Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP

Hiring Criteria

On-campus interviews at Mitchell Silberberg are typically two-on-one and callbacks usually involve interviews with five or six attorneys, followed by lunch and, in some cases, dinner. A large share of the firm's attorneys participate in the recruiting process, both on-campus and at the firm: "there's a real commitment to bringing in the next great class of attorneys," one insider remarked. Recruits are generally not asked substantive questions ("being overly pedantic doesn't make for a helpful or friendly interview"), but "we enjoy hearing about candidates' law review topics or other experiences. If a recruit can speak enthusiastically about his or her involvement in past legal activities and jobs, and their grades are good, it makes the hiring decision a lot easier," noted one insider. A second person remarked that "when I interview a law student applicant, I am interested in the whole person, so certainly anything on the resume, including hobbies and interests, is fair game." Our contacts offered a number of suggestions as to how candidates might approach the interview itself. One insider advised interviewees to "be respectful. Listen to what each interviewer is telling you as if it is the first time you have heard it, even though three other attorneys already told you the same thing. Feel comfortable talking about yourself and do not put anything on your resume that you're not prepared to discuss." A second person urged candidates to "not come across as too star struck or interested in the glamour of entertainment law or as too arrogant or cocky-there's plenty of time for that after you pass the bar. Do be sincere."