How Many Callbacks Should You Expect?

The Short Answer

There's no magic number, but here's a rough framework: most students who do well at OCI convert about 25-50% of their screener interviews into callbacks.

That means if you had 15 screeners, getting 4-8 callbacks is a solid outcome. Getting 10+ is exceptional. Getting 1-2 doesn't mean you're doomed, but it may signal something in your approach needs adjusting.

What Affects Your Callback Rate

Your school. Students at T14 schools generally see higher callback rates because the firms recruiting there are already pre-filtered to be interested in that school's students. At T20-T50 schools, the firm list is more selective, which can mean fewer but more targeted interviews.

Your grades. Above median at a T14? You'll likely convert a healthy percentage. Top 10%? Firms are fighting over you. Below median? You can still get callbacks, but you'll need to be sharper in your interviews and more strategic in your bidding.

Your interview performance. This is the variable you can actually control. Two students with identical resumes can have wildly different callback rates based on how well they interview. Prep matters. See our screener interview guide.

The market. In strong hiring years, firms give out more callbacks. In lean years, they're pickier. You can't control this one.

What If You're Getting Fewer Than Expected?

Don't spiral. If you're getting screeners but not callbacks, the issue is almost certainly your interview performance, not your credentials (your credentials got you the interview).

Common culprits:

• Generic answers, especially to "why this firm"
• Not having questions ready
• Coming across as disinterested or over-rehearsed
• One of the 7 common OCI mistakes

Ask a trusted mentor, career counselor, or friend to do a mock interview and give you honest feedback.

What If You Get More Than You Can Handle?

Good problem to have. Some students end up with 8-12 callbacks, which means a lot of scheduling juggling. With most callbacks now run virtually or with a virtual first round, the logistics are easier than they used to be, but the prep load is the same. Don't feel pressured to do every single one, but don't cancel lightly either. Only drop callbacks at firms you're genuinely no longer interested in.

Keep your target list organized using Gold Stars on Big Law Bear so you can quickly see which firms matter most to you.

The Bottom Line

Callbacks aren't pass/fail. Getting fewer callbacks than your classmates doesn't mean you won't end up with a great offer. It only takes one. Focus on converting the callbacks you do get by preparing thoroughly for each callback interview.