5 Questions to Know for your Big Law Screener
Pre-oci vibes
Law School is Hard! No matter what Elle Woods says
As a first generation law student, I was SO lost when going through OCI. This space is to help all my fellow newbies who are going through it for the first time. Think of me as your big law bestie, currently your bar prep bestie haha. De-mystifying the big law recruiting process, let’s go! (and wear sunscreen y’all)
It feels like pre-oci (big law recruiting) gets earlier and earlier every year. Many 1Ls have already done one screener by mid-May and are nervously waiting for callbacks.
Screeners are the 5-10 min short interviews you need to get through to receive a callback offer. Many of my mentees approached me for help on what to expect so I compiled a list of basic questions you should probably prepare answers for. (Keep in mind every firm is different.)
1. Why law school in general
Firms want to know what led you here - here as in this point in life - not in the dorm room where you’re nervously biting your nails waiting for your interviewers to enter the zoom room. This is usually the easiest question to answer since you answered it in your law school application.
2. Why (your specific) law school
Who doesn’t love school pride? Especially in academia and the T14! Firms usually send alumni to conduct interviews so make sure to express your love for your law school - e.g. the Michigan difference or the Chicago quirkiness.
3. Why (your target location e.g. Chicago/NY/Cali)
Firms want to know you have ties to the place you’re going! You wouldn’t want to hire someone only for them to disappear because they just wanted to try the place. Emphasize your personal connections to the city (e.g. you went to school there, you have family there, you grew up there.)
Exception is New York - new yorkers accept that everyone wants to be them (catch the Devil wears prada reference?). You can simply say you love New York and they’ll believe you.
(photo from choosechicago.com)
4. Why (Specific Practice Group)
As a 1l, this is probably the hardest question to answer because you don’t know what practice groups there are and you don’t have the experience to answer this question well. Firms know that so choose a practice group that speaks to you and that you can follow up with a story of personal experience or your favorite 1l class - for example: if you like contracts, M&A - if you liked con law, litigation/appellate law.
5. Why (the law firm you’re applying to)
This is the most important question. Firms want to know why you’re applying to their firm and that makes sense right? If your answer is prestige, or just to have a biglaw salary, most firms will not be impressed. You need to show genuine reasons for wanting to be there, things that make that firm special from others. E.g. Sidley’s Culture/the Obamas, O’Melveny’s entertainment law prowess, etc.