What to Bring to the Interview - The Packet, Resume, Writing Samples, Transcripts, References, What Not To Bring
school cover folder appearance
What you bring with you into the interviewing room is just as important as your appearance and your answers. Yet, many people focus solely on appearance and preparation while forgetting to pay attention to what they carry. What you bring with you should communicate that you are professional, confident, and well-prepared, and provide ready “take-aways” for busy interviewers. Your packet or portfolio should consist of a manila folder, your resume, a short writing sample, transcripts, and a list of references. After you finish putting these materials together, do not forget to print your name on the folder so it is clearly visible. As a finishing touch for on-campus interviews, you can clip on a passport-sized photo of yourself on the inside cover. Your school may even offer complimentary folders with the school logo on the cover, which are perfect for this occasion.
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Your packet or portfolio accomplishes three goals: it makes you look good, it educates the interviewer about your candidacy, and it helps the interviewer remember who you are. The vast majority of legal interviews happen during a very short time period, with a large number of candidates interviewing for the same position. Faced with such an abundance of applicants, employers often have a difficult…
Whether or not you bring packets to your interviews, always have extra copies of your updated resume and transcripts on hand. Employers often ask for them at an interview, and you will look unprepared if you cannot produce them on the spot. Some candidates also wonder whether they should spend extra money on fancy paper. Most interviewers agree that nice resume paper has no bearing on their decisi…
Your packet should include your writing samples. However, even if you managed to get an article published, please do not bring a copy of the journal. At best, employers will find it cumbersome, lengthy, and unhelpful; at worst, they will find it arrogant. Instead, include five to 10 pages from your article, together with a cover page explaining that it was accepted for publication or recently publ…
You should always have extra copies of transcripts with you. Employers ask for them all the time, and they expect you to bring them to an interview. Although you should include your law school transcripts in your packet, consider making your undergraduate transcripts available, as well, especially if you do not yet have law school grades or if your undergraduate transcripts are much more impressiv…
Having a list of references becomes less important the more senior you become in your legal career. It is most important, however, for first-year law students, government attorney candidates, and clerkship applicants. Most of the time, these particular candidates have little or no relevant experience, and potential employers tend to rely on references to assess their abilities. Lateral candidates …
Interviewees who carry large loads of stuff to the interviews may appear less professional and less organized than those who manage to leave the heavy weight behind. If you do not exercise your best judgment, what you bring to the interview can cost you an offer. Heather came to a clerkship interview with a prestigious “feeder” judge carrying a large bottle of water. With a look on h…
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