

Did you not receive an offer letter for summer employment?

[Anonymous User]

Did you not receive an offer letter for summer employment?

I did, and it mentioned a background check, but it also mentioned several other things that the firm never followed up on or verified. I assumed no background check because I was never notified or had to release anything, unlike background checks at prior jobs. Maybe it is just a different system or something.

[Anonymous User]

Did you not receive an offer letter for summer employment?

I did, and it mentioned a background check, but it also mentioned several other things that the firm never followed up on or verified. I assumed no background check because I was never notified or had to release anything, unlike background checks at prior jobs. Maybe it is just a different system or something.

Ah I see. Thanks for clarifying. It’s interesting: it seems every firm is different.

[Anonymous User]

I received a notification from my undergrad asking if it was ok for them to verify my participation in a program to the background check company. This was one line on my resume and I was surprised they had actually inquired about it. Was for a V5.

If they called your school to verify rather than a student org it must have been some sort of academic honor or elective society, which seems reasonable absent a transcript, no? And do you recall which BG check company your firm used?

Not an academic honor but somewhat like an elective society, I suppose. I was just surprised that they went to such lengths (thought all they would do would be to confirm grades/degree). Company was Scherzer International.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to their experience with HireRight as a background check company? I'd love to know more about what they try to verify.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to their experience with HireRight as a background check company? I'd love to know more about what they try to verify.

[Anonymous User]

What's with all the super paranoid posts trying to see what firms verify? Nothing to worry about unless you lied.....

[becodalapa]

Can anyone speak to their experience with HireRight as a background check company? I'd love to know more about what they try to verify.

Just assume they'll try to verify everything. If you didn't lie about anything you'll be fine.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to their experience with HireRight as a background check company? I'd love to know more about what they try to verify.

Just assume they'll try to verify everything. If you didn't lie about anything you'll be fine.

At this point, it's abundantly clear that OP did lie and trying to determine whether s/he needs to take next steps to mitigate

Btw OP, unless you lied about something super big (e.g. education, job history, etc), you don't need to worry... Like no one is going to look up whether or not you were president of some BS club.

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone speak to their experience with HireRight as a background check company? I'd love to know more about what they try to verify.

Just assume they'll try to verify everything. If you didn't lie about anything you'll be fine.

At this point, it's abundantly clear that OP did lie and trying to determine whether s/he needs to take next steps to mitigate

Btw OP, unless you lied about something super big (e.g. education, job history, etc), you don't need to worry... Like no one is going to look up whether or not you were president of some BS club.

OP here. Didn’t lie and haven’t committed any crimes, I’ve just always had unreasonable anxiety about background checks :/