Biglaw

Biglaw Partners Need To Remember Their Humanity When Conducting Interviews

Maybe a mom with cancer shouldn't be a deal breaker... just spitballing here.

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Big Bad BossBiglaw interviewing can be absolutely horrifying. But the good news is, no matter how bad an interview goes, there’s probably someone else with an equally awful story. Don’t believe me? Listen to Above the Law readers. We asked for interview horror stories, and y’all delivered! (Yes, please, keep ’em coming!)

This latest tale is an example of how out-of-touch Biglaw partners can be. Because when someone tells you they’ve been dealing with a parent with cancer it’s not the time to write them off as a candidate because of slipping grades (that were solid enough for a callback, BTW)

From a reader:

There was a callback interview before 2L. The big partner is grilling my transcript, which was straight A’s in autumn of 1L and a little worse in the fall, from a T14 school.

“Why were your grades so BAD in the spring?”
“My mother was diagnosed with cancer in April and I was driving home on weekends.”

It’s fairly important to note how obvious at this point it is I won’t be getting an offer.

So we keep talking and he asks why I want to be a lawyer. And I tell a pretty wholesome story about reading my father’s lawbooks and getting hooked on ideas like precedent and caselaw after having learned about the Supreme Court at a ninth-grader-goes-to-a-college-in-the-summer type program.

“Oh. Your Dad’s a lawyer? Which shop?”
“Oh he’s self employed. Owns his own firm. Solo general practitioner.”

At which point the partner audibly scoffs and makes like a coughy noise.

“Well I’ve never heard of him!”
“You must not spend very much time at the courthouse.”

Perhaps it’s the submitter that is the real winner here: my guess is working for that partner is a nightmare.

Have a terrible tale to tell about an interview gone awry? Please send it our way by email, subject line “Interview Stories.” We’ll read all the submissions and share our favorites in these pages.

(And remember, as we’ve previously explained, “The ‘horror’ in ‘interview horror stories’ is loosely defined. Stories that are somewhat embarrassing or mildly amusing will suffice.”)

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Earlier: Interview Horror Stories: When Ambition Goes Too Far
Interview Horror Stories: When Tragedy Strikes
Interview Horror Stories: How To Respond To A Raging Racist?
Interview Horror Stories: What Was She Thinking — Er, Drinking?
7 Epic Examples Of On-Campus-Interviewing Fails

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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