Holland & Knight Interview Questions
& Process

It was a series of interviews back-to-back with the folks I would have been working with directly. The last couple of rounds included chats with the practice group leader and the section leader, and I had to submit some writing samples too. Lots of conversational stuff, getting a feel for personality and fit, and open-ended questions.

I saw the IT Support Specialist job on Indeed and applied through the company website. HR reached out via email to schedule a phone interview with an HR person in Florida. We discussed my background, experience, what I'd contribute, and my future career goals. I was interested in the pay, but they mentioned a 37.5-hour week, making the pay less than anticipated. I agreed to continue the process, and the HR person noted my feedback for the IT manager. The next step is a 30-minute video interview with the IT manager, and I was told I'd hear back by the end of the week. I haven't heard anything, so I assume they either couldn't meet my salary expectations or found another candidate.

I made it to the second round of interviews and had to speak with two different groups. The panel interviewers gave off a negative vibe. They weren't interested in my current job or the experience I've gained there. Instead, they kept asking about jobs I had over 7 years ago. Holland and Knight advertise work/life balance, but you couldn't request time off from November to early January, and overtime was mandatory. Not only can you not take time off for the holidays, but you're also expected to work overtime. With a team of 50, you'd think the firm could manage their workload better throughout the year instead of forcing overtime at the end of the year. That doesn't seem like a healthy work/life balance.

My first interview, typical of OCI for big law, was very short and the associate attorney was nice. I didn't get a callback right away, but most firms give callbacks in 24-48 hours if they want you. I heard back about two weeks later. The callback interview was at the firm's office and I met with five attorneys consecutively. The vibe was super friendly and we didn't just talk law. The point is for partners and associates to see if they like you, not if you're smart or know a lot of law. Your resume shows that, so don't talk about stuff on it. If an interviewer starts looking at your resume for questions, you've probably hurt your chances.