Student Outreach Committee Hosts Successful Mock Interview Workshop in Collaboration with Columbia Law School APALSA

On Monday, January 4, 2021, AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee hosted its first virtual Mock Interview Workshop in collaboration with Columbia Law School APALSA, AABANY Career Placement Committee, and the Columbia Law School Alumni Association. The event was part of the Student Outreach Committee’s pre-OCI series, held to prepare students for the interviews during a time of great uncertainty. 90 students from various law schools in and outside of New York received mock interviews and OCI advice from over 40 practitioners, public servants and general counsels from diverse backgrounds.

Prior to the workshop, Columbia Law School APALSA initiated the pairing of students and attorneys according to their availability and shared practice interests. Once the student-attorney pairings were solidified, students connected with attorneys via email. This advance preparation made for a smooth and timely transition to the event.

The workshop began promptly at 6:00 PM with a panel discussing interview tips, dos and don’ts, and Zoom etiquette. The panel, moderated by Margaret Ling, AABANY’s Development Director, featured esteemed speakers Rudy Carmenaty, President of the Columbia Law School Alumni Association, and Yen Chu, Secretary of the Columbia Law School Alumni Association. An OCI tip sheet carefully prepared by the members of the Student Outreach Committee was circulated to the students for review prior to their mock interviews. Starting at 6:30 PM, students met with their paired attorneys for one-on-one 30-minute mock interview sessions through the Remo platform and received invaluable feedback. Many students and attorneys expressed how beneficial the event was and that they appreciated AABANY for organizing such an event where attorneys could pay it forward and students could gain unique interview experiences from well-regarded practicing attorneys and public servants. One student, Eleen Zhou, a 2L from Cornell Law School, commented that she found the mock interview extremely helpful in preparation for the OCI season. Despite a few technical difficulties, members of the Student Outreach Committee worked diligently and promptly to ensure that no attorney or student was left without a mock interview opportunity.

The Student Outreach Committee would like to thank the participating attorneys for generously contributing their valuable time to help our students practice their interview skills. For students entering the interviewing season, best of luck! Please do not hesitate to reach out if AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee can ever be a resource for you. For more information about the Committee go to https://www.aabany.org/page/121

Annual Mock Interviews & Hiring & Interviewing Skills Panel For Law Students of Color

Date: Tuesday, July 26th 2:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Weil, 42 West 44th Street Between 5th & 6th Avenues

Come and learn how to present yourself at an interview in the most effective and successful manner. This workshop is designed to help law students of color prepare for the fall recruiting season by identifying key factors legal employers look and listen for during interviews for positions as summer associates, interns and clerks.  Participants will have the opportunity to participate in two mock interviews and receive critical feedback from practicing attorneys on their interviewing skills.   

Event Timeline: 2:45 pm – 3:00 pm 

Student Check-In 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm 

Hiring and Interviewing Skills Panel 4:30 pm – 5:10 pm 

Student Interview  #1 5:15 pm – 5:55 pm 

Student Interview  #2 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm 

Cocktail Reception 

Students please review the FAQ document link

PALS Mock Interview FAQ’s

1. Students must arrive promptly at 2:45 pm in business attire.
2. Students are required to RSVP, and interview matches are assigned in  advance on a rolling basis.
3. Students must attend the entire hiring/interviewing skills panel to participate in the interviews.
4. Each student should bring several copies of his/her resume and transcript to the workshop.

REGISTER TODAY
Register today and invite your fellow colleagues/classmates.
Event registration will end on Wednesday, July 20th.