On-campus interviews, or OCIs, are an opportunity for law firms, government agencies, corporations and other legal employers to visit law schools for their hiring needs. For many students, this may be the first introduction to professional interviewing.
Whether you’re new to OCI season or preparing for your next round, there’s always an opportunity to brush up on your interviewing skills and refine your resume. Remember, an OCI isn’t your typical job interview. In fact, as a 1L, you might spend your 20-minute 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, your job is to be memorable and likable and to demonstrate genuine interest for the firm or organization. To help you maximize your OCI preparations, we’ve partnered with Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the world’s leading legal search firm, to walk through what to expect, tips to create your bid list, top interview strategies and more.
Here are seven tips to help you thrive during OCI season (and one extra tip once you’ve landed a position):
#1 Review your resume
Most students already have a resume on hand, but there is an art to building a resume that is succinct, effective and targeted to your needs. First and foremost, ensure your resume is up to date and grammatically correct and consistent.
Next, get some fresh eyes to help you review. Your career planning office will most likely offer free resume review services. This is a great resource you can use to not only look at resume templates but also to garner tips for building your resume and doing a final review.
#2 Conduct mock interviews
Mock interviews can truly 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 help put you through the ins and outs of what to expect, as well as provide invaluable feedback on areas you aced and where you can improve. If your law school doesn’t offer these resources, don’t worry. You can still conduct mock interviews with friends or family members.
#3 Research, research, research
Gone are the days when you could waltz into an interview and sell them on your capabilities without thorough research on your interviewers and the organization. Not only do OCI interviewers 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. This includes knowing how to pronounce the firm’s name (yes, it’s worth devoting time to this), understanding the nuances of the particular firm or organization (such as its specialties) and why you’re interested. Here are a few research ideas:
Chambers Associate: Form a quick overview of the firm, covering everything from billable hours to quotes from managing partners.
Website browse: Make sure you know the firm’s website inside and out. Don’t just read your interviewer’s bio. Take the time to read up on the practice areas you’re interested in and note recent cases they’ve worked on in those areas.
Furthermore, make sure you know what their summer program and entry-level associate programs look like – you do not want to ask questions in an interview that are answered clearly on the firm’s website.
Google search: Use the firm’s name, plus an associate or trigger word to pull things like news stories and recent cases.
#4 Prepare thoughtful questions to ask
Remember your goal in the screener interview is to get a callback. If you can ask meaningful questions about the firm or organization, it shows that you have a real interest in working there. Consider asking about the firm culture, pro bono work and how attorneys collaborate. The key here is to show that you’ve done your homework and are serious about the firm/organization. Good questions will also help you gain insight into the firm or organization to see how you might fit. As you prepare your questions, make sure to jot down more than you’ll have time for so you can maximize your entire interview.
Pro tip: If you know who will be interviewing you, be sure to have looked up their CV/resume beforehand. You can ask about their recently published works or cases and perhaps find some common interests.
#5 Network beyond the ordinary
Use your school alumni database to find alumni who work in the firms you’re targeting and reach out. Likewise, seek out fellow students who have worked in those firms or who are going to those firms post-graduation and get the inside scoop on the firm and, more specifically, their summer program.
Note: When you’re networking, keep track of who you talk to and what they say. You want to reference those people during your interviews, so it’s best not to leave it to your memory alone.
#6 Dress appropriately
For your initial interview, a suit is best in almost all cases. If you haven’t dressed in your planned attire recently or it’s new, try wearing your clothes a few days prior to ensure everything fits comfortably and gives you confidence.
#7 Be yourself!
Yes, interviewing is intense. Yes, you are trying to show your best traits and qualities in 20 minutes. Yes, there is another student outside waiting to do the same thing. But have confidence and be yourself. Don’t try to be the person you think the interviewer wants. You need to showcase who you are and ensure that you’re the right fit (not just for the firm or organization, but also for yourself. After all, this is your future.)
#8 Summer job essentials
Finally, if you’re working during the summer, make sure you impress your employer. Internships, clerkships and clinics can provide a great opportunity after the position ends and may result in either a future offer or serve as a reference. Be sure to also use your job experience for future OCI and job interviewing. Writing samples and experiences/skills you picked up during your employment should be used and highlighted in your next interview or on your resume.
Learn more about legal internships, clerkships and clinics.