• To what extent is the firm specialized?
  
• What types of clients does the firm represent?
  
• What are some of the cases attorneys are currently working on?
  
• How does the firm support pro bono work? Political activities? Government service?
  
• How many partners started with the firm as associates?
  
• What work could I expect to be assigned as an associate?
  
• What is the firm's system of management?
  
• What type of mentor or supervisory relationships exist?
  
• What is the ratio of partners to associates?
  
• Does the firm have different partnership levels/tracks--equity partner, non-equity partner, of counsel, etc.? What are the differences?
  
• How and when are partnership decisions made?
  
• What is the growth rate of particular departments? Is future expansion a goal?
  
  

Government

• What is the agency's reputation with the public? With the community?
  
• What career opportunities have other attorneys left the agency for? Do most go into private practice, other government agencies, legislative advocacy, or non-profit work?
  
• What is the relationship between the agency's work and the policies of the current Administration?
  
• Will the agency pay, or assist in paying for, bar fees, advanced degrees, or continuing legal education?
  
• What are the career advancement opportunities within the agency?
  
• How have government lay-offs of the past affected this agency?
  
• Does the agency have current budgetary concerns or restraints? Is a hiring freeze in effect?
  
• Is the agency in a downsizing mode?
  

Public Interest (Non-Profits)

• When was the organization established?
  
• What is the organization's funding base? Is the funding secure? For how long into the future?
  
• What is the organization's reputation in the community?
  
• Who are the organization's clients, members, and/or constituents?
  
• What issue areas does the organization focus on?
  
• Does the organization have an ideological slant? If so, what is it?
  
• How much staff turnover has the organization experienced in the last year, two years, and five years?
  
• Does the organization focus on client-based or issue-based work?
  
• What kind of training does the organization offer new attorneys?
  
• What benefits does the organization offer?
  

Corporations

• How many recent law school graduates work on the staff?
  
• Is the general counsel's office departmentalized or does each attorney handle any matter of concern?
  
• Is it possible for attorneys to move into management?
  
• How are attorneys viewed within the corporation?
  
• How often and for what matters does the corporation use outside counsel?

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