Want to know exactly what to ask in a law firm interview? 👉 SNAG THE "BEST QUESTIONS TO ASK IN LAW FIRM INTERVIEWS” GUIDE: launch.angelavorpahl.com/best-questions-to-ask-visit Questions about how to prepare for and rock law firm interviews? Let me know below! :)
Angela I just found your channel. I'm a 2L in Canada currently in the process of looking for a summer internship. I just want to thank you for your time & dedication, I'll be sure to check out all your content on the subject! :)
Good question. I'm not entirely sure. I've seen it happen before, but I don't know the specifics of the process. The details will be laid out in the partnership agreement, but my guess would be some version of a majority vote of the partners and/or a clause about dismisal for violating partnership roles and duties.
I have a question - it does not so much relate to this video. I heard in one video, you do I think you said independent work,what is it you do and why? That would be a good video. Also you were bold enough to say your earnings with your clerkship and big law jobs,what about independently? If that is not rude to ask, if it is please accept my apology. What are the business dynamics to your business? How is it structured? I would like to know about what you do now and the business dynamics.I think those would be a really cool series of videos that people could get into it and get a vision of or a target as far as where they could aim to be/do. Just a thought.Thanks!
Hi David! I haven't really considered making a video about being a coach for law students since it's not a practicing attorney role, which I know so many members of my community are looking to do (at least at first)! But over on my Instagram account I definitely do give a lot of behind-the-scenes footage of my coaching business and the work I do with law students, so feel free to follow me there as well if you're interested in that kind of stuff :)
@@AngelaVorpahl I don't know anything about instagram. I am a little inept on some technology. I still have a land line. Once I step it up, I would very much enjoy finding out more about what you post on instagram. Thank you so kindly for the responses to my questions. I am learning so much from you.
@@kkthekkshidd I'm so glad to hear it :) In answer to your question, what constitutes a good GPA is subjective person to person, and changes law school to law school depending on your law school's curve. A much better marker is your class ranking because that shows how you rank against your classmates. The usual cutoffs that law schools will give you are for the top third, the top 25%, and the top 10%. Legal employers who make hiring cuts based on grades will usually specify in the job posting what grade cutoff they're looking to interview in that first round of interviews. That being said, don't be turned off by those cutoffs because they are definitely not absolute, and if you're a strong candidate based on your previous experience (for example) you can overcome those cutoff preferences. Let me know if that answers your question! And if you haven't yet downloaded my "best questions to ask in law firm interviews" guide let me know if you'd like the link because it's a game-changer!
Hi, I’m currently an undergrad at Northwestern University and I was wondering if there are any admission advantages when it comes to applying to the law school that you studied at for undergrad? Especially when the school is a “T-14” school.
Ooh good question, I don't know! I would guess that it may be a "soft factor" in your favor, but at the end of the day my sense is that the law school will still be looking for that LSAT and GPA above all else. But by all means I would apply and see what happens :)
Hi Angela, this is great content and I am very glad that I saw this before January OCI. Just wondering, I summered at a biglaw and mostly worked in a specific (not general corp but finance-related) practice area. Would "at firm X I worked in this area and really liked it" followed by some examples be a good answer to this "what practice area" question in your opinion?
Definitely! I would also add in 1-2 examples of specific projects you worked on, how you enjoyed them, and the skills + value that they helped you develop. It will give a bit more depth to your answer and show a bit of a deeper knowledge base about the practice area, what the projects were/were being used for, and how you can apply those same skills to add value to the law firm you're interviewing with :)
Hi Angela, Thanks for the great info. I am studying to be an attorney in the U.S. and I am halfway through my law school career. I am not a U.S. citizen and I want to know if you think that would be an obstacle for great job opportunities? Also if I do want to go into litigation law but not criminal law what areas of law would you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Leiso! These are great questions, and I have quite a few thoughts soo send me a DM (either on Instagram or LinkedIn) and that way I can respond to you with an audiogram :)
Hi Jasleen! It definitely depends on the practice group, but no not all types of lawyers write a ton :) Specifically, practice groups that are transactional-based don't write much (i.e. you'll still write client emails but you won't be writing lots of memos and briefs like litigators do). And other practice areas are very template-based, like certain types of insurance practices, wills and estates practices, and possibly even family law practices, where there isn't a ton of motion practice. So if family law is what you're interested I would definitely say go for it and don't let your perceived weakness in writing stop you :) Writing is a skill and you will get better at it as you practice it over time. Plus, everyone is stronger in some areas over others. There are definitely lawyers out there that are terrible at writing but wonderful at oral advocacy or business development and have made incredibly successful careers for themselves. So try your best to focus on the stuff you're good at it rather than the stuff you're not, and slowly over time you can build up the weaker areas if they're important to you or you feel like they would make you a better lawyer :)
Hey Angela! I have a question about demographic component of Biglaw firms. I know NYC is a very diverse city with hundreds of different cultures and nationalities living together. I am really interested if BigLaw sphere is also as diverse as general population. In particular, I wonder if you have met any Russian lawyers or people from Eastern Europe working in large law firms on your professional path. Is there some kind of discrimination in this area? Thanks in advance for your answer!
