Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom Legal Interview Questions
& Process

I got to the offices, which could use a facelift, and had to wait 15 minutes past my scheduled time. An HR rep, who was super nice and apologized for the wait, finally took me back to the meeting area. We started with some typical questions like why I was job hunting and why I wanted to join their firm. Then, I had to take tests on Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (all basic versions) and my typing speed. They left me alone in the testing room. It was a little weird how they knew exactly when I was done, making me wonder if they had cameras or could watch my screen remotely. After that, the 'interrogation' started with a panel of three: the Manager, Supervisor, and Coordinator. The Manager was in charge and pretty intense. She'd ask a question and then interrupt before I could finish answering. She emphasized how things are done at Skadden, mentioning the long tenure of current staff and the lack of flexibility in their procedures. The Supervisor was much nicer and would have been a better face for the firm. The Coordinator, on the other hand, seemed totally checked out, slouching and looking half-asleep. The Manager also seemed to downplay my career goals and put a negative spin on my desire to do similar work to my previous job. I knew pretty quickly that Skadden wasn't the right fit. The HR rep gave me a pamphlet about 'Office Perks' which included things like discounts, employee recognition for long service, annual staff appreciation, office events (like a BBQ and holiday party), a room for new mothers, computer and phone discounts, and discounted movie tickets. They also mentioned a discretionary year-end bonus for certain employees and a 'Take Home Dinners' option on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The interview process was pretty standard and not overly difficult. I applied online and got an email about 3-4 weeks later to schedule a phone screening. Right after the phone call, I was invited for an in-person interview that lasted about two hours. It included three different rounds with different people, and almost all questions were behavioral.

The interview process had three interviews total. The first was with a recruiter, and the others were with different teams from Skadden. It was great because all the interviews were really chill and relaxed, not like the typical rigid competency interviews I expected. Super impressed!