Say you currently have a good job but are presented with an interesting opportunity. Should you go forward with the interview? It’s a good idea if you can learn about the industry/market or if you want to build relationships.

How interested do you have to appear? Going in with arms folded and a skeptical perspective is not a good idea. I understand you do not want to mislead the interviewer since you like your job. And maybe you were asked to chat informally and bypass a formal interview. However, you still need to bring your energy and interest. Otherwise, interviewers will feel like they are wasting their time and will form a negative view of you. They are likely talking to a few people, and your disinterest will jump out.

So how do you show interest when you don’t know enough about the company or opportunity? Research the space, identify how the company might need you and how you could help them. Then assume the best case for each of those scenarios. That way you can show authentic interest, which is necessary for the interviewer to want to share information with you, and for you to create a positive impression of yourself. Even if this job isn’t right for you now, it could be in the future, and you don’t want to take yourself out of the running at the initial stage.

Bottom line: if you don’t have enough time to research a company or can’t generate a positive attitude, I wouldn’t take the interview. The legal world is very small, and you want each interaction with folks in your space to be positive.