Hi Vadim! Good question. I would definitely say that the legal industry is very aware of the fact that it's not as diverse as it should be, and more and more law firms are taking on diversity intitiatives to try and remedy that (with varying results). With respect to Russian and Eastern European lawyers in particular, I did work with an amazing associate (who later became partner) from Romania! He had moved to the U.S. when he was about 18 years old and went to a U.S. university and law school. I personally haven't seen instances of blatant discrimination in biglaw hiring, and in many cases it helps to be of a diverse or ethnic minority background. That being said, biglaw hiring is almost exclusively based on law school rank and 1L grades, and so in many cases the paths to reach those goals are easier for people with access to more resources starting from a young age. I'm hoping that the strategies I teach law students as to how to use law school to reach the strongest grades and job opportunities possible helps begin to bridge that gap :) Did that answer your question?
@@vcjr282 My pleasure! If you're looking for additional support, I run a free FB group for law students and prelaw students, would you like the link to join? :)
Want to know exactly what to ask in a law firm interview?
👉 SNAG THE "BEST QUESTIONS TO ASK IN LAW FIRM INTERVIEWS” GUIDE: launch.angelavorpahl.com/best-questions-to-ask-visit
Questions about how to prepare for and rock law firm interviews? Let me know below! :)
I'm so glad I found your channel :) Thank you for all your work and I look forward to your future videos!
Yay!! My pleasure! I'm so happy to hear that the videos resonate with you :)
Thanks for the video! I aced my interview and got my job as a first year lawyer!
WHAT?! That's amazing!!! Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about how the interview went for you? :)
Angela I just found your channel. I'm a 2L in Canada currently in the process of looking for a summer internship. I just want to thank you for your time & dedication, I'll be sure to check out all your content on the subject! :)
My pleasure!! I'm so glad the videos have been helpful! I also run a free FB group for law students, would you like the link to join? :)
@@AngelaVorpahl I just joined the group! :)
@@wambyboyCR Yay!! Welcome!!
What is the process for firing a law firm partner if they have a stake in the profits of the firm?
Good question. I'm not entirely sure. I've seen it happen before, but I don't know the specifics of the process. The details will be laid out in the partnership agreement, but my guess would be some version of a majority vote of the partners and/or a clause about dismisal for violating partnership roles and duties.
Super helpful, thank you!!
Yay!! My pleasure! Are you headed into interviews soon? :)
Wow, another power packed video, Angela!
Yay!! I'm so glad it was helpful! Are you heading into interviews soon? :)
@@AngelaVorpahl well, I am developing a training program at my law firm for the newbies to get hired.
@@MuhammadAli-jk8ii That's so cool!! Is there any other type of content that would be helpful to you guys?
This was a superb video. Thank you. You really clarified everything for me. :)
Excellent! I'm so glad to hear it! This question can be a tough one, so I wanted you guys to be able to have a framework for answering it :)
I have a question - it does not so much relate to this video. I heard in one video, you do I think you said independent work,what is it you do and why? That would be a good video. Also you were bold enough to say your earnings with your clerkship and big law jobs,what about independently? If that is not rude to ask, if it is please accept my apology. What are the business dynamics to your business? How is it structured? I would like to know about what you do now and the business dynamics.I think those would be a really cool series of videos that people could get into it and get a vision of or a target as far as where they could aim to be/do. Just a thought.Thanks!
Hi David! I haven't really considered making a video about being a coach for law students since it's not a practicing attorney role, which I know so many members of my community are looking to do (at least at first)! But over on my Instagram account I definitely do give a lot of behind-the-scenes footage of my coaching business and the work I do with law students, so feel free to follow me there as well if you're interested in that kind of stuff :)
@@AngelaVorpahl I don't know anything about instagram. I am a little inept on some technology. I still have a land line. Once I step it up, I would very much enjoy finding out more about what you post on instagram. Thank you so kindly for the responses to my questions. I am learning so much from you.
@@davidswann6154 My pleasure!! :)
Can you give me some tips for intellectual property law, this is the field I am most interested in.
Hi! What type of tips are you looking for?
You are absolutely amazing!!!
Haha I take it this video helped! Do you feel more confident heading into your interview? :)
@@AngelaVorpahl I did! Btw is a 3.0/3.2 your first semester a bad gpa?
@@kkthekkshidd I'm so glad to hear it :) In answer to your question, what constitutes a good GPA is subjective person to person, and changes law school to law school depending on your law school's curve. A much better marker is your class ranking because that shows how you rank against your classmates.
