Date: February 8th, 2010 12:10 AM
Author: Disturbing electric native pistol
Subject: congratulations!
First, really, congratulations. And ignore all the pricks here.
Second, you need to wear what you'd wear to any other professional interview, or what you'd wear to court. That simple.
Third, unlike bullshit OCI firm interviews, you can expect substantive legal questions at your interview. I had a fellowship at one and did the hiring for our summer interns, meaning we did the interviews. We didn't fuck around. We asked substantive legal questions about our organization's pending litigation. Surprisingly, many candidates didn't know shit about it. So, go to your organizations' websites, read their current cases (or issues, if it's not a litigating org) and be very familiar with them. If you know who'll be interviewing you, westlaw them (or see what cases they've been on).
Fourth, be ready to talk and, forgive the bromide, be yourself. Do not freeze up--if you don't understand something, ask what they mean. It takes a bit of guts to do this (and I learned to do it @ the hardest time--during appellate arguments, to (at least) buy me time).
Fifth, unlike Big Laws, public interest organizations are distinct from each other. (ACLU does impact litigation; Legal Aid does direct client services.) So know who you're audience is.
good luck!
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1214922&forum_id=2#14051319)