Once you have an offer in hand, you are in control. Every interview is an opportunity to meet new people, learn about different firms, practice your interview skills, and learn about your potential. Moreover, you owe it to yourself to understand why a firm likes you enough to bring you in. What is unique about you that the law firm is interviewing you?
1. Your Immediate Objective is to Get as Many Jobs as Possible. When you've granted an interview, seize it as your prime opportunity to secure a position. Focus on getting the job first; all questions and negotiations can follow once you've achieved this milestone. It's crucial to approach each interview with the mindset. Getting a position gives you more confidence, options if other opportunities do not work out, and much more. You want to do everything you can to get every job possible. There is nothing wrong with getting a job so that you can negotiate later.
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2. Every Interview is a Networking Opportunity that Could Pay Dividends in the Future: Interviews are more than just a chance to land a job; they're networking opportunities. These interactions can forge relationships throughout your career, offering guidance, support, referrals, and opportunities that are otherwise hard to come by. Embrace each interview as a networking event. You may run across these attorneys several times throughout your career, and this will do nothing but help you.
3. You Owe it to Yourself to Learn About Different Law Firm Cultures: Every interview is a window into another firm's culture. It offers a firsthand look at different environments and practices, allowing you to compare them with your current situation. This insight is invaluable in understanding where you fit best and what each firm has to offer regarding culture, work-life balance, and professional growth. If you find a culture that works better for you than another, you will be happier and do better in that environment than if you do not.
4. You May Get Better Training and Development at One Firm than Another: The quality of training varies significantly across firms, and since you're likely to practice law for many decades, early experiences are foundational. Interviews are your chance to learn about a firm's training opportunities, which is crucial for your development as a skilled attorney. Some law firms will train you and make you the best attorney possible, while others may not. This training is invaluable and something you should understand.
5. Every Firm Offers You Different Insights into What it Would be Like to Work in a Given Firm: By interviewing, you expose yourself to various clients, practice areas, and, possibly, a focus that suits your interests and skills better. You will not fully comprehend this diversity by exploring different firms through interviews. You can only learn about this by interviewing.
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6. Job Security and Offer Leverage: Receiving an offer enhances your job security and provides leverage in your current position or negotiations with other firms. When exploring your options, it's a safety net in volatile times and a bargaining chip. You owe it to yourself to have this sort of leverage, which is helpful when needed.
7. Compensation Can Usually be Negotiated: Compensation should never be a deterrent from attending an interview. Not only is it negotiable, but it can also be significantly influenced by how well the firm perceives you during the interview process. Understanding and negotiating your worth is a skill; each interview is a practice ground for it. Never pass up an interview because of compensation-related issues.
8. You Want to Understand Your Appeal to a Given Firm: If a firm invites you for an interview, something in your background interests them. Use this to understand and highlight these appealing aspects in future applications and interviews.
9. Different Firms Have Different Types of Advancement Potential to be Aware of: The path to partnership, the scope for business development, and the level of responsibility offered can vary widely between firms. Interviews give you a glimpse of these potentials, which can significantly influence your career trajectory.
10. You Need to Understand the Type of Cultural Fit Each Firm Has: Feeling comfortable and aligned with a firm's culture can significantly affect job satisfaction and performance. An interview is a critical step in discovering where you'll thrive.
11. You Should Never Base Your Decision to Interview with a Firm Based on Rumors You May Have Heard: It's common to hear negatives about any firm, but an interview allows you to form your opinion. You may be working with one or a few partners, and that will shape your experience. Each practice area within a firm also has a different experience. Sometimes, there are toxic practice areas within a firm you may not even have contact with. It is essential to draw your conclusions.
12. Understand Specific Dynamics: Your professional happiness will often hinge on these specifics, whether it's the dynamics with a particular partner or within a practice group. Interviews are a chance to gauge these dynamics firsthand.
13. Do Not Base Your Interviewing Decisions Based on the Firm's Location: In today's evolving legal landscape, the necessity to be in-office may vary. Interviews can clarify the possibilities for remote work, offering you flexibility that aligns with your lifestyle. Ask these questions after you get the offer.
14. Understand Your Role and Responsibilities in the Firm: The work's level of responsibility and nature can differ significantly. Whether transactional work or litigation, interviews clarify what your day-to-day would entail, helping you align your career with your ambitions. Litigators can do trials in one firm, where they might be relegated to only motion practice in another firm. Transactional attorneys can do entire transactions in one firm and only subsets of a transaction in another firm. You need to understand what each firm offers and can learn this in an interview.
15. Every Law Firm May Provide Security and Benefits Beyond Salary: Firms vary in their stability and the benefits they offer. From job security to 401(k) matches interviews are your chance to learn about these aspects, which are as crucial as the salary in the long run.
Approaching interviews with these considerations in mind enhances your chances of finding a fitting role and deepens your understanding of the legal landscape, aiding in your long-term career development. Remember, every interview is a step forward, regardless of the outcome.
