Today began the three day process of BIG firm interviews. Here’s how it works. Several weeks ago, we were asked if we wanted to apply for summer jobs. Well, asked, isn’t exactly the right word. We were encouraged. It would be such “good interviewing practice.” Seven BIG firms from Kansas City and St. Louis collect resumes (top 10-25% of the class need only apply), pick eight or nine people to interview and it all gets crammed into three days the I shall now refer to as interview hell. But, I will be smiling my big smile as I refer to it that way, because I have been smiling non stop through three interviews today. Here’s the low down on the 1L interview process. Basically, as I now understand it, three interviews in, there are a bazillion students applying for one to ten jobs. We are competing with students from much more prestigious law schools (as in Wash U in St. Louis for starters) and all the jobs are for BIG law firms. Some of which do not even have a family law or education law division. During those interviews I stared across the table and thought, “Why am I here?”
So, here’s the lowdown on how the whole job thing seems to work with BIG law firms. If you get the 1L summer position, it pays big bucks. (Comparatively to my previous teaching employment, anyway). At some of these firms you can make between $1000-1600 a week for the summer. Yes, Virginia, A WEEK! I checked the figures a few times. I remember when I was thrilled to get $100 stipend to attend a summer conference. But let’s not forget that some of these firms only have ONE position for ALL the applicants from EVERYWHERE in the U.S! I’m not a mathematician, but those ain’t good odds. Anyway, this is how the BIG law firms, around these parts, hire. They might bring you on as a 1L, or possibly during your 2L summer and then 90% of those folks are offered a position with the BIG law firm. That would be about a $100,000 a year position to start. Downside? You have to bill approximately 2000 hours a year. Which works out, with vacations and administrative non-billing hours to be a 70 hour work week. Ouch. Then again, how many times did I put in close to 70 hours in the classroom? Another downside? You have just sold your soul to a BIG law firm.
I’m not sure where I stand on the BIG law firms yet. I’m trying to keep an open mind. There are lots of opportunities to do BIG pro bono work from a BIG law firm. There are lots of BIG law firms that represent school districts fighting issues of NCLB. If I wanted to really pursue this fight, it would only happen through a BIG law firm. One of the BIG law firms is representing parents of special needs children, making sure that they receive services from the state. Another BIG law firm has a family law division and makes lots of adoptions happen. Could I pursue making a difference in areas of foster care through this avenue? Am I having the wool pulled over my eyes?
So the interviews went something like this. First, today there were only male interviewers, which irked me quite a bit. After handshake and introductions, they asked me three questions. 1. Tell us about yourself (READ – do you plan to settle in the Midwest?) 2. Tell us why you left teaching for law school. AND 3. Tell us about your experience in Africa. After these questions were out of the way, they gave their “Our BIG law firm is the best BIG law firm and the culture here isn’t like any other BIG law firm and we go out for happy hours and ball games and all hang out together” talk. It was persuasive.
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