The Call Back Interview
Many legal employers conduct two rounds of interviews for potential summer clerks or entry-level attorneys. Government agencies, large firms (more than 50 attorneys), mid-size firms (26-50 attorneys), and even some firms with 20 or fewer lawyers may conduct an initial screening interview on campus, at a job fair, or other venue outside of the employer’s own office. For many law students, that initial interview takes place at the law school during the structured On Campus Interview procedure. The second round of interviewing is often called the “call back.” Before a call back interview, a representative of the firm will contact the student and arrange a date for an interview at the law office. Students are responsible for arranging their transportation to the call back interview; however, many law firms will validate parking fees and, when applicable, will generally reimburse students for the cost of mileage or airline travel. OCI and call back interviews provide students with very different types of information about the firm. On-campus interviews give the law student a brief glimpse into the personality of the representative(s) of the employer and perhaps a glimpse into the firm’s area of practice. Because on-campus interviews are generally twenty minutes in duration, the interviewers are limited in the amount of information they can convey about their place of work and the amount of information they can obtain from the law students. In contrast, call back interviews give the law student an opportunity to learn more in-depth information about the firm. Importantly, call back interviews give the law student a taste of the “corporate culture.” By visiting the office, the law student can personally observe how law firm personnel interact with each other. This is also the student’s chance to demonstrate his or her unique, compelling personal qualities. Unlike on-campus interviews, which are generally conducted by one or two representatives of the firm, several attorneys participate in call back interviews. During a call back interview, it is not unusual for a law student to be rotated through multiple offices or conference rooms, each containing between one and three attorneys. Additionally, most call back interviews include a meeting between the law student and one or two newer associates (perhaps two or three years out of law school). In most cases, the attorney who conducted the on-campus interview will not participate in the call back interview, other than to say a brief “hello” to the law student. Since the on-campus interviewer has already had a favorable interview with the law student, the firm will use the call back opportunity to introduce the student to other members of the practice. Perhaps the biggest difference between OCI and call back interviews is philosophical. On-campus interviews are about credentials. Student resumes are carefully examined before the firm selects the students it wishes to interview. During the on-campus experience, interviewers gauge whether the student possesses the right balance of academic performance, extracurricular involvement, communication skills, and professional demeanor necessary to succeed at the firm. During the call back interview, the focus is on what many lawyers call “chemistry.” The attorneys at the firm want to know if the student will “fit in.” Is the student used to solitary work? If so, how will that student work in a culture that values teamwork and collegial effort? If the student appears to need a lot of guidance on projects, how will that student do in an environment filled with self-directed people? Does the student expect to step into the courtroom within a few months of graduation? If so, how will that student react to a practice with a heavy emphasis on complex pretrial work? Does the student appear to have the judgment to know when to seek clarification on a project and when to figure out a question on her own? Is the student somewhat reserved? If so, how well will he fit into a firm of outdoing personalities? In contrast, does the student appear to be gregarious and “high energy?” How well will this person fit into an office where lawyers work alone on fine details? Does the student share the firm’s commitment to bar leadership, public service, or community involvement? These and other questions will be on the minds of partners and seasoned associates as they talk to a student during the call back interview. As a practical matter, students should not be surprised if their call back interviews last at least half of a business day. When scheduling a call back interview, the student should be prepared to miss a full day of class, plus additional time, if necessary, for travel. Appropriate interview attire is expected, and thank-you notes should be written to every attorney involved in the call back interview. |
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An Equal Opportunity/ADA Institution |
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