What to do next after having being interviewed for a legal job

Whew! It's finally over! You just finished with the big interview. Perhaps your interview was with a potential employer for your first post-law school job. Or maybe the interview was with a law school that you are hoping to get accepted to. Either way, while it's nice to have the interview behind you, many interviewees have the common misconception that once the interview is over the decision is out of their hands. All you can do is just sit around by the phone, and hound the postman when he comes with the mail, right? Wrong. This is not only un-true, but sitting back and waiting may actually hinder your chances of getting the good news you're hoping for. At this point, being passive may hurt you. Regardless of how your interview went, until the employer or selection committee has informed you of their decision, the process is not over! Until then, there are several strategies that you can use to ensure that you and your interview are fresh in the interviewers' (or committee's) minds.
 

Be Sure to Follow Up!

Within the next 24 hours of your interview, be sure to follow up. If the interview was with a school, follow up with the head of the selection committee. If the interview was with a potential law firm, follow up with one of the partners, the HR manager, or the person who conducted the interview. The follow-up can be as simple as sending a card, a phone call, or even an email. The avenue that you select to use should reflect the environment of the firm or school that you have applied to. For example, if the firm is laid back, shooting a quick email is a good idea. However, if you're applying to a law school, then perhaps a card maybe more formal and therefore, effective.

The follow-up call/card/email should thank the interviewer(s) but also emphasize your interest in being a part of the law school or law firm, etc. Briefly restate your qualifications and how you'd be a contribution to the school or firm. Also, keep in mind the following with your follow up:
 

• Write several emails/cards if the interview was with more than one individual. Don't just create one form letter for everyone, or cc everyone the same email. Take the time to personalize your message to each individual. This way, if they compare them (which is possible), they will see that you made the extra effort.
• Proofread the card or email prior to sending it. Nothing will hurt your credibility more than grammatical and spelling errors!

Changed Your Mind? Let them Know!

Maybe within a few days of the interview, you find out that you were accepted to another law school, or you were offered a position with another firm or company. Be sure to let the other schools/firms/businesses that you interviewed with know! You should still follow up, this time thanking them in a call/card/email for their time, but explaining that you are no longer interested in the opportunity with them due to other opportunities that have recently presented themselves. The LAST thing you should do is let them go on thinking that you are still interested if you have accepted other offers. You should let them know of your decision this for two reasons. The first one being that it is the professional and cordial thing to do. They took the time to conduct the interview and you should take the time to turn them down. Second, you just never know what the future holds. Certain professors may run in the same circle as other law school professors, and so it goes with practicing attorneys who have established relationships with attorneys at other firms. The point is that you do NOT want to burn a bridge with one school or firm, only to have it come back and haunt you later in your legal career! So, be professional when informing your interviewers of your decision!

Time to Follow-up…Again!

Perhaps a few weeks (or depending on the school/firm a few months) have gone by, and still you do not have an answer. It doesn't hurt to call or email and ask if they are still in the selection process. Not hearing back does not necessarily mean the worst. Some schools don't make their decisions, or inform candidates of their decisions for several months, so it doesn't hurt to just send an email asking if they are still in the process, and letting them know that you are still very interested in attending their school. On the same note, some firms aren't in a huge hurry to hire, so a simple email stating that you are still interested in the position with their firm will also to help ensure that you're fresh in their minds. Just be careful to only follow up a few times, because while you want to ensure that you are fresh in their minds, you don't want them to remember you as the annoying person who called every other day!
 
See the following articles for more information:
 

• 21 Major Interview Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
• The Best Way to Prepare for a Job Search and Interviews
• How to Talk About Other Interviews in Your Interviews
• How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question
• How to Answer the Do You Have Any Questions for Me Interview Question