Legal Lexicon: Legal Industry Lexicon (LIL) - Part 3: Road to Becoming a Summer Associate
Legal Lexicon: Legal Industry Lexicon (LIL)
Part 3: Road to Becoming
a Summer Associate
While law school provides various doctrinal classes on the black letter law, there is generally no class geared toward explaining the OCI and Pre-OCI interviewing process. On the contrary, many students learn about OCI through engaging with their career offices, peers, and mentors. Knowing the OCI process can make it easier to excel during interviews. The path to becoming a Summer Associate can seem arduous, but have no fear! Legal Lexicon is your guide to navigating the field of law. While law school prepares you with legal skills, we'll be preparing you with legal lingo!
In Part 2 of Legal Lexicon: LIL, Road to Becoming a Summer Associate, we discussed the different people you engage with during your interview process. In this final installment, we'll walk you through the various stages of interviewing with Big Law firms and how you will connect with various people at the firm.
Communication with the Hiring Committee
Now that you know who the heavy-hitters are in the Hiring Committee, it's important to know the various ways you will engage with them. Candidates typically engage with the Hiring Committee first in a Screening Interview, followed by a Callback interview, and lastly, when given an Offer. In some circumstances, candidates also discuss with the Hiring Committees of their respective firms when contemplating doing a Touchback at another firm. Here are the basics:
Screening Interview: The best examples of a Screening Interview are the interviews during OCI. A firm can also invite you to a Screening Interview by phone or video chat before OCI. A Screening Interview is generally around 20-30 minutes. You will meet with one or two firm attorneys during the Screening Interview. The Screening Interviewer is often a partner, but you may also interview with an associate or recruiter. Screening Interviews are great opportunities for the firm to put a face to your resume and assess whether you are a good fit. They are designed to screen and narrow down the large pool of candidates interested in Summer Associate positions. Your performance at the Screening Interview (along with your application materials) will determine whether you get "called back" for additional interviews. Preparing for Screening Interviews should focus on YOUR individual strengths and qualifications. What's a good strategy for another candidate may not work so well for you, and vice versa. However, here are three universal tips to keep in mind:
Know your resume: Be ready to discuss all aspects of your resume with knowledge and enthusiasm, as interviewers may focus on what interests them.
Practice: Utilize various interview practice opportunities, including mock interviews offered by your law school's Career Development Office, law firms' mock interview events, and potentially hiring a career coach with industry expertise for extra support.
Engage with your interviewers: Show your authentic personality during interviews to leave a positive and memorable impression on interviewers while maintaining professionalism.
Callback Interviews: When candidates excel in their Screening Interview, they get "called back" for additional interviews, often referred to as a "Callback." The Callback invitation is usually done by call or email. Responding to these invitations as soon as possible is advisable because firms hire on a rolling basis. You should also make sure you have your voicemail set up. Callback interviews often occur at the law firm's offices and include a series of in-person, back-to-back interviews to assess your candidacy. During COVID-19, many firms retained the back-to-back structure of callbacks but conducted them virtually. During a Callback, candidates typically meet 3-6 attorneys, a mix of associates and partners. Some firms share the names of these interviewers before the Callback. These meetings will last about 30 minutes each. Sometimes, firms will choose attorneys in the same practice group the candidate is interested in to determine if they would be a good fit with others from that department. Each interviewer typically fills out an evaluation form afterward to assess and comment on the candidate's core competencies critical to that firm. It is important to remain courteous, professional, and personable while meeting each person at the firm! Because Callbacks are much longer, you will also be asked more in-depth questions. Sometimes, questions may be repetitive, but remember that each interviewer is meeting you for the first time, so your answers are new to them, and it's essential to bring the same level of enthusiasm and energy. Be ready to discuss your resume, work experience, research, and interests, explain your interest in the specific firm, and anticipate more frequent behavioral questions. Remember that you are interviewing the firm just as much as they are interviewing you! Have a list of questions prepared to show your interest and curiosity and determine if the firm is the right one for you. After completing your interviews, don't forget to thank your interviewers for taking the time to meet with you and share their experiences. Make these emails personal and thoughtful, referencing your specific conversations with each interviewer.
