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July 18, 2007
Top Five Questions NOT to ask during on campus interviews (OCI)
Do not ask questions about things you can easily glean from the firm’s website and/or other readily available material. Generic questions about the summer program, practice areas, etc. should be avoided as they reflect poorly on your preparedness.
Do not ask questions about benefits, billables and compensation. Wait until you get an offer before you jump into such question or find the answers from the website or through other resources.
Do not ask questions that shed the firm in a negative light or questions that may put the firm on the defensive. Avoid asking why the firm does not compare to other firms in terms of pro bono, minority partners, etc. Save those questions for later after you have received an offer.
Do not ask extensively about opportunities in the firm’s international and/or entertainment practices. Often times, students express interest in these practice areas without having a thorough understanding of what is actually involved in those fields. International law as practiced at major law firms involves international arbitration and drafting contracts and agreements with clients overseas. More likely than not, it will not involve appearing before the International Court of Justice, WTO or similar institutions. Similarly Entertainment law is labor and employment law relating to those in the entertainment industry.
Do not ask about the quality of life, life/work balance and culture of the firm. While these may truly be important to you, they may create a perception with the employer that you are not willing to work hard. Save these questions after you have received an offer of employment.
Posted by hafeezt at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)