Normal for firm to ask which firms I'm interviewing with? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Midlevel corporate associate in the midst of lateraling. Received an offer. I thanked the firm for the opportunity and asked if we could extend the deadline to accept the offer so that I can have some time to consider all of my offers. The firm agreed, but now they're asking which other firms I'm considering. Is this a normal request? The last time I lateraled I was considering multiple offers and got an extension on my offer letter, but I wasn't asked this question, so wondering what others have experienced. Also, should I tell the firm the names of the other firms who've offered me?

[Anonymous User]

Midlevel corporate associate in the midst of lateraling. Received an offer. I thanked the firm for the opportunity and asked if we could extend the deadline to accept the offer so that I can have some time to consider all of my offers. The firm agreed, but now they're asking which other firms I'm considering. Is this a normal request? The last time I lateraled I was considering multiple offers and got an extension on my offer letter, but I wasn't asked this question, so wondering what others have experienced. Also, should I tell the firm the names of the other firms who've offered me?

I recently lateralled and was asked this as well. I told them and they pitched me on why I should chose their firm over the other one I was considering. I still choose the other firm because I was leaning that way anyway, but they made several really persuasive points that did make me reconsider. So all things considered it was a good move by them, and I would definitely strongly consider that other firm if I were to lateral again (if they'd have me again).

[Anonymous User]

I was asked this at a V10. My response was "Yes, I am interviewing at similar firms, but your firm is my top pick." STUPID ANSWER because it gave them leverage and they gave me a significantly lower signing bonus than I would have received. I negotiated it upwards, but I think I could have received more.

A different V10 asked me and my response was "Yes, this [other V5] made me an offer yesterday" and I felt like my interviewer suddenly became much more interested in me and they made me a higher signing bonus offer than they would have.

--Edit--
To answer your question, consider responding with "I'm interviewing at firm similar to [insert the name of firm that asked you the question]" if you want to be vague about it.

[Anonymous User]

Senior associate here. I always ask this question when interviewing either law student or lateral candidates and the response is something that I always include in my post-interview eval of the candidate. My firm at least encourages this and it is information that recruiting wants to know. Knowing that a candidate has other outstanding offers from peer firms both makes the candidate look more desirable and can put pressure on our timeline. I have had emails from our recruiting folks asking me to fill out an eval ASAP or at least send an initial thumbs up or thumbs down via email because candidate X has an offer from Y and Z and we want to decide whether to make an offer ASAP.