The firm also wants someone who can present themselves well and speak in public especially important for aspiring litigators. Each office establishes its own hiring criteria and procedures, and there is considerable variation among them. In interviewing, it s important to know the office and what types of law it practices, advises one source. Candidates must choose a practice area at a particular office and interview only for that practice. A predictable consequence is that interviewers like to see some interest in the area to which a candidate is applying.
Interviews are half or full days, again depending on the office and department.
Those who make the cut get a call inviting them for a callback within two to three days. A good mix of partners and associates conduct the callback interviews, each of which lasts about a half hour. In general, the interviews are pretty casual. People are confident in their abilities, says an associate, so there is little competition between them. The cultural diversity is perhaps the firm s defining trait, which leads to people being pretty flexible in attitude.