The Top 15 Reasons Attorneys Should Go on Every Interview They Get and Why it Is Crazy Not to Do So

 

Once you have an offer in hand, you are in control. Every interview is an opportunity to meet new people, learn about different firms, practice your interview skills, and learn about your potential. Moreover, you owe it to yourself to understand why a firm likes you enough to bring you in. What is unique about you that the law firm is interviewing you? Preparation starts with your introduction — check out our video on how attorneys should answer the ‘tell me about yourself’ question for practical tips.

• For more tactical preparation—whether virtual or in-person—see how mastering the interview process with BCG’s preparation guide can sharpen every stage of your performance.

 

1. Your Immediate Objective is to Get as Many Jobs as Possible. When you've granted an interview, seize it as your prime opportunity to secure a position. Focus on getting the job first; all questions and negotiations can follow once you've achieved this milestone. It's crucial to approach each interview with the mindset. Getting a position gives you more confidence, options if other opportunities do not work out, and much more. You want to do everything you can to get every job possible. There is nothing wrong with getting a job so that you can negotiate later.

 

• Complement these 15 strategic reasons with 10 essential tips for acing your attorney job interview to sharpen active listening, STAR responses, and follow-up tactics.

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See Related Articles:

• The Art of Interviewing: Tips for Converting Interviews Into Offers
• How to Interview in a Different City without Risking Your Current Job
• Acing Your Interview Starts with Assessing the Interviewer

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2. Every Interview is a Networking Opportunity that Could Pay Dividends in the Future: Interviews are more than just a chance to land a job; they're networking opportunities. These interactions can forge relationships throughout your career, offering guidance, support, referrals, and opportunities that are otherwise hard to come by. Embrace each interview as a networking event. You may run across these attorneys several times throughout your career, and this will do nothing but help you.
 

• Beyond mindset, punctuality matters—discover why you must never be late to the interview as an attorney and how timeliness reflects professionalism.

 

3. You Owe it to Yourself to Learn About Different Law Firm Cultures: Every interview is a window into another firm's culture. It offers a firsthand look at different environments and practices, allowing you to compare them with your current situation. This insight is invaluable in understanding where you fit best and what each firm has to offer regarding culture, work-life balance, and professional growth. If you find a culture that works better for you than another, you will be happier and do better in that environment than if you do not.
 

• Develop muscle memory by regularly reviewing the top ten law firm interview questions to prepare for—every answer you refine is progress toward landing an offer.

 

4. You May Get Better Training and Development at One Firm than Another: The quality of training varies significantly across firms, and since you're likely to practice law for many decades, early experiences are foundational. Interviews are your chance to learn about a firm's training opportunities, which is crucial for your development as a skilled attorney. Some law firms will train you and make you the best attorney possible, while others may not. This training is invaluable and something you should understand. Complement this advice with our video Common Questions and Answers About Law Firm Interviews, where we show how to handle interviews confidently and professionally.

• As you leverage every interview, also explore tips for converting interviews into offers to turn curiosity into opportunity.

 

5. Every Firm Offers You Different Insights into What it Would be Like to Work in a Given Firm: By interviewing, you expose yourself to various clients, practice areas, and, possibly, a focus that suits your interests and skills better. You will not fully comprehend this diversity by exploring different firms through interviews. You can only learn about this by interviewing.

 

• And when you do go, prepare thoroughly with our step-by-step guide to law firm interviews to maximize every opportunity.

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See Related Articles:

• How Many Firms and Jobs Should I Apply To? When Is Enough Enough?
• Should You Apply to the Same Firm Through Different Recruiters?
• Why Every Attorney Needs to Apply to a Lot of Places (and Not Give Up) When Rejected

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6. Job Security and Offer Leverage: Receiving an offer enhances your job security and provides leverage in your current position or negotiations with other firms. When exploring your options, it's a safety net in volatile times and a bargaining chip. You owe it to yourself to have this sort of leverage, which is helpful when needed.

 

7. Compensation Can Usually be Negotiated: Compensation should never be a deterrent from attending an interview. Not only is it negotiable, but it can also be significantly influenced by how well the firm perceives you during the interview process. Understanding and negotiating your worth is a skill; each interview is a practice ground for it. Never pass up an interview because of compensation-related issues.

