Trying to lateral from boutique corporate law firm to mid sized/big law. I’ve had 3 interviews - all three declined to move forward. Did anyone make a game changing adjustment to their interview strategy? Advice plz!

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I made the move from boutique lit to a sophisticated mid sized doing corporate. I think people can tell when you want something too much and it turns them off. I’d done so many interviews and already had turned down so many positions that I felt confident if I didn’t get an offer. Interview for everything for the practice with interview skills even stuff outside the area of law you want to be in.

Make sure you have questions for them about development program, practice software they use, how they work with speciality groups in their firm, etc. you do this to not only seem interested but back to what I said above… you’re interviewing them as well. Make them impress you as well. Don’t be an a-hole and seem interested in what they have to say, but think of it in a way that you both want something from one another. They need an associate and need to convince you they’re worth working for. You might need a job one day.

Also never badmouth your job. They’ll ask why you want to leave. Talk about how amazing your firm and coworkers are even if it’s b-s and say you’re not really in the market but you saw the opportunity on ____ and wanted to learn more. When they ask why you’re looking to leave say that you aren’t because you love your job, but if the right opportunity to arises you’re interested

Look at your CV as well and your LinkedIn. It’s common in small law to be a jack of all trades. Stick to that one story of what you do (M&A or cap markers or whatever it is you do) and stick to it! Don’t try to convince them you can also help them with this other sub specialty and that one in corporate law. Firms like that don’t like well rounded people. They like people who specialize in one thing and having more experiences listed on your CV and LinkedIn or mentioning them during an interview can be to your detriment. If you’re doing a cap markets interview, you’re only cap markets (and make sure the CV you send out reflects that). Don’t start mentioning the time you made a will for someone or the time you did a bankruptcy… if you’re doing M&A don’t send a cap markets resume unless you only have cap markets experience. Scrub non-M&A related info and don’t mention it during the interview

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Wow. Super helpful thanks.

Probably not the best time to lateral given the state of the economy.

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Sometimes with this kind of move you want to give off a more biglaw vibe, as opposed to someone who is at a small firm hoping to be in biglaw. Like that air of almost cockiness. Hope that makes sense!

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