Callback Interview FAQs

What aspects of Schiff Hardin’s law student interview process are changing this fall?
Only the callback interview. The on-campus interview will be the same.

What is Schiff Hardin’s callback interview process?
Our callback includes the traditional parts: several one-on-one interviews and a lunch interview with associates. It also includes a panel interview with several Schiff Hardin lawyers and a short writing exercise.

How long will the callback typically last?
The callback interview as a whole will not be longer than the typical law firm callback (and it won’t be longer than Schiff Hardin callbacks in earlier years). The candidate will spend four to five hours total at the firm, including lunch.

What is the panel interview and what kinds of questions will be asked?
In the panel interview, the candidate will spend about an hour with three or four Schiff Hardin lawyers. The interviewers will ask questions designed to gather information about candidates’ past experiences – their work, academic, and other life experiences. The atmosphere of the interview will be like any other Schiff Hardin interview — courteous, welcoming and collegial.

What is the purpose of the panel interview?
We want to get to know candidates better and learn more about them as individuals. The panel interview format will allow us to accomplish this goal more effectively than a shorter one-on-one interview. The panel interview will also give candidates the opportunity to share their experiences in a less hurried and more complete way.

How many one-on-one interviews will the callback include, and who will conduct them?
Candidates will have two one-on-one interviews, each approximately thirty minutes long. In the one-on-one interviews, candidates will meet with partners or associates who work in practice areas that they are interested in, who share their other interests, and who can answer their questions about the firm.

How many associates will the candidate meet with during their callback interview?
Candidates will meet at least two associates during the callback, typically for the lunch interview.

What is the writing exercise?
We will give candidates a short document that sets out a legal issue and ask them to write a short summary (a few paragraphs in length) intended for a specific audience. For example, we may provide a court order and ask the candidate to explain it to a group affected by the ruling. We are not testing the candidate’s knowledge in any specific area of law.

How much time will the candidate have to complete the writing exercise?
Candidates will have 30-45 minutes to complete the writing exercise, but we have designed exercises that can be completed comfortably in less time.

Where will the candidate do the writing exercise?
At Schiff Hardin’s offices in a guest office. A laptop computer will be provided.

What is the purpose of the writing exercise?
It will give us an additional opportunity to assess candidates’ abilities to organize their thoughts and adjust the tone and content of their communications effectively. Our lawyers interact with clients early in their careers, and we believe this part of the interview will identify candidates who are ready and eager to do so.

Will Schiff Hardin also collect and review the writing samples students provide at OCIs?
Yes.

Why is Schiff Hardin taking this different approach?
Schiff Hardin has a different hiring goal than many other law firms. When we interview law students, we are looking for people who have chosen the law as their long-term career path. Because our goal is to hire future Schiff Hardin partners, we want to take the time at the outset to identify candidates who possess the qualities we associate with long-term success at the firm.

Does Schiff Hardin’s new interview format mean that the firm is looking to recruit different types of law students than it has in the past?
Absolutely not. As in the past, we are looking for highly talented law students who are energetic, enthusiastic, and eager to start practicing law in the full sense of the term on day one of their careers. These are the people we have always sought.

Who should I call if I have more questions?
Matt Fischer, the chair of our Law Student Recruitment Committee, or Lisa Brown, a member of the Law Student Recruitment Committee and the Partner in Charge of Associate Development.