What Is a Callback Interview?

What a Callback Is

A callback interview means the firm liked your screener enough to invite you in for a longer evaluation. This is the real evaluation. If the screener is a first date, the callback is meeting the family.

Format varies more than it used to. Some firms still run a half-day in-person callback at their office, with 3 to 5 attorney meetings and a meal. Many firms now run callbacks fully over Zoom, scheduling several back-to-back video meetings across half a day. A growing share use a hybrid model: a virtual first round, then an in-person second look for finalists. Read your invitation carefully so you know which version you are walking into.

Getting a callback is a big deal. It means you're genuinely in the running.

The Typical Callback Schedule

Here's what a standard callback looks like, with notes on what changes when it is virtual.

Arrival or sign-on. In person, you check in with the recruiting coordinator who walks you to a conference room and offers you water or coffee. Virtually, you receive a calendar invite with the video link, sign on five minutes early, and the recruiting coordinator may pop in to introduce you to your first interviewer.

3-5 Interviews, 20-30 minutes each. Each interview is with a different attorney, usually a mix of associates and partners across practice areas. The conversations are more relaxed than screeners, but make no mistake: every person you meet is evaluating you. In a virtual format, the firm typically uses break rooms or sequential calendar invites.

Office Tour. Only at in-person callbacks. A quick walk through the floor. Someone will point out the library, associate offices, and the view. Pay attention and ask questions, it shows you care about where you'd actually be working.

The Meal. In person, this is lunch or dinner with 1 to 2 associates. It feels social, and it partly is, but it's still part of the evaluation. Be normal. Order something easy to eat while talking. Don't order the most expensive thing on the menu. Don't order alcohol unless the associate does first (and even then, one drink max). For fully virtual callbacks, the social component is sometimes a "casual chat" with associates over Zoom, or it's skipped entirely.

How to Prepare

Know the firm deeply. By now, surface-level research isn't enough. You should know the firm's recent major deals, its standout practice areas, any recent lateral moves, and what makes it different from the 10 other firms you're interviewing with. The firm directory is your starting point, dig into practice area breakdowns and firm details.

Prep different material for each interviewer. You'll be asked the same questions by multiple people. Your answers should be consistent, but vary your questions for each interviewer. Ask the M&A partner about deals. Ask the junior associate about training and culture.

Have your "why this firm" answer locked in. This is even more important at callbacks than at screeners. They want to know why this firm, specifically, made the cut. Our guide on answering "why this firm" walks you through building a specific, convincing answer.

Prepare 8-10 questions. You'll need 2-3 per interviewer, and some will get answered before you ask them. Have a deep bench.

For virtual callbacks: get the setup right. Test your camera, microphone, and internet 24 hours before. Use a clean background or a tasteful blur. Sit at eye level with the camera and look at the camera lens, not your own image, when you speak. Lighting in front of you, not behind. A bad setup can quietly cost you the offer.

What Gets You the Offer

Callback-to-offer rates vary by firm, but a reasonable estimate is 50-70% at most BigLaw firms. Here's what separates people who convert:

• Genuine enthusiasm. Not fake energy. Real interest in the firm's work, culture, and people.
• Consistency. Every attorney compares notes after you leave. If you told one person you love litigation and another that you're interested in corporate, that's a problem.
• Good conversation. The attorneys are asking themselves: "Would I want this person on my team at 2 AM on a deal?" Be someone people enjoy talking to.
• Smart questions. Asking thoughtful questions signals that you're serious and engaged.

After the Callback

Send individual thank-you emails to every attorney you met. Personalize each one, reference something specific from your conversation. Send them within 24 hours.

Then wait. Offer timelines vary, some firms call within 48 hours, others take weeks. Read our post-callback timeline guide so you know what to expect.

If you're juggling multiple callbacks and early offers, check out whether you should accept your first BigLaw offer.