• Add additional information that you might have forgotten to share during the interview
• Provide material such as a transcript or writing sample requested during your interview
• Readdress a question that you might not have answered to your satisfaction
• Mention a new development (i.e., a new court decision) you just learned of in an area you discussed with the interviewer
• Reiterate your interest in the firm or organization
• Update your resume with anything pertinent that has happened since your interview (e.g., a moot court competition)

It is not necessary to send a thank-you letter to each of the attorneys with whom you interviewed during a callback interview. Firms usually keep files on each applicant and anyone having contact with you is requested to put copies of correspondence in your file. Under these circumstances, the same letter addressed to each interviewer does not make sense. Of course, you always have the option to send a thank-you letter to each person you interviewed with, as long as each letter is different and emphasizes certain specific examples from your meeting with that particular person.

If you will only send one letter, address your letter of thanks to one of the following and ask that person to extend your appreciation to each person with whom you interviewed. Be sure to mention the names of each interviewer in the letter:

• The person who had responsibility for your call-back interview schedule
• An attorney with whom you interviewed and had a particularly good rapport
• The on-campus interviewer. This is always an appropriate choice since he or she was responsible for the call-back invitation
• The recruitment coordinator
• The hiring partner

NOTE: If you're bad with names, write them down right after the interview, ask a secretary on your way out, or do whatever you need to in order to make sure you have names and spelling correct!!

When writing a thank-you letter, be sure to be specific. Your letter should clearly acknowledge that you visited that firm or organization. The letter should not be so general that it could be used for all callback interviews. For example, you might mention a particular case or experience that the interviewer talked about, a new area of practice or program for new attorneys, the firm's plans for a new building that you were shown, etc. In closing your correspondence, indicate a willingness to provide additional information that might be helpful in their decision-making process. A thank-you letter should be short and to the point. It does not need to go into great detail about what you liked about the employer.

Prepare this letter carefully so the positive impression you made during the interview is reinforced by a well-organized, well-written letter. Make sure you check the letter thoroughly for any grammatical or spelling errors. A letter replete with mistakes can erode the positive impression you made during your interview.

Be sure to send your thank-you letter as soon as possible after the callback interview, preferably within 24 hours. If you need help in writing a thank-you letter, see the sample letters in the Appendix or visit OCS for assistance.

Follow-Up Calls

One of the most difficult aspects of your job search will be waiting to hear from potential employers. At some point, you will want to contact an office to find out what's going on with your application. When should you call and what should you say? It depends on where you have applied and where you are in the process.

After you've sent a resume and cover letter. If you haven't heard back by two to three weeks, a phone call may be appropriate to find out if the office received your resume, if they are scheduling interviews yet, and if they need any further information. Smaller firms and public interest organizations may not have a set period for summer hiring, and may require more attention on your part to get them to schedule an interview.

After your first interview. If the person who interviewed you has not given you a specific time frame for getting back to you, you may, if you feel that you have a good rapport with the interviewer, ask if she knows when you might hear about a call-back. If three weeks have passed and you have not heard anything, follow up as above.

After a callback. Did you send your thank-you letter(s)? If the organization has not told you when to expect an answer, you should call back after two weeks to find out your status.

When you have an offer. You should be careful when trying to leverage an existing offer against another employer. The first thing to make sure of is how much time you have before the offer expires. It is perfectly reasonable to call employers that you haven't heard from yet and let them know you have an offer outstanding, but do not act pushy! Some firms may simply not be able to reach a decision in time, or may be offended by a "hard-ball" approach. Come talk to OCS counselors to help decide how you want to proceed.

Clerkships. At all times, be polite and deferential to judges, clerks and support staff! Keep in mind that many judges receive hundreds of applications each year and are hard pressed to handle all of them. Also be aware that the clerkship selection process is a very personal decision, and any negative impressions you make may impact your chances.

Public Interest and Government Organizations. Many public interest offices, particularly smaller ones, have a fairly informal hiring process. As a result, they may respond favorably to those who give them extra attention and check in to ask about the hiring process. However, be careful not to overdo it and annoy hard-working staff attorneys. Government offices can be similar, but larger and more prestigious agencies will operate more like law firms.

In all cases. Be polite in all your communications!! No matter how frustrated you may be feeling, remember that the people you are talking to are doing you a favor by possibly employing you. Act professionally at all times and you will be responded to in a similar manner. Also, try to speak directly to the hiring partner or recruiting coordinator rather than his or her assistant.

Accepting an Offer

Congratulations! Your job search is done, for now. If the offer was made over the phone, ask if a letter will follow - it's always better to have the offer in writing. The office may discuss details such as starting date, salary, etc. immediately, or may defer it to a later time. You may decide to accept the offer by phoning the employer or sending a letter of acceptance (see the sample letter in the Appendix), but always follow up a phone call with a letter.

Once you have accepted an offer, you have an obligation to inform all other employers who are still considering your application as soon as possible. This will avoid wasting everyone's time, and may free up a space for another Seton Hall student!

Other Suggestions

Other students and alums can be a valuable source of inside information about law firms and organizations. Ask around, use the job search listservs, and check with Career Services for ideas about how to find out what other people thought about their experiences with a particular employer.

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