The usual cutoffs that law schools will give you are for the top third, the top 25%, and the top 10%. Legal employers who make hiring cuts based on grades will usually specify in the job posting what grade cutoff they're looking to interview in that first round of interviews. That being said, don't be turned off by those cutoffs because they are definitely not absolute, and if you're a strong candidate based on your previous experience (for example) you can overcome those cutoff preferences.
Let me know if that answers your question! And if you haven't yet downloaded my "best questions to ask in law firm interviews" guide let me know if you'd like the link because it's a game-changer!
@@AngelaVorpahl thank you, Angela!!
@@kkthekkshidd My pleasure! 😍
Hi, I’m currently an undergrad at Northwestern University and I was wondering if there are any admission advantages when it comes to applying to the law school that you studied at for undergrad? Especially when the school is a “T-14” school.
Ooh good question, I don't know! I would guess that it may be a "soft factor" in your favor, but at the end of the day my sense is that the law school will still be looking for that LSAT and GPA above all else. But by all means I would apply and see what happens :)
Hi Angela, this is great content and I am very glad that I saw this before January OCI. Just wondering, I summered at a biglaw and mostly worked in a specific (not general corp but finance-related) practice area. Would "at firm X I worked in this area and really liked it" followed by some examples be a good answer to this "what practice area" question in your opinion?
Definitely! I would also add in 1-2 examples of specific projects you worked on, how you enjoyed them, and the skills + value that they helped you develop. It will give a bit more depth to your answer and show a bit of a deeper knowledge base about the practice area, what the projects were/were being used for, and how you can apply those same skills to add value to the law firm you're interviewing with :)
Hi Angela, Thanks for the great info. I am studying to be an attorney in the U.S. and I am halfway through my law school career. I am not a U.S. citizen and I want to know if you think that would be an obstacle for great job opportunities? Also if I do want to go into litigation law but not criminal law what areas of law would you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Leiso! These are great questions, and I have quite a few thoughts soo send me a DM (either on Instagram or LinkedIn) and that way I can respond to you with an audiogram :)
Hey Anglela, I want to work as a family law lawyer. But I’m not the best at writing. Is writing very important for a lawyer? 🥺
Hi Jasleen! It definitely depends on the practice group, but no not all types of lawyers write a ton :) Specifically, practice groups that are transactional-based don't write much (i.e. you'll still write client emails but you won't be writing lots of memos and briefs like litigators do). And other practice areas are very template-based, like certain types of insurance practices, wills and estates practices, and possibly even family law practices, where there isn't a ton of motion practice. So if family law is what you're interested I would definitely say go for it and don't let your perceived weakness in writing stop you :)
Writing is a skill and you will get better at it as you practice it over time. Plus, everyone is stronger in some areas over others. There are definitely lawyers out there that are terrible at writing but wonderful at oral advocacy or business development and have made incredibly successful careers for themselves. So try your best to focus on the stuff you're good at it rather than the stuff you're not, and slowly over time you can build up the weaker areas if they're important to you or you feel like they would make you a better lawyer :)
@@AngelaVorpahl your so amazing 🤩
@@_jasleendhaliwal Haha yay!! I'm glad the answer was helpful!! :)
Hey Angela! I have a question about demographic component of Biglaw firms. I know NYC is a very diverse city with hundreds of different cultures and nationalities living together. I am really interested if BigLaw sphere is also as diverse as general population. In particular, I wonder if you have met any Russian lawyers or people from Eastern Europe working in large law firms on your professional path. Is there some kind of discrimination in this area? Thanks in advance for your answer!
Hi Vadim! Good question. I would definitely say that the legal industry is very aware of the fact that it's not as diverse as it should be, and more and more law firms are taking on diversity intitiatives to try and remedy that (with varying results). With respect to Russian and Eastern European lawyers in particular, I did work with an amazing associate (who later became partner) from Romania! He had moved to the U.S. when he was about 18 years old and went to a U.S. university and law school. I personally haven't seen instances of blatant discrimination in biglaw hiring, and in many cases it helps to be of a diverse or ethnic minority background. That being said, biglaw hiring is almost exclusively based on law school rank and 1L grades, and so in many cases the paths to reach those goals are easier for people with access to more resources starting from a young age. I'm hoping that the strategies I teach law students as to how to use law school to reach the strongest grades and job opportunities possible helps begin to bridge that gap :)
Did that answer your question?
Angela Vorpahl Yes! Thank you so much for the answer!
@@vcjr282 My pleasure! If you're looking for additional support, I run a free FB group for law students and prelaw students, would you like the link to join? :)
What type of lawyer are you? Btw ur pretty :)
I was an IP litigator! I don't practice right now as I'm a full-time law school and early legal career coach :)