This is an article in a series of articles called Your Ultimate Guide to Law Student Recruitment. Don’t forget to read the previous article here: Interview Essentials: What To Bring To Your Law Firm Interview
Introduction
Once you’ve finished the sit-down portion of the interview process, you might breathe a sigh of relief thinking you’re done. And that may be the case but some firms will invite you to do a firm tour immediately after the interview. Usually, this involves someone from the firm (most commonly a summer law student or associate) who will take you around the office to meet all of the lawyers and staff. Law firms don’t tell you this in advance so if you didn’t know, it might catch you off guard. That’s what happened to me. After my very first interview during the articling recruit, the firm invited me for a law firm tour. I didn’t know about it and I didn’t even know that was a thing! Luckily, I had enough buffer time in between my first and second interviews so I was able to say yes to doing the tour.
Do You Have To Do the Tour?
The short answer is yes. If you don’t it reflects poorly on you because it might signal to the firm that you are not interested and that might take you out of the running. So always say yes. Now, what if you had another interview scheduled shortly after and you don’t have enough time to complete the tour? What then? Still say yes! But ask them if you could reschedule or come do the tour at a later date as you have another commitment. You don’t have to spell it out and say that you have another interview, just tell them you have a conflict and they will understand what that means. Try to avoid saying “no” because a firm might take that as “no, I’m not interested”.
Protip: always leave sufficient buffer time in between multiple interviews for anything unexpected including a surprise firm tour.
How Long Does a Firm Tour Take?
Firm tours can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour (maybe more). It really depends on the firm, how big it is, how many people you stop to chat with and how in-depth those conversations get. Budget at least two hours to be safe.
The Firm Tour is an Interview
A firm tour might sound like a casual walk through the office but don’t forget that it’s still part of the interview process. You’re still in the hot seat (figuratively) so don’t relax quite yet. Most firms will have your guide, the person touring you, report back to management or the hiring committee about your firm tour and they might ask the lawyers and staff that you interact with what they think of you and whether you would be a good fit for the firm. So be personable, professional, and show genuine interest in the firm.
It’s a Two-Way Street
At the same time, a law firm tour is a two-way street. You’re learning about the firm as much as they’re learning about you. I suggest you use this as an opportunity to get a real sense of what the firm is actually like. Pull an UNO reverse card and interview the lawyers too. You might recall in one of my previous blogs that law firms often send their friendliest and most social lawyers to networking and other social events because the firm knows they will leave a good impression. But that doesn’t necessarily reflect what the rest of the lawyers at the firm are like. So a firm tour is an excellent way to really get a feel for the type of lawyers that work at the firm. Engage as much as you can with the associates, partners and staff you meet to see if you connect well and can imagine yourself working with them. Pay attention to the following:
- Are litigation and solicitor groups on separate floors?
- Do members of the law firm know each other’s names, even across different floors?
- Is there a separate kitchen/lounge area for lawyers and staff?
- Do students get work from associates or partners?
- Does the firm have an open door policy?
In one of my firm tours, the associate showing me around didn’t know the names of some of his colleagues. That’s not a bad thing. It was a bigger firm and it’s not uncommon for a big firm like that with more than 50 employees to not know everyone’s names. But I knew that I personally wanted a more tight-knit group so I could tell the firm wasn’t going to be a good fit for me based on the firm tour. Find a firm that fits with you.
Conclusion
Firm tours can feel intimidating, especially when they come as a surprise, but they’re also one of the most valuable parts of the law student recruitment process. They give you the chance to show the firm who you are outside of the structured interview room while also letting you picture yourself in the office day-to-day. Treat them seriously, ask questions that matter to you, and pay attention to the details that reveal the firm’s culture.
Remember: the goal isn’t just to get an offer. It’s to find a place where you’ll be happy. A firm tour can help you determine whether the firm is the right firm for you. At the end of the day, the right firm is the one where you can not only see yourself working, but building a legal career.
This is an article in a series of articles called Your Ultimate Guide to Law Student Recruitment. Check back again soon for the next article!
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