Firm Guides
How to Research a Law Firm Before Your Interview
Good firm research is the difference between a generic interview and a callback. Here's exactly where to look and what to look for.
BigLaw Bear · 3 min read
Why Research Matters
Here's a stat that should motivate you: interviewers consistently say that the number one differentiator between candidates at OCI is preparation. Not grades. Not charm. Preparation.
And the core of preparation is research. When you know a firm well, everything else, your answers, your questions, your confidence, gets better.
Where to Look
Big Law Bear's Firm Directory. Start here. Every firm profile includes practice area breakdowns, office locations, firm size, and key details. Use this to quickly compare firms and identify what makes each one distinct. Bookmark your favorites with Gold Stars.
The firm's own website. Check the "News" or "Press" section for recent deals and cases. Read attorney bios in the practice areas that interest you. Look at their summer associate program page for details on training and mentorship.
Legal news outlets. The American Lawyer, Law360, and Reuters Legal News cover major firm developments. A quick search for the firm name will surface recent deals, leadership changes, and market moves.
Your school's career services office. They often have data on which firms hired from your school, callback rates, and alumni contacts at specific firms.
People. Talk to 2Ls and 3Ls who summered at the firm. Attend firm receptions and info sessions. These conversations give you material that no website can.
What to Look For
Practice area strengths. What is the firm known for? Every firm does M&A and litigation, but each has particular strengths. Maybe it's their private equity practice, their white-collar defense group, or their tech transactions team.
Recent matters. Find 2-3 specific deals or cases the firm worked on recently. You don't need to know every detail, just enough to reference them intelligently.
Culture signals. How do they describe their training? Is the firm known for a lockstep or eat-what-you-kill culture? Do associates get early responsibility? These details help you answer why this firm authentically.
Size and structure. How big is the firm? How many offices? Is the office you're interviewing for a headquarters or a satellite? This affects your experience as a summer associate.
Interviewer backgrounds. Before each interview, look up the attorney who's interviewing you. Know their practice area, their path to the firm, and anything interesting from their bio.
How to Use Your Research
Don't dump facts into the conversation. Nobody wants to hear you recite the firm's deal list. Instead, weave your research into natural answers:
- "I read about your work on [specific deal] and it's exactly the kind of complex, multi-party matter I find exciting."
- "I noticed your office has a particularly strong restructuring practice, which aligns with my interest from my finance background."
- "I spoke with [name] at your info session, and what they said about the mentorship culture really resonated."
Research makes your answers specific. Specific answers get callbacks.
The 15-Minute Pre-Interview Routine
Before each interview, spend 15 minutes:
- Pull up the firm's Big Law Bear profile, review practice areas and key details.
- Check their website for the 1-2 most recent news items.
- Look up the interviewer's bio.
- Write down 3 specific things you can reference and 2-3 questions to ask.
That's it. Fifteen minutes of focused research per firm is the highest-ROI time you'll spend during recruiting season.
Keep this guide handy.
Create a free profile to save articles, compare firms, and return to your recruiting plan.