Mike

Associate

Tell us a bit about your career before McKinsey?

Prior to McKinsey I was a commercial litigation lawyer at a large Asia-pacific law firm. I worked on a wide range of cases – everything from the headline-grabbing corporate disputes to fights over broken cow-milking machines. 

What made you decide to leave law? 

By the second year of university I realised that I didn’t want to be a lawyer for my entire career. However I did want to practice law after university because I believed it was good training for whatever would come next. After a few years practice, I got to the point where it felt like it was time to try something else. 

How did you come to apply to McKinsey? 

I was in business school and McKinsey made a presentation on campus. They were impressive. Also, the variety (both in terms of industries and types of problems) appealed to me a lot. So I decided to give it a shot. 

What did you find most challenging about the interview process?

As a lawyer I rarely (if ever) played with numbers, so my mental arithmetic was rusty. Getting that back up to speed took a little practice. Also, although we try not to use it, the reality is that most consultants are jargon ‘gurus’. So getting used to the language took a little adjustment as well. 

How has you background as a lawyer helped you at McKinsey? 

Three things: Attention to detail, client relationships and a nose for evidence.

• Attention to detail - Lawyers are all about detail. Having an eye for detail puts you in good stead at McKinsey as well.

• Client relationships - Although how we work with clients is different to a law firm, the basic principles of building and sustaining a trust-based relationship I learnt at my old law firm have been applicable at McKinsey.

• A nose for evidence - Whether you’re constructing a case to present to a judge or senior management of a company, you need a compelling story and you need evidence. Focussing on how facts fit into the story you are trying to tell is certainly as important here as it was while practicing law.