United States · Law · Official-source research
What do elite US law-firm interviews look like?
The reviewed evidence shows that interview architecture can remain highly structured even when the interaction is virtual. Davis Polk currently conducts its U.S. summer-associate interviews virtually. Cleary uses virtual screener interviews, then lets callback candidates choose virtual or in-person interviews; its callback consists of four 30-minute attorney meetings.
Davis Polk
Davis Polk's U.S. Summer Program FAQ says all interviews are currently virtual. Candidates who receive offers have later opportunities to visit the firm through tours, events and return visits. Official source · SIG-207.
Cleary
Cleary says screener interviews are virtual. Candidates receiving a callback can choose virtual or in-person interviews. Official source · SIG-220.
Cleary also publishes the callback structure: four attorney meetings of 30 minutes each, with a possible 15-minute break after the first two; virtual callbacks can be scheduled across multiple days if needed. Official source · SIG-221.
What this tells us
“Virtual interview” is not a sufficient description of the selection mechanism. The number of interviewers, sequencing, callback structure and whether modality is candidate-selectable are separate dimensions that can materially change what the candidate experiences.
What this does not prove
This two-firm subset does not establish a standard US BigLaw interview model or disclose the scoring weight assigned to individual interviewers. Firms can change format by office, programme and recruiting cycle.
Denominator: two named law firms with canonical published summer-associate interview-format evidence reviewed on 14 September 2026.