Nick Pappas’ Post

Ace Your Law Firm Interview Securing a position at a top law firm requires more than just a stellar resume highlighting your credentials. To stand out, follow these tips: Research the Firm: Demonstrate your interest by thoroughly researching interviewers' bios and matters, and the firm's culture. Review the Posting: Tailor your responses to show how your skills align with their needs. Be Prepared to Answer the Two Most Important Questions: - Why are you looking to leave your current firm? - Why do you want to join our firm? Showcase Your Experience: Highlight your relevant experience with concrete examples. I like my candidates to have a few war stories ready. These stories should demonstrate how you handled a tough situation and learned a new skill. Be Confident, Professional, and Excited: Dress appropriately, maintain good eye contact, and exhibit a confident yet humble demeanor. Demonstrate your enthusiasm about the opportunity. If that's difficult for you, tell the interviewers that you're really excited. Ask Thoughtful Questions: Prepare insightful questions about the team, your role, the type of work you will be doing, who you will be working with, the culture, and the interviewer's interests outside of work. Remember, this is a fact-finding mission for you too. To get interviews and help preparing for them, email me (npappas@laterallink.com) or DM me. #lawyers #LawFirm #CareerAdvice

Heading into #interviewweek for law students, I wanted to remind folks of fundamental interview habits that can help you ace any interview, regardless of context (save this post for later!). 1. Be kind. People want to be uncomfortable in your presence. An easy way to do this is to be a nice person. Smile, & be at ease. 2. Never interrupt the interviewer, even if they interrupt you first. Listen to them at every opportunity you have. 3. #Repeat phrases that the interviewer used, & seek to validate what they say while also adding a thought or insight of your own. 4. When asked if you have questions for the interviewer, you should be prepared with custom questions depending on who the interviewer is. Ask them about a specific deal they had, or their career path. Generic questions (eg "how long are your summer programs?" are a turnoff.) 5. Send a thank you note via email. It doesn't hurt - unless you type their name wrong. 6. Speak with #certainty - even if you are stating that you are uncertain. This ties back to making the interviewer comfortable - if you are uneasy, quiet, or shaky in how you answer questions, it will make the interviewer feel the same way. Instead, commit to your answers and say them with conviction. 7. Always show up with an extra copy of your transcripts and resume in hand, just in case. 8. Make eye contact. 9. Take deep breaths as often as you can remember, so you are answering calmly and at your peak. 10. Be prepared to talk about any single line on your resume for at least 30-45 seconds. And remember that no matter how you perform, there will always be things out of your control, so don't let the results of any one interview dictate how you feel about your professional development or worth ! You got this !

Last week I reached out to a partner to set up an interview prep session prior to his going in for an introductory meeting with a law firm. He was a little taken a back, didn't think he needed it, but he reluctantly acquiesced. 10 minutes into our conversation, I heard him jotting down notes. 20 minutes in, he asked if I had an extra 10 minutes to spare. Next interview that was scheduled with the firm, he texted me for the prep session. No matter how long you have been practicing, interview prep pays off. Here are 3 Tips that apply to all levels: 1. Interview prep is a mindset shift. You should leave feeling confident and mentally ready to be an active participant. Start by focusing on key information on the firm, people, and the opportunity. Then move on to your strategic approach for the meeting. 2. I suggest considering the following five items to develop a personalized plan and to perfect your presentation: (1) Tell me about yourself; (2) What is your goal; (3) Identify the path to achieve it; (4) What is holding you back; and (5) Why this firm/company (now). The ability to concisely address these questions can make a big difference in communicating effectively. 3. Consider your highest priorities due to current hurdles, the opportunity, and desired growth. Your questions will be reflections of your intentions, goals, and what the firm/employer can expect if you were part of the team. This component of an interview can be a game-changer. They provide great insight into your potential as well as opportunities for thoughtful discussion on mutual growth prospects. There is nothing novice about strategizing for an interview. Interviews are organic, at times unpredictable, they are not scripted but you can still control your own fate with preparation and a plan. #interviewprep #lawyers #attorneys #lawfirms #legalrecruiting #legalcareers #lawjobs #law

Astute words from Mary D'Eramo, VP Mestel. Mary has guided many on their journey to finding the right firm to cultivate their career. I encourage you to read the tips below and connect with Mary or a member of her team @mestel.com. #legalrecruiting #legalcareers

