Hiring committee approval Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all,

I have been told that the partners in the satellite office of a BigLaw firm are ready to extend an offer to me; however, they need "formal approval" from some other body (presumably the hiring committee).

In your experience, is it common for the hiring committee to reject an applicant in a situation like this?

Please note, this interview process followed a speculative application.

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Hi all,

I have been told that the partners in the satellite office of a BigLaw firm are ready to extend an offer to me; however, they need "formal approval" from some other body (presumably the hiring committee).

In your experience, is it common for the hiring committee to reject an applicant in a situation like this?

Please note, this interview process followed a speculative application.

Thanks!

What's a speculative application? Do you mean you aren't qualified? That there was no formal job posting?

[Anonymous User]

Hi all,

I have been told that the partners in the satellite office of a BigLaw firm are ready to extend an offer to me; however, they need "formal approval" from some other body (presumably the hiring committee).

In your experience, is it common for the hiring committee to reject an applicant in a situation like this?

Please note, this interview process followed a speculative application.

Thanks!

What's a speculative application? Do you mean you aren't qualified? That there was no formal job posting?

OP here.

Yes, there was no formal job posting.

I am qualified.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Yes, there was no formal job posting.

I am qualified.

I don't have specific experience with this and it probably varies by firm, but I imagine there is some central committee that reviews hiring decisions based on need/budget. What group would you be joining? Are they a big moneymaker despite being in a satellite office? Are they short staffed? Or are you just an opportunistic hire for them? Is the firm hiring heavily in other groups bot not yours? Is the firm hiring in your group in a different office? Is there a particular reason the firm would prefer a candidate elsewhere? All those would play into the decision for "final approval."

IMHO I couldn't imagine partners in a group going up to bat for a hire without having a good business case for it, but you never know how stingy the firm will be.

[nixy]

I’ve never heard the term “speculative” application before.

In any case, it doesn’t seem likely that your offer would get rejected, but I don’t know that anyone can say for certain. I would think the satellite branch wouldn’t have gone through the process of interviewing you *and* saying that they want to extend an offer if they had no basis to believe the position was available to offer and it would be weird to me for a big firm to play fast and loose with this. But you’ll just have to wait and see.

[Anonymous User]

Sounds like just a formality thing, your offer should get approved soon.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Yes, there was no formal job posting.

I am qualified.

I don't have specific experience with this and it probably varies by firm, but I imagine there is some central committee that reviews hiring decisions based on need/budget. What group would you be joining? Are they a big moneymaker despite being in a satellite office? Are they short staffed? Or are you just an opportunistic hire for them? Is the firm hiring heavily in other groups bot not yours? Is the firm hiring in your group in a different office? Is there a particular reason the firm would prefer a candidate elsewhere? All those would play into the decision for "final approval."

IMHO I couldn't imagine partners in a group going up to bat for a hire without having a good business case for it, but you never know how stingy the firm will be.

This area of law is growing, but it's not 'big' yet. This team is new at the firm and they are in growth mode globally. Their current plan is to 'make noise', so they need to have a fully-fledged team ready for their clients. I don't think there is a reason the firm would prefer a candidate elsewhere.

I know there are a couple of people going on maternity leave, so that may help the business case. I am also quite junior.

I have quite a unique CV, so I am probably a slightly opportunistic hire.

[Anonymous User]

I’ve never heard the term “speculative” application before.

In any case, it doesn’t seem likely that your offer would get rejected, but I don’t know that anyone can say for certain. I would think the satellite branch wouldn’t have gone through the process of interviewing you *and* saying that they want to extend an offer if they had no basis to believe the position was available to offer and it would be weird to me for a big firm to play fast and loose with this. But you’ll just have to wait and see.

It may well be a term specific to this jurisdiction. Here, it's a common term.

I certainly hope you are right. Do you have any insight into how long these approvals usually take?

[Anonymous User]

This happened to me and I ultimately did not receive an offer. This was a v50 in a big market. There was a formal job posting and I was told the head of the group/office wanted to grow the group, but ultimately the hiring committee didn't approve hiring in the group/office at that point in time. Fingers crossed for you, OP!

[Anonymous User]

I am scheduled to join a foreign office of an US firm soon. Once I got the "soft" verbal offer from the partners in the local office, they said they would need to get a formal confirmation from the hiring committee, which took about a couple days (they said it was just a formality as the hiring committee generally defer the decision to local partners).

[Anonymous User]

This happened to me and I ultimately did not receive an offer. This was a v50 in a big market. There was a formal job posting and I was told the head of the group/office wanted to grow the group, but ultimately the hiring committee didn't approve hiring in the group/office at that point in time. Fingers crossed for you, OP!

Wow, this is frightening! I sincerely hope this does not happen. I think the business case is relatively strong, but I suppose anything can happen.

[Anonymous User]

I am scheduled to join a foreign office of an US firm soon. Once I got the "soft" verbal offer from the partners in the local office, they said they would need to get a formal confirmation from the hiring committee, which took about a couple days (they said it was just a formality as the hiring committee generally defer the decision to local partners).

This is lovely to hear (compared to the other comment I just replied to). I can only hope my process is as smooth as yours!

[Anonymous User]

Hope it all works out!

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

If satellite office partners went ahead and hired you without having real authority to do so, then that’s their mistake. I would not sweat this because it’s out of your hands and not in any way reflective on you

[Anonymous User]

If satellite office partners went ahead and hired you without having real authority to do so, then that’s their mistake. I would not sweat this because it’s out of your hands and not in any way reflective on you

In one sense, I agree with you -- the process is no longer about 'me'; however, I do want this job, so I am quite stressed about it!

[Anonymous User]

It may well be a term specific to this jurisdiction. Here, it's a common term.

I certainly hope you are right. Do you have any insight into how long these approvals usually take?

One time, I was waiting for an offer from a satellite office of a regional biglaw firm. The reason provided was that they were looking for funds from various practice groups in order to hire me. That took 2 months. While I was waiting, I interviewed with a national biglaw firm, received an offer, cleared conflicts and turned down the regional biglaw's offer that came too late. I did not like how they lagged with management/administrative tasks--imagine what other future things I have to wait on if I were to join that firm.

[Anonymous User]

I'm at a boutique, so ymmv, but we have a hiring committee, and they do reject applications ~30% of the time. It's usually a case where the partners like the candidate and the candidate has good experience (e.g. V10/Fed Clerk), but the candidate made the unfortunate mistake of going to New York Law School, Chicago Kent, Santa Clara, etc. equivalent.

[Anonymous User]

I really appreciate all the information!