Offer: When candidates excel in their callback interview, they receive an Offer from the firm. This means the firm extends an opportunity to you to join them as a Summer Associate. The Offer typically comes in the form of a phone call or email, followed by an official letter. The Offer letter will include the duration of the summer program, your salary, stipulations for accepting the Offer, and terms and conditions of any accompanying scholarship (if applicable). Candidates are typically given a deadline of when they ought to inform the firm that they are either accepting or declining the Offer. After receiving an Offer, the ball is in your court. This is your opportunity to have conversations with additional attorneys at the firm, talk to mentors and peers familiar with the firm, and figure out if the firm is the right fit for you. Take advantage of the firm's various events to let you meet more associates and learn about the summer program. Also, feel free to reach out to firm alums or attorneys whom you didn't get to meet during your interviews. After OCI, you may have many Offers to choose from. It is important to keep track of all deadlines and inform firms of your decision (positive or negative) as soon as possible. Offers remain open for typically 2-3 weeks. If you need an extension to make your decision, be sure to contact the firm and professionally ask if they can accommodate your request. Declining Offers can be daunting, but as long as you're courteous and thankful, you have nothing to worry about. Of course, it's natural for the firm recruiters and attorneys to feel disappointed because they were looking forward to working with you, but they will be professional and understanding. It's a small legal world—maybe you'll end up working at the firm in a few years, or they will end up at your firm—so it's crucial to be professional and not burn bridges. Choosing to accept or decline an Offer is ultimately YOUR decision. Talk to mentors and peers, but ultimately, follow your gut and pick the firm that feels right to you.
Touchback: A Touchback is when a 1L Summer Associate returns to the firm for their 2L summer. Before we get into the nuts and bolts, let's review the process that leads to a Touchback opportunity. Receiving and accepting a Summer Associate Offer as a 1L means you become a Summer Associate and spend the summer between your first and second years of law school (i.e., your 1L summer) at that firm. After your 1L Summer Associate position, you may receive a Return Offer, i.e., an opportunity to return to the firm during your 2L summer without having to re-interview. Some ILs decide to forgo OCI entirely and return to their 1L firms for their entire 2L summer. However, others decide to participate in OCI and learn about other firms. After OCI, you may find yourself in a situation where you would like to accept an Offer from a new firm for your 2L summer for various reasons. At the same time, you are also still very interested in your 1L firm for post-graduate employment. In this situation, you can request a Touchback from your 1L firm, which means you can return to the firm your 2L summer for a few weeks, typically at the end of the summer, instead of spending the entire summer there. You also speak to the new firm and request a shorter summer (e.g., 8 instead of the typical 10 weeks) to have time to do a Touchback with your 1L firm. Students will have the potential to receive a post-graduate employment offer from both firms at the end of their 2L summer. The purpose of a Touchback is to allow the student to be reacquainted with their 1L firm and keep them in mind as they make that important decision. Touchbacks have their pros and cons. A benefit of Touchbacks is that they will allow you to experience two different firms, so you can determine which firm best suits your personality, work ethic, and passions. You will have the opportunity to network with many different lawyers and establish meaningful relationships at both firms. On the other hand, touchbacks shorten the amount of time you will have with either firm. Due to this shortened period, you won't have as much time to bond with your Summer Associate cohort. To compensate for this, be sure to engage with both firms as much as possible. Many firms still invite you to participate in social events throughout the summer and sometimes even the school year leading to the summer, so take advantage of these opportunities when your schedule permits! Communication is key when requesting a Touchback. Touchbacks are not a right but rather an accommodation, so make sure you come across as professional and appreciative if you request one.
Preparing for each stage of OCI is pivotal to excelling and choosing a firm most tailored to your goals. While the interview process may be long, staying positive and energetic throughout is important! Communication is also vital as you inform various firms of your final decision. After advancing through Screening Interviews, prepare, be yourself, and use other discussions with the firm to determine if the firm is a good fit for YOU.