"I have no idea what I'm going to say at this interview. I've been out of practice for so long. I haven't done an interview in years!" If this sounds like you, here are three tips to keep in mind while you prepare for a potentially life-altering conversation with a law firm: 🧐 Research the Firm: This may sound like a no-brainer but you'd be surprised how many people skip this step. Understanding the firm's practice areas, clients, and recent cases is crucial to how you'll be able to answer questions from the interviewer. Tailor your responses to demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the firm's needs and values. ✅ Highlight Your Achievements and Skills: Emphasize specific examples of your accomplishments and skills relevant to the legal profession, such as research, writing, analytical thinking, and communication. Try to make sure these are quantifiable because that will be the best way to make your skills and achievements stand out compared to other interviewees. 👨💼 Demonstrate Professionalism and Confidence: Maintain a professional demeanor throughout the interview, dress appropriately, and show confidence in your abilities. Be respectful, courteous, and express genuine interest in the firm and the position. Presenting yourself well will go a very long way in an interview. First impressions are everything!!! Good luck out there! #LegalJobs #LawFirm #NewJobs #Employment #Recruiting #LegalOpportunities #Interviews #Interviewing #InterviewSkills

Freaking out over that interview you have coming up? PANIC NOT. I’ve done a whole bunch of legal job interviews myself, and guided candidates through many more. Here’s some of my top tips: 1️⃣ STAY FREAKING CALM It’s a two way process – you’re interviewing them too. You have to want to join them – the work, people, opportunities for progression, it all has to be right. Remembering this often helps to alleviate the nerves a bit – and at the end of the day, you’re going to do better if you are feeling calm and confident, and remembering that it is ultimately a conversation. That is when you will shine. Which brings us on to… 2️⃣ Prep is king “If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” It really does make the difference. Start with the basics: Know your CV inside out Know the work in the team Know the structure of the team Bonus – if you know who is interviewing you, you guessed it… know about them! 3️⃣ Demonstrate alignment and value add Once you’ve done that prep above, think about: A: how your experience so far *aligns* with what they are/might be looking for (if you have a great recruiter you should have good insight into this 👀) and B: how you can therefore *add* to what they have (do you have experience that is in an area they are growing out/may want to grow out into?) It is all about putting your best foot forward - staying calm, preparing, and knowing your value is all going to help with that. What tips would you add? P.S. We’re not still telling people to picture people in their underwear right?! That was weird then, and it's weird now 🤦♀️ ________________________________________________________________________ Hi, I'm Abbie - I'm passionate about career match making and mental health in the legal profession. Think of me as your Fairy Law-Mother. 🧚♀️ #legalprofession #law #interviewprep #interviewpreparation #jobsearch

Interviews can be super daunting, especially at law firms. Here we break down 5 simple tips for nailing your interview at a law firm ⬇️ What tips would you add? We are currently recruiting for 2 live roles: 1. Litigation Assistant 2. Experienced Personal Injury Case Handler I will pop the links to the job descriptions in the comments ⬇️ #legalrecruitment #personalinjury #lawfirm

⭐ Ask Me Anything Mondays! | Post 4 ⭐ How to prepare for an #interview – from an interviewer’s POV!   It all seems straight forward, but in my experience, interviewees are not always polished during the interview. As a result, I want to share a few helpful #ResumeTips:   1.     Have an elevator pitch ready. This pitch is critical to quickly share your experience and credentials. You shouldn’t, however, use the same pitch for every single position you interview for. Instead, update it depending on the job so your experience is exactly aligned with the qualifications of the position.   2.     Memorize 5 go-to answers that speak to behavioral and situational questions! Behavioral questions usually ask about the past, while situational questions are hypothetical questions that could happen in the future. For example, if it starts with, “tell me about a time when,” then you know you need an example about your past. If the question starts with, “What would you do if…” then you know it is situational, however, it is still good to give an example of what you have done in that situation in the past. Stories help the hiring manager remember your answer and allow you to show your experiences that are not on your resume.   Have any interview advice of your own? Leave it in the comments below! Look for more tips and tricks next Monday! #AskMeAnythingMondays #AMAM #BigLaw #Legal #Integration #MyMoFoStory #MorrisonFoerster #MoFo #ResumeHelp

The interviewer is on your side. They want you to succeed because they also want to hire and get someone on board. But to win their attention, you need to demonstrate confidence in yourself. The good thing is that you can build your confidence over time through exercises and visualization. Looking confident and being confident may seem two different things to you, but to your interviewer, they are the same. Using techniques that make you appear more confident will bring you positive feedback! If you're appearing for an interview, this may be of help. Thank me later! #law #lawyers #lawfirmmanagement #legalpracticemanagement #hiring #legalprofession #interview #success #lawstudents #lawinterns

Feeling Overwhelmed by Job Rejection? You’re Not Alone! Have you ever walked out of a legal interview feeling confident, only to be met with silence or a polite “no”? It’s a tough pill to swallow, and you’re left wondering: What went wrong? Why didn’t they see my potential? The lack of feedback can be maddening, leaving you to question your worth and abilities. We understand the frustration, the confusion, and the need for answers. That’s why we’ve invited one of the experts to share his insider tips and tricks for acing legal interviews ! Stay Tuned! #interviews #legalinterviews #legaljobs #law #challengelawfirm #jobs