Davis Polk & Wardwell · Live Interview
Davis Polk & Wardwell's first-round live interview is where strong written applications become offer pipelines or go nowhere. Below: the real questions Davis Polk & Wardwell asks, what they're testing for, and how to practise live until it feels routine.
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The format
The live first round (screening) is the primary gateway into the summer associate program, bridging the application review and the final callback.
Predominantly conversational and fit-driven. Davis Polk tests judgment, communication, interest and the substance of your experiences - not technical financial modeling.
Generally a single interviewer - most often a mid-to-senior associate, counsel or partner. Panels are highly unusual at this stage.
One-on-one; no panel at the screening round.
Duration. 20 minutes for OCI slots; occasionally 30 minutes for direct pre-OCI virtual screens.
Rounds at this stage. A single screening round, then the four-interview callback. Exceptional pre-OCI candidates may receive a direct-to-callback invite that skips the screener.
Format breakdown
Phone, video, and in-person each have distinct mechanics. The interviewer scoring rubric is the same, but the operational preparation is different.
Less common, used for off-cycle lateral tracking or sudden schedule changes. Without visual feedback, vocal pacing, inflection and conciseness matter most; avoid monotone scripted notes.
Hosted on Flo Recruit or Zoom. Camera at eye level, front lighting, clean background, and look into the lens; position the interviewer's window near the camera so you can read expressions.
On-campus OCI or hospitality suites at top schools. Bring three crisp resume copies, a transcript and writing sample in a leather padfolio; firm handshake, engaged posture, match their energy.
Question categories
Question types cycled through the interview. For each, a real example, what the firm is screening for, plus weak and strong answer signals.
Can you articulate what sets Davis Polk apart from S&C, Simpson Thacher or Skadden?
“Why Davis Polk?”
What they test. True institutional knowledge and authentic interest
Weak answer. You work on high-profile matters and have great prestige; I want to learn from the best.
Strong answer. The firm's balanced excellence across elite corporate/capital markets and top-tier white-collar litigation, plus its collaborative single-tier culture; citing a specific recent matter or a lawyer you spoke with.
“Why do you want to practice in New York / DC?”
What they test. Geographic commitment and retention
Weak answer. I just wanted to live in a big city.
“Which of our practice groups interests you most, and why?”
What they test. Awareness of how a transactional or litigation practice operates
Weak answer. I am open to anything, I do not really mind.
“Tell me about a time you managed a heavy workload with competing deadlines.”
What they test. Time management, resilience, prioritization
Weak answer. I just stayed up late and got it all done.
Strong answer. A STAR answer with a clear, repeatable system for triage and expectation-setting.
“Give me an example of a time you made a mistake. How did you remedy it?”
What they test. Accountability, integrity, coachability
Weak answer. A fake mistake like "I care too much about perfection," or blaming someone else.
If it is on the page, it is fair game.
“Walk me through your resume.”
What they test. Verbal synthesis and narrative control
Weak answer. Reading the resume line-by-line or a five-minute rambling biography.
Strong answer. A structured ~90-second story connecting your background to your presence at the interview.
“What was your most meaningful experience during your 1L summer?”
What they test. Depth of engagement with legal work
Weak answer. I proofread memos and went to lunch events.
“Tell me about a recent Davis Polk matter or deal that caught your attention.”
What they test. Practical interest in the firm's actual work
Weak answer. A vague, outdated deal with no details, or confusing Davis Polk with another firm.
“How do macroeconomic changes affect Davis Polk differently than mid-market firms?”
What they test. Understanding the elite "Money Law" model
Strong answer. Institutional clients rely on Davis Polk for complex, multi-jurisdictional matters smaller firms cannot scale to; a down market can slow capital markets but boost restructuring, regulatory and litigation work.
You are not expected to be a trained practitioner; show structured reasoning.
“How do you approach a complex legal issue when the law is ambiguous or undeveloped?”
What they test. Structured legal reasoning
Strong answer. Break the issue into components, research analogous frameworks and case law, examine policy intent, and synthesize a risk-mitigated recommendation.
“Why might a company go public via a traditional IPO versus a direct listing or de-SPAC?”
What they test. Baseline corporate-finance understanding
Strong answer. Compare capital generation, regulatory scrutiny, pricing discovery and lock-up periods.
“Your grades in Property/Contracts are lower than the rest of your transcript. What happened?”
What they test. Poise and resilience under direct criticism
Weak answer. Blaming the professor or the grading curve.
Strong answer. Own it without excuses, diagnose the study/exam gap, and show how you improved afterward.
“If a partner gave you a project you believed was legally incorrect, what would you do?”
What they test. Professional judgment and diplomatic communication
Strong answer. Double-check your research, raise concerns privately as open-ended questions, then follow the partner's direction once they are fully informed.
Technical depth
No financial modeling is tested. Interviewers look for practice-appropriate aptitude and the ability to think like a commercial advisor.
Discuss an M&A deal with clarity: the parties, strategic rationale and regulatory obstacles. Precision and attention to detail over modeling skill.
