Back to Basics

It is essential that you know as much as possible about the employer with whom you are going to interview. Spending 5 minutes reading the employer’s website or glossy brochure is NOT effective preparation! You should never use a screening interview to find out the “basics” about an employer. You want to save your precious interview time for insightful questions that convey your interest and not waste the time gathering basic information that can easily be accessed prior to the interview!
So, what are the basics and where do you find that information?

THE BASICS:

• Size Structure (associate to partner ratio, number and practice area of different divisions within the firm, number of offices, etc.)
• Location
• Areas of practice
• Involvement in the community
• Representative clients
• Current news items about the firm or its attorneys
• Diversity
• Pro bono policies
• Salary ranges
• Billable hours

WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION:

• The employer’s brochure or web site
• The National Association of Law Placement (NALP) Directory (www.nalpdirectory.com)
• Lexis and Westlaw—search individual attor-neys or firms in caselaw directories to find representative clients and/or recently decided cases
• Martindale Hubbell (www.martindale.com)
• Infirmation.com
• Your career services office
• Alumni who work (or have worked) for the firm/agency

Carla DeVelder, Notre Dame Law School