Landing a BigLaw summer associate position is the golden ticket for many law students. These positions offer $3,500-4,500/week (often over $40,000 for the summer), strong return offer rates (70-90%), and a path to high-paying legal careers. But the process—On-Campus Interviewing (OCI)—is highly competitive and requires strategic preparation.
What is BigLaw?
BigLaw refers to large law firms (typically 100+ attorneys) with prestigious clients, high salaries, and demanding work environments.
Compensation:
- Summer associate pay: $3,500-4,500/week (~$40,000-50,000 for 10-12 weeks)
- First-year associate salary: $215,000+ at top firms (as of 2024)
- Bonuses: $15,000-50,000+
Tradeoffs:
- Long hours (60-80 hours/week is common)
- High pressure and tight deadlines
- Limited control over practice area initially
- Work-life balance challenges
The OCI Timeline
Spring 1L Year
- Finalize your 1L grades (critical!)
- Prepare resume and cover letter
- Research firms and practice areas
- Attend firm events and informational sessions
Summer After 1L
- Some students participate in "early interview week" (EIW) in June
- Most 1Ls focus on any legal work (government, non-profit, small firms)
- Building a legal resume matters more than prestige this summer
Fall 2L Year (Main OCI)
- August: Submit applications via your school's OCI system (or directly to firms)
- Late August/Early September: On-campus screening interviews (20-30 minutes)
- September-October: Callback interviews at firm offices (half-day, 4-6 interviews)
- October-November: Offers extended
Preparing Your Application
Resume
What BigLaw firms look for:
- Strong 1L grades (typically top 20-30% for most schools, higher for lower-ranked schools)
- Law review or journal membership (highly valued)
- Previous legal experience (internships, research assistantships)
- Substantive undergraduate achievements (honors, leadership, unique skills)
Resume tips:
- 1 page only
- Lead with education (law school first, then undergrad)
- Use bullet points with action verbs and concrete results
- Highlight writing and research experience
- Tailor to each firm's practice areas if possible
Cover Letter
Structure:
1.
Opening: Why this specific firm? (Don't use generic language)
2.
Why law: Brief explanation of your legal interests
3.
Qualifications: Highlight 2-3 key experiences
4.
Closing: Reiterate interest and request interview
Tips:
- Research the firm (practice areas, recent deals/cases, culture)
- Mention specific attorneys or practice groups you're interested in
- Keep it to 3/4 page maximum
- Proofread obsessively (typos = automatic rejection)
On-Campus Interviews (Screening Interviews)
These are 20-30 minute interviews, usually with 1-2 attorneys.
Common Questions
Background:
- "Tell me about yourself"
- "Why law school?"
- "Why are you interested in BigLaw?"
Firm-specific:
- "Why our firm?" (research is critical here)
- "What practice areas interest you?"
Behavioral:
- "Tell me about a time you worked on a team"
- "Describe a challenging project and how you handled it"
Conversational:
- "What do you do for fun?"
- "What are you reading lately?"
Strategy
Research the firm: Know their major practice areas, recent high-profile work, and office locations.
Prepare your story: Have a clear, concise narrative about why you want to be a lawyer and why BigLaw fits your goals.
Ask good questions: Prepare 2-3 thoughtful questions. Examples:
- "What's your typical day like as a [practice area] associate?"
- "How does the firm support junior associate development?"
- "What do you wish you'd known before joining the firm?"
Be yourself: Firms want to see personality and genuine interest, not robotic answers.
Callback Interviews
If you succeed at OCI, you'll be invited to the firm's office for callback interviews (usually 4-6 back-to-back 30-minute interviews, plus lunch).
What to Expect
Interview types:
- Associate interviews: Relaxed, focused on fit and interests
- Partner interviews: May include more substantive legal questions
- Lunch: With junior associates (still evaluating you, but more casual)
Topics:
- Similar questions to OCI, but deeper
- More focus on specific experiences from your resume
- Hypothetical legal scenarios (rare, but possible)
- Firm culture and expectations
Callback Strategy
Pace yourself: 4-6 interviews in a row is exhausting. Stay energized and engaged for each one.
Tailor your answers: If interviewing with a tax partner, mention any relevant tax coursework or interest.
Ask different questions: You'll talk to 4-6 people—prepare 10+ questions so you're not repeating.
Take notes: After each interview, jot down the attorney's name and key topics. You'll want this for thank-you notes.
Read the room: Some interviewers want to chat about sports; others want to discuss legal theory. Adapt.
Evaluating and Negotiating Offers
Offer Timing
Most firms give you 2-4 weeks to decide. If you have multiple offers, you can often request extensions.
Evaluation Factors
Compensation: Most top firms pay the same (Cravath scale), so this is often not a differentiator.
Practice areas: Does the firm have strength in areas you're interested in?
Culture: What's the vibe? Formal vs. casual? Collaborative vs. competitive?
Work-life balance: Some BigLaw firms are more humane than others (ask about average hours, vacation policies, flexibility).
Geographic location: Where are you willing to live?
Exit options: Does this firm set you up for in-house roles, clerkships, or other paths?
Negotiating
Summer associate offers are generally not negotiable (salary is standardized). However, you can sometimes negotiate:
- Start date flexibility
- Office location (if firm has multiple)
- Practice group placement (rare for summers, but worth asking)
Final Tips
1. Grades matter most: If you're not in the top portion of your class, OCI will be harder. Consider regional firms, smaller markets, or non-BigLaw paths.
2. Geographic flexibility helps: Willing to work in multiple cities? You'll have more options.
3. Don't put all eggs in the BigLaw basket: Apply to government, public interest, and mid-size firms too.
4. Follow up: Send thank-you emails within 24 hours of each interview.
5. Be genuine: Firms can tell when you're faking interest. Find firms that actually align with your goals.
BigLaw isn't for everyone, but if it's your goal, strategic preparation and authentic engagement will maximize your chances of success.
