Does your university pre-screen at regional conferences?

Question

Does your university informally pre-screen job-market candidates at regional conferences such as the SEAs?  This might involve identifying job candidates who are attending and/or presenting at the Southerns and making a point of meeting them at a session or observing the presentation.  Helpful or not?

Answer 1

I think I did this for one candidate (attending their session after they applied) in the 7 searches I've been involved in.  They were already on our short list and did great  and so it just confirmed I was already learned reading the paper and the letters.  

We have too many applications (800+) and not enough time to consistently do it.  Plus, its probably illegal because you do it for some candidates but not for others.  That sort of favoritism is a big no no in job searches.  So I don't think is common, it certainly isn't for us both because of time constraints and legality.