The 10 Most Common OCI Interview Questions

Before We Start

There are no trick questions at OCI. Interviewers aren't trying to catch you off guard — they're trying to figure out if you're smart, personable, and genuinely interested in their firm.

That said, preparation matters. Here are the 10 questions that come up most often, what the interviewer is really asking, and how to handle each one.

1. "Tell me about yourself."

What they mean: Give me the 90-second version of your story.

How to answer: Start with where you're from or your undergrad, hit your "why law" moment, mention what excites you about practice, and land on why you're interested in this firm. Keep it tight. This is not your life story — it's a highlight reel.

2. "Why are you interested in this firm?"

What they mean: Did you actually research us, or are we one of 20 identical interviews today?

How to answer: Be specific. Name a practice area, a recent matter, a firm initiative, or something you learned from their Big Law Bear profile. "I noticed your structured finance group has been growing" beats "You're a great firm" every single time. We have a full guide on this question.

3. "What practice area interests you?"

What they mean: Have you thought about what you'd actually do here?

How to answer: Pick one or two areas and explain why. It's fine to say you're still exploring, but have at least one area you can talk about with some depth. Mention a class, a professor's research, a summer experience — something that shows the interest is real.

4. "Walk me through your resume."

What they mean: Same as "tell me about yourself," but they want you to connect the dots on specific experiences.

How to answer: Go chronologically but keep it brisk. Spend the most time on your most relevant experience. Don't just list what you did — explain what you learned and why it matters.

5. "Why BigLaw?"

What they mean: Do you understand what this job actually is?

How to answer: Be honest. It's okay to mention the training, the caliber of work, the compensation. What doesn't work: "I want to help people" (this isn't legal aid) or "I love working hard" (nobody loves billing 2,000 hours). Good answers reference the complexity of the work, the quality of mentorship, or specific types of matters you want to work on.

6. "Tell me about a challenging experience and how you handled it."

What they mean: Can you deal with stress, setbacks, and difficult situations?

How to answer: Pick a real example — academic, professional, or personal. Describe the situation briefly, what you did, and what you learned. The best answers show self-awareness and resilience, not perfection.

7. "What questions do you have for me?"

What they mean: Are you engaged? Are you thoughtful?

How to answer: Always have questions. Ask about the interviewer's path at the firm, how work is assigned, what makes the office culture distinct, or something about a specific practice group. Never ask about salary or hours in a screener. Check how to research a firm for ideas on smart questions.

8. "Where else are you interviewing?"

What they mean: Are we a realistic option for you, or are you just collecting interviews?

How to answer: Be honest but strategic. You can name a few firms without listing all of them. The key is that your list should make sense — if you're interviewing at all New York corporate firms and one random IP boutique, be ready to explain the thread.

9. "What do you do outside of law school?"

What they mean: Are you a real person?

How to answer: This is the easiest question to be genuine on. Talk about actual hobbies, interests, or activities. The interviewer has done 15 of these today — a real conversation about something you actually care about is refreshing.

10. "Is there anything else you'd like me to know?"

What they mean: Last chance to make an impression.

How to answer: Use this to reinforce your interest in the firm or mention something you didn't get to cover. Don't say "No, I think we covered everything" — that's a wasted opportunity. Even a simple "I just want to reiterate how excited I am about [specific thing]" works.

The Meta-Advice

Preparation isn't about memorizing scripts. It's about having thought through these topics enough that you can answer naturally. Practice out loud — with a friend, in front of a mirror, wherever. The goal is comfortable confidence, not robotic perfection.

Pair this question prep with solid firm research using the firm directory and you'll walk into your screeners ready. For more on the overall process, check out our complete OCI guide.