Biglaw, Job Searches

Interview Tips: Biglaw to Small Law (Part I)

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[Ed. Note: There are a lot of associates out there who have been recently laid off from Biglaw jobs. Many of them are trying to get jobs at small to medium sized firms. But the mechanics of getting one of those precious jobs are a lot different from what people experienced during on-campus interviewing season. Therefore, Above the Law asked somebody who knows the game for ten tips on going from Biglaw to small law. We’ll do the first five tips today, and give the “intermediate” level class tomorrow.]

I work for a small law firm in a major metropolitan area that is in the enviable position of hiring right now. We are getting a flood of BigLaw resumes. I get to hear all of you pedigreed, ambitious, driven, hard-working and talented attorneys crash and burn without even knowing you’re doing it. Here is my advice on how to actually get the job, especially if it’s with a smaller, scrappier law firm than you’re used to. In no particular order:

1. Nobody Cares. Your resume speaks for itself, and the attorneys who are interviewing you are well aware that you come from BigLaw stock, have an Ivy League degree, fancy clerkships or once worked for Famous Attorney. Keep in mind that right now, you’re sitting across the table from attorneys who once did not get the job with BigLaw, probably because of you. They have not forgotten this, and Schadenfreude is still alive and well. Bragging about your BigLaw experience will make them loathe you. If they ask you about BigLaw, answer the questions but don’t go on and on about how much you loved that high salary and perks that kept you tethered to your desk. Your interviewers absolutely do not want to hear it. Conversely, avoid denigrating your BigLaw experience because…

2. Nobody Likes A Whiner. Don’t bitch about how you’re secretly grateful you’re out of that hellhole because you hated the BigLaw experience and the high salary and perks that kept you tethered to your desk. Your interviewers might believe you, but if you’re denigrating your prior firm, you’re most likely going to also bad-mouth ours. Keep in mind that your interviewers might once have had, or still have, BigLaw connections. Their spouses might still work for BigLaw. Their parents, siblings or children might work for BigLaw. This law firm might have once poached a chunk of attorneys from BigLaw. You never know.

Some notes about fitting in, after the jump.


3. Figure Out How To Fit In. This is the single biggest reason why the BigLaw candidates are getting rejected. We’re looking for attorneys who will fit in seamlessly with our firm culture, which is vastly different from BigLaw. If you’re used to working in teams, you won’t be doing that here, because you will be running your own cases and won’t have anyone else to rely upon. When this was told to one candidate, rather than praise this method and explain how well he’ll be able to do that, he said simply, “I’ve never done that before.” That may be true, but that’s not what we want to hear. If you’ve never done that before, be honest about it, but follow up with an explanation of how you plan to remedy that quickly and do that over and over again, brilliantly and while adding value to the firm. Adaptability is key.

4. Dress Appropriately. All of you know how to dress for a job interview, but leave your fancy cuff links, expensive embossed portfolio, diamond jewelry (even the tasteful studs), and logoed accessories at home. Wearing them will remind your interviewers how high your salary was at BigLaw, which may be more than they’re currently making right now, and they will hate you.

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5. Show Respect for Your Elders. One of the hiring attorneys at my firm is an extremely senior partner, and he looks his age. What the candidates do not know is that despite his doddering exterior, he is brilliant and scrutinizing. He did not get this task because he’s nearing retirement and needs something to do. He got it because everybody respects his opinion. During one interview, the candidate apparently mistook him for her grandfather and spoke to him like he had dementia: “Well aren’t you sweet!” She will not be back. He may be old, but he deserves the same amount of respect as your peers. Assuming you do in fact respect your peers.

Check back tomorrow for more advanced tips on how to do well in a small law interview.

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