 

8. You Want to Understand Your Appeal to a Given Firm: If a firm invites you for an interview, something in your background interests them. Use this to understand and highlight these appealing aspects in future applications and interviews.

  9. Different Firms Have Different Types of Advancement Potential to be Aware of: The path to partnership, the scope for business development, and the level of responsibility offered can vary widely between firms. Interviews give you a glimpse of these potentials, which can significantly influence your career trajectory.

 

10. You Need to Understand the Type of Cultural Fit Each Firm Has: Feeling comfortable and aligned with a firm's culture can significantly affect job satisfaction and performance. An interview is a critical step in discovering where you'll thrive.
 

• Cultural fit matters—read about the importance of soft skills in law firm interviews to see how adaptability, empathy, and communication can differentiate you.

 

11. You Should Never Base Your Decision to Interview with a Firm Based on Rumors You May Have Heard: It's common to hear negatives about any firm, but an interview allows you to form your opinion. You may be working with one or a few partners, and that will shape your experience. Each practice area within a firm also has a different experience. Sometimes, there are toxic practice areas within a firm you may not even have contact with. It is essential to draw your conclusions.
 

• Interviews aren’t luck—they’re strategy—so learn why you should never wing it in an attorney interview and approach every meeting with intention.

 

12. Understand Specific Dynamics: Your professional happiness will often hinge on these specifics, whether it's the dynamics with a particular partner or within a practice group. Interviews are a chance to gauge these dynamics firsthand.

 

13. Do Not Base Your Interviewing Decisions Based on the Firm's Location: In today's evolving legal landscape, the necessity to be in-office may vary. Interviews can clarify the possibilities for remote work, offering you flexibility that aligns with your lifestyle. Ask these questions after you get the offer. Once you decide to attend an interview, our Interview Preparation Techniques guide can help ensure you’re fully prepared to succeed.

• If out-of-town interviews feel risky, check out interviewing in a different city without jeopardizing your current role, which walks you through navigating remote or travel interviews safely.

 

14. Understand Your Role and Responsibilities in the Firm: The work's level of responsibility and nature can differ significantly. Whether transactional work or litigation, interviews clarify what your day-to-day would entail, helping you align your career with your ambitions. Litigators can do trials in one firm, where they might be relegated to only motion practice in another firm. Transactional attorneys can do entire transactions in one firm and only subsets of a transaction in another firm. You need to understand what each firm offers and can learn this in an interview. To maximize each opportunity, watch How to Answer the "Do You Have Any Questions for Me?" Interview Question and see practical ways to stand out at the end of your interviews.

 

15. Every Law Firm May Provide Security and Benefits Beyond Salary: Firms vary in their stability and the benefits they offer. From job security to 401(k) matches interviews are your chance to learn about these aspects, which are as crucial as the salary in the long run.
 

• Knowing the 50 essential law firm interview questions every attorney must master gives you a strategic preview of what firms are really evaluating—and why each interview counts.

 

 Approaching interviews with these considerations in mind enhances your chances of finding a fitting role and deepens your understanding of the legal landscape, aiding in your long-term career development. Remember, every interview is a step forward, regardless of the outcome.

While interviewing frequently is critical, it also reflects the instability that drives many to question law as a career. Our article on the top 10 reasons why being a lawyer is not worth it highlights these realities. As further explored in the ‘Definitive Guide to Why Attorneys Should Accept Every Law Firm Interview,’ saying ‘yes’ to every opportunity isn’t just about curiosity — it’s a proven way to unlock career momentum and attract unexpected offers.
 

• And before you wrap up, sharpen your own questions—see how attorneys can answer “Do you have any questions for me?” to leave a memorable final impression.

 

 

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations-from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

• Immigration Law
• Workers Compensation
• Insurance
• Family Law
• Trust and Estate
• Municipal law
• And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

• Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
• Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
• Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
• Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success - The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm's unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison's legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

• His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
• He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
• His placement success is unmatched-see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
• He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials-he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison's work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

• Finds and creates job openings that aren't publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
• Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
• Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney-no matter their background, law school, or previous experience-has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

• Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
• Senior attorneys who believed they were "too experienced" to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
• Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options-only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
• Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist-often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today - Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison's expertise will help you take control of your future.

Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Harrison's reach, experience, and proven results make him the best legal recruiter in the industry. Don't settle for an average recruiter-work with the one who has changed the careers of thousands of attorneys and can do the same for you.

About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.