“We hope this GOODBlog provides encouragement and advice to any law student partaking in on-campus interviews (“OCIs”). Despite it being a nerve-wracking, long, stressful day, we like to hone in and find that silver lining. Luckily, our current articling students and summer students have found a number of positives to look forward to during OCIs. Below you will find what each student has to say about that, plus an OCI-related tip! Enjoy and good luck!”
– Articling Students 2017/18 and Summer Students 2017
Something to look forward to
You have the chance to meet, and be inspired by, your interviewers and their journeys to becoming successful lawyers.
OCI Tip
Reflect on your personal journey that brought you to law school and the OCI process before your interviews.
Something to look forward to
It’s exhilarating and fast paced. It’s a test of your mental stamina. At the end of the day, you’ve done something to be proud of.
OCI Tip
If you have a bad interview, forget about it and move on.
Something to look forward to
You bond with your peers in a whole new way and you come out the other end with more than potentially just a job, but new friends and a much broader network. It’s overall a much friendlier process than it seems!
OCI Tip
Don’t put on some sort of “corporate persona” you think firms are looking for. At the end of the day, you have to work day in and day out and you don’t want to work somewhere you can’t be yourself! Any firm that you have to “steel yourself” for is probably not right for you. Choose the firm that makes you smile!
Something to look forward to
OCIs are a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet such accomplished lawyers in a such a short time frame. Enjoy the experience and take it all in!
OCI Tip
Bring a comfort food/snack to recharge.
Something to look forward to
At OCIs, you’re special! Everyone there is genuinely interested in learning about who you are, which is an exciting and invigorating feeling.
OCI Tip
Remember that the process is not perfectly predictable. It’s possible that OCIs you thought went well don’t pan out, and those that you thought went poorly crystallize into opportunities. Be prepared to take that in your stride!
Something to look forward to
The snacks.
OCI Tip
When you meet your interviewers, ask them for a business card afterwards. OCIs can be a bit of a whirlwind but jotting a quick detail about something you talked about can help jog your mind when you’re wanting to personalize your thank you emails!
Something to look forward to
The solidarity you’ll have with everyone else going through the process. It’s a whirlwind of meeting and talking to lots of people, frantically trying to remember who they are, and the unwinding with your friends after it’s all over (also the glorious exhaustion sleep you’ll have that night!)
OCI Tip
Be yourself. This process is an exploration for both you and your interviewers, and being earnest to who you are is what counts the most. You want to make sure you work somewhere that you’re comfortable being you from the start. So just keep that in mind throughout the process, and if you catch yourself being disingenuous, then make sure not to dismiss the gut feeling!
Something to look forward to
Finding a firm and culture in which you belong – this is the beginning of an exciting career!
OCI Tip
Don’t memorize stories or jokes. Don’t practice in front of a mirror. Firms want to see real people and be part of genuine, natural conversations. Improvise and simply be the best version of yourself!
Something to look forward to
The learning experience. The compressed nature of the OCIs gives you the opportunity to learn a lot about your interview strengths and weaknesses, the types of people you get along with, and how to tailor yourself to meet differing expectations.
OCI Tip
Do not try to memorize answers to specific questions. Every conversation will be different. Roll with it.
Something to look forward to
Having face-to-face encounters with the interviewers can really help to put a more “personal” aspect to the whole interview process. It can be very exiting when you meet people who you really click with early on in the process.
OCI Tip
Be yourself. Be excited. The OCI process was made for YOU. Firms are not there to put you in uncomfortable situations or to test your legal knowledge. They simply want to meet and learn more about you. Once I was able to switch my mindset, it became a fun and exciting experience!
Something to look forward to
Courtney is right – snacks are a definite highlight. Apart from the food, you’ll meet a ton of new people – it’s a great way to learn just how many different ways there are to practice law.
OCI Tip
If you can (and are comfortable with it), find your friends before/between/after interviews. If something funny or ridiculous or embarrassing happened, share it with each other and have a laugh. It can feel like a stressful day, but keeping it all in perspective makes it bearable.
Something to look forward to
OCIs give you the chance to meet a number of people in the legal community (and, as you'll discover, the legal community in Toronto is not so large, so this face-to-face interaction is really great!). They are an excellent opportunity to put your skills to the test and network with people in the field. They also help to build confidence in your ability to chat with other lawyers, because the recruiters do an excellent job of breaking the ice and making you feel comfortable. After that, the conversation tends to flow very freely!
OCI Tip
Remember to think of the bigger picture! Give OCIs your best shot, but try not to dwell too much on the ones that don't go so well. OCIs will eventually just be a distant (and hopefully fond) memory in the grand scheme of your career as a lawyer.
Something to look forward to
The support and kindness demonstrated by all of my peers throughout the day was so wonderful. After each interview, I returned to the student room where everyone shared words of encouragement and positivity. This helped to make a day that can be nerve-wracking, into a fun and enriching experience overall.
OCI Tip
Just be yourself! Keep in mind that you have some amazing attributes that have helped to get you this far! At the end of the day, you're just meeting with two other people from firms who are there to meet the real you. They want to hear all about your experiences and who you are as a person. Also, drink lots of water (and maybe a coffee - or two) and bring some healthy snacks with you to power you through the day!
