On-campus interviews (OCIs) are a defining moment for your legal career. OCI season is a time to connect directly with employers, explore practice areas, and compete for highly sought-after summer associate positions.
Whether you’re new to OCI season or preparing for your next round, it's always good to brush up on your interviewing skills and refine your resume. Just remember that OCI success isn't only about your GPA; nor is an OCI a typical job interview. As a 1L, you might spend your interview discussing your motivation for coming to law school. As a 2L, you might be sharing anecdotes to show how you’re a creative problem solver.
No matter where you are in the OCI process, preparation, professionalism, and strategy can make a significant difference. To help you maximize your OCI season, we’ve partnered with Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the world’s leading legal search firm, to walk through what to expect.
What follows are 12 tips also intended to help you thrive during OCI season (and one extra tip once you’ve landed a position).
1. Start Preparing Earlier Than You Think
OCI success begins long before your first interview.
As soon as interview schedules are released, start researching firms, updating your resume, and practicing your responses. Now is a good time to get some fresh eyes to help you review your resume. Your career planning office can be a key resource if they offer free resume review services.
Waiting until the week before your first OCI to prepare is a recipe for unnecessary stress. You'll perform at your best when you arrive feeling prepared rather than rushed.
2. Research Every Employer Thoroughly
Not only does an OCI interviewer want to see that you’re competent and excelling in law school, but they also want to see that you have a genuine interest in their firm.
Before each interview, learn:
- How to pronounce the firm’s name (yes, it’s worth devoting time to this)
- The firm's major practice areas
- Key industries and clients they serve
- Recent news, cases, or transactions
- Office locations and culture
- Notable alumni from your law school
An interviewer can easily tell if you have done your homework. Specific knowledge shows initiative and enthusiasm.
3. Master Your Personal Introduction
Many OCI interviews start with some variation of:
"Tell me about yourself."
This question may seem simple, but it's often the foundation for the entire interview. It's highly impossible that your OCI won't involve many questions about your resume or the law. Instead, you may be asked about your hobbies, passions, and activities outside of law school. So be prepared to simply chat.
Develop a concise two-minute response that highlights:
- Your background
- Relevant experiences
- Academic and personal interests
- Career goals
Practice enough so that what you say feels natural, not rehearsed.
4. Know Your "Why"
At some point, the interview questions will likely turn to something such as:
- Why law?
- Why this firm?
- Why this practice area?
- Why should we hire you?
It's important to have thoughtful answers ready. Rather than providing generic responses, connect your interests, experiences, and career goals to the employer. Authenticity is often more memorable than trying to deliver the "perfect" answer.
5. Conduct Mock Interviews to Build Confidence
Interviewing is a skill, and skills improve with practice. That's why mock interviews can be a critical part of your OCI success. Whether your law school has mock interview programs or mock interviewing through its career services office, make sure you take advantage.
Mock interviews will put you through the ins and outs of what to expect and can reveal invaluable feedback on areas you aced and where you can improve. If your law school doesn’t offer this resource along with faculty feedback, don’t worry. You can still conduct mock interview scenarios with firm alumni, peers, friends, or family members.
The goal here isn't memorization. It's to become comfortable discussing your experiences confidently.
6. Be Ready to Talk About Everything on Your Resume
Anything listed on your resume is fair game. If you mention a leadership position, journal participation, volunteer work, or even a unique hobby, expect questions about it.
Review your resume carefully beforehand and prepare stories that demonstrate your skills, achievements, and lessons learned.
7. Ask Thoughtful Questions
Strong candidates don't just answer questions well; they ask thoughtful questions, too. Ones that lead to callbacks.
Consider asking about:
- Training opportunities for summer associates
- Firm culture and mentorship
- Types of work handled by junior associates
- How the firm’s attorneys collaborate
- Pro bono work
- What the interviewer enjoys most about the firm
Avoid questions that could easily be answered by a quick website search. You want to show that you’ve done your homework, you're professional, and are serious about the firm or organization. Good questions will also help you gain insight into how you might fit within the firm.
Pro Tip: If you know who will be interviewing you, be sure to explore their background. You can ask about their recently published works or cases and perhaps find some common interests.
8. Treat Every Interaction Like Part of the Interview
Think beyond just the formal interview. The process really starts with your cover letter. Take the time to tailor each letter in a specific way. Maybe you met someone at the firm during a law school event, or maybe you really like a certain aspect of their government agency. Now is the time to use that information to make your cover letter unique and attention-grabbing.
Employers also pay attention when you interact with recruiting staff, student ambassadors, and others. Your professionalism should remain consistent from the moment you arrive until you leave.
9. Send Personalized Thank-You Notes
A thoughtful follow-up can reinforce a positive impression. When you finish your interview, wait until the end of the day or until the next morning (but within 24 hours) and then send/email a thank you. It doesn't have to be lengthy, but it should be personalized to each interviewer and include:
- An expression of appreciation for the interviewer's time
- A brief recap of a specific topic discussed
- Reiteration of your interest in the position
A personalized follow-up with everyone you talked to shows attention to detail and genuine interest.
10. Focus on Fit
It's easy to become obsessed with landing the most prestigious firm name.
But OCIs are also about finding an employer that aligns with your goals, interests, and working style. The best outcome isn't simply getting an offer. It's getting an offer from the right place.
Doing a self-assessment can help you hone in on what's important, like what type of work most excites you, do you prefer a large or midsize firm, and where do you see yourself building a career.
Here are 10 questions to ask yourself if you are grappling with choosing a practice area.
11. Manage Your Energy During OCIs
OCI schedules can be demanding. When you have multiple interviews in a day, maintaining energy becomes crucial.
To stay sharp, be sure to get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and eat something before interviews. Arrive early to avoid feeling rushed and build in time to reset between conversations.
Even the strongest preparation can suffer when you're exhausted. Learn ways to take care of yourself during OCI season and job hunting in general, as well as throughout your time in law school.
12. Don't Let One Interview Define Your Success
OCI season can feel intensely competitive. Some interviews will go exceptionally well. Others may not.
That's normal.
Remember, one interview rarely determines your entire career, and every interview improves your skills. Approach OCI season as one important step in your professional journey, not the final destination.
13. Turn Your Summer Job into a Career-Building Asset
Use your summer job experience to strengthen your future OCI and job interview performance. Internships, clerkships, and clinics often open doors even after the position ends—whether through a future offer or a strong reference. Any writing samples, projects, or skills you develop during your summer role should be highlighted in interviews and reflected on your resume to showcase your growth and readiness for the next opportunity.
Learn more about legal internships, clerkships, and clinics.
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