Know the core differences between equity offerings (IPOs) and debt issuances, and how rates and macro indicators drive a company's financing choices.
Defend your writing sample and 1L memo: thesis, choice of authority, binding versus persuasive precedent, and countering opposing arguments under pressure.
Show interest in administrative law and enforcement by the SEC, CFTC, Federal Reserve and DOJ, and how compliance demands shape banking strategy.
The rubric
The interviewer is checking against a scorecard. Knowing the categories is half the battle.
Aggregation. A single interviewer acts as gatekeeper, assigning Strong Pass (direct callback), Pass (hold for comparison) or No Pass. A Strong Pass from a partner can trigger a callback within 24-48 hours.
Pass threshold. In traditional OCI, scores are calibrated against the school's whole interview pool at day end; only candidates strong across all competencies advance.
Weighting vs other rounds. The first round is an initial filter. Once you reach the callback, scoring resets - the final decision rests primarily on the four callback interviews, with the transcript and screen notes as supporting context.
How to practise
Conversational mocks that read your Resume, ask Davis Polk & Wardwell-specific questions, push back when answers are weak, and produce a scored report.
Lazard · IB Analyst
Technical Interview · Resume-aware
Interviewer
I see from your Resume you completed Insight Program at Lazard. Walk me through a deal you observed during that placement.Interviewer
You mentioned trading comps. Walk me through how the peer set was selected, what criteria were used, and were there any borderline cases?Full report when you end
Why candidates fail
Specific failure patterns documented across past applicants. Most are avoidable with focused preparation.
Over-rehearsed or monotone responses
Rigid, memorized answers that sound scripted disrupt the natural conversation and block personal connection.
Inability to discuss resume items
Stumbling on a note, job or hobby on your own resume. If it is listed, you must discuss it fluidly.
Vague motivation for Davis Polk
Generic praise ("you are prestigious") without understanding the firm's specific practices, culture or market position.
Poor time management
Taking too long on simple opening questions, leaving no time for deeper discussion or your own questions.
Failing the airport test
Low energy, passivity or clinical coldness that makes the interviewer not want to be stuck working late with you.
What works
Concrete moves drilled by candidates who clear the cut, drawn from applicant accounts and recruiter feedback.
Seamless narrative control
A concise ~90-second resume walkthrough that frames your whole background as a deliberate path to Davis Polk.
Explicit firm knowledge
Reference specific conversations with Davis Polk attorneys or nuanced structural features like the single-tier partnership and cross-office staffing.
High-level commercial insight
Connect a current macro trend directly to a specific Davis Polk practice to show you understand what drives legal work.
Authentic, structured curiosity
Ask tailored, sophisticated closing questions that show you understand the interviewer's practice and daily work.
From past applicants
Anonymised candidate accounts of how recent Davis Polk & Wardwell applicants handled the live round. Each covers prep, the experience, and the outcome.
Virtual Pre-OCI Screener (Corporate track)
Prep. Prepared a resume-driven story around prior financial-consulting experience and a specific why-Davis Polk built on its role in major tech IPOs and its single-tier partnership.
Experience. Interviewed with a senior Capital Markets partner on Flo Recruit in early June. Conversational but fast; she focused on handling fast-paced client projects rather than technical finance, then spent the last five minutes on how rate environments shift the equity/debt mix.
Outcome. Callback invitation the following afternoon.
On-Campus OCI Screener (Litigation track)
Prep. Reviewed the 1L legal writing sample listed at the bottom of the resume and prepared to defend its reasoning.
Experience. A strict 20-minute on-campus slot with a mid-level Litigation associate who pushed on the choice of authority and how to counter an opposing argument - a mini oral-argument feel - then shifted to a warm personal chat. Kept answers concise, left four minutes for questions, and asked about a recent white-collar matter.
Outcome. Callback invitation via email three days later.
What gets you through
FAQ
Do not guess or invent. Stay composed, acknowledge the complexity, and walk through the logical process you would use to research it. For example: "I am not familiar with that specific statutory wrinkle, but to advise a client I would start with the relevant SEC guidance and our firm's recent memoranda on the topic." Showing sound method matters more than a memorized answer.
Strict professional business attire in both cases: a conservative, well-fitting suit (navy or charcoal), a crisp shirt or blouse, and a professional tie where applicable. Treat a virtual screen exactly as you would an in-person one.
Look directly into your webcam lens while speaking and place the interviewer's window near the camera so you can read expressions without looking down. Always confirm whether the slot is Eastern or Pacific time, especially when interviewing with the New York office from the West Coast.
In pre-OCI, callbacks can arrive within 24-48 hours; traditional OCI usually reviews the day's pool and responds within 3-5 business days. A thank-you note is not strictly required at the screening stage given the pace, but a brief, tailored email within 24 hours that references a specific topic discussed reinforces professionalism.
The other rounds
Live interview is one of four rounds. Practise each one free on Intervyo.
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Intervyo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Davis Polk & Wardwell. Interview questions are sourced from past applicants and the firm's published guidance; verify on the firm's careers site. Sector: Commercial Law.
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