Ethan Brown ‘25
Features Editor
A few weeks ago, the class of 2025 participated in On-Grounds Interviews, a tradition as old as…well, I’m not exactly sure, but presumably as old as something that was born in the early 1990’s[1]. On-Grounds Interviewing, or OGI as it is affectionately known to UVA Law students,[2] is the annual ritual of law firms descending on Charlottesville[3] to recruit rising 2Ls for summer associate positions that will eventually (read: hopefully) turn into permanent offers after graduation.
OGI is basically sorority rush, insofar as that: (a) it involves a lot of small talk; (b) people make seemingly significant decisions based on snap judgments; and (c) it deserves to be the topic of a high-quality HBO Max documentary.[4] Each firm selects candidates to invite back for callbacks based partially on how they perform in a rapid fire 20-minute screener call, which typically involve attorneys from the firm asking only four or five questions of the student before moving on to the next applicant.
What questions do the firms ask? Luckily for anyone interested in private practice, every firm (in my experience, at least) asked the same few questions with shockingly little variation. After responding to them more than twenty times, my responses are permanently seared in my subconscious. I will never be able to hear the words “1L,” “litigation,” “internship,” or “meaningful” again without going into anaphylactic shock and writhing uncontrollably.
But the temptation was strong, almost irrepressibly so in some interviews, to act up and go off-script. So, if you’re a 1L curious about getting your hands on an incredibly snarky cheat sheet for OGI next summer, read on. Remember to thank me when you don’t have to see OPP for a single counseling appointment this year because with these bad boys, you’re good to go until next July.
“Why are you interested in our firm?”
Biglaw_lawyer69 said on Reddit that your office in my target market is “fine.” You’re high enough on the Vault rankings that I get enough of an ego boost from working for you but low enough that I’m not intimidated. Your logo and font choice are pretty solid. I also heard that you give out free merch to students who receive an offer, and my wireless phone charger broke last week.
“How have you liked living in Charlottesville?”
Insert thirty-second charming anecdote about how much you like: (a) Bodo’s; (b) hiking; or (c) alt-right rallies. Mention the “great food scene for a small city” thing because it’s the only thing anyone seems to know about Charlottesville. Then quickly switch gears and add a fifteen-second pitch for why you want to live in an actual city after law school just in case your interviewer is suspicious of your decision to live in the mountains for three years.
“What made you want to go to law school?”
A crippling desire to bug my father just a little bit for always complaining about lawyers when I was growing up. An inability to let go of the prestige-chasing that has driven most of my young adult life. The joy of joining the same profession as such legends like Rudy Guiliani. The chance at being able to affix “esquire” to my email signature.
“We know that many firms have stellar opportunities. How are you keeping them all straight?”
I’m not. Which one are you again?
“What is your least favorite part about law school?”
Finals are stressful![5]
“Do you have an idea of what you’d like to practice?”
I’m not sure about corporate/transactional work because I still do not really know what a “contract” is. I guess that leaves litigation and regulatory work, but I know those are extraordinarily competitive slots in my target market of interest. You see my predicament?
“Where do you see yourself in ten years?”
I dunno, dead from climate change probably?
“What are you looking for in a firm?”
I’m looking for a dynamic, team-driven environment with opportunities for personal growth, professional development, and meaningful social connection. I love being a part of something bigger than myself to provide high-quality work to important clients—and I’m not afraid to put in the work or get my hands dirty in the process. I want to learn from the best and hit the ground running from day one of my summer program.[6]
“Do you have any questions for us?”
Actually, yes, I do—how much does the firm consider the quality of my questions when evaluating my candidacy? Because I feel like anything I ask you sounds unbelievably trite, and you can’t possibly enjoy answering the same question of “wHy DiD yOU choOsE tHiS fIRm?” twenty times over. But to cover my bases, I’ll ask anyway. And I promise to look unbelievably enraptured when you say you chose your firm for its unique culture, strong work opportunities, and exceptional investment in associate development!
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bwj2cw@virginia.edu
[1] For example, our elderly EIC.
[2] It is begrudgingly known as OGI to every person outside of UVA Law who instead refers to the recruiting process as On-Campus Interviewing (OCI).
[3] Yes, I know OGI is virtual now but that really doesn’t fit the metaphor as well.
[4] I recently watched Bama Rush, and phew. She needs a redo.
[5] It’s funny because I actually said this during a screener. Good job, Ethan. What original content!
[6]I’ll let the reader decide whether or not this is AI-generated.