- Can you tell us about a time you worked as part of a team? …
- Describe a time when you feel you have been innovative? …
- Give me an example of a time when you have been required to negotiate? …
- What would you do if you feel a senior member of staff has given incorrect advice?
This Legal Counsel interview profile brings together a snapshot of what to look for in candidates with a balanced sample of suitable interview questions.
COMPETENCY-BASED Interview Questions and Answers! (STAR Technique & Sample Answers!)
Law firm interview tips
Here are some interview tips to consider so you can present yourself well to the hiring partner:
General questions
These questions help a hiring partner get to know you a little more by understanding your passions, interests and how you may fit into the firms culture:
Read more: 125 Common Interview Questions and Answers (With Tips)
Why do you want to practice law?
This question allows you to talk about what attracted you to the legal field. Your answer to this question can position you as the best person for the role and can provide the hiring partner with a glimpse of the knowledge and experience you can bring to the job. Employers want to hear how important this field is for you, so show your genuine interest in law when providing an answer.
Example: “I want to practice law because Im passionate about bringing justice to clients and upholding the law of our country. I believe its important to be fair and unbiased, and Id like to help someone experience that in their case. Being an attorney is more than filing paperwork with the court—its a chance to represent someone who needs help.”
9 questions you might be asked in a law interview
Aside from being competitive, law interviews can feel pretty intimidating. To help you stand out from the crowd practice and polish your answers to these common law interview questions
The type of interview youll face really depends on the firm and the role youve applied for but candidates can often expect to face a telephone or video interview and a panel interview, which may be conducted by a combination of graduate recruitment and fee-earning colleagues.
The kind of questions youll encounter during a law job interview include general enquiries about your career, specific questions relating to the firm and the law, those testing your skills and competencies, questions centred on commercial awareness and those designed to assess your ability when dealing with the unexpected.
When interviewing for training contracts you might also face a case study scenario, in which youll review a number of documents and then present back to the panel on risks and opportunities facing the potential client.
Just like in all job interviews, it pays to be prepared. Take a look at the following example questions and discover how to answer them.
Why do you want to become a solicitor?
You might think this sounds like an easy opening, but surprisingly it throws many candidates off their stride.
When answering this question always consider the type of firm you’re interviewing for. For example, if youre applying to an international commercial firm show an interest in commercial law in the international arena. Look at the firms main website – not just their recruitment website, as it often contains useful information about the sectors that the firm is active in.
This question can be phrased in number of ways, such as:
Questions about why you chose the type of law youd like to practice are also common, so be prepared to explain your choice.
Highlight your breadth of legal work experience and identify which specific element led you to pursue a career in your chosen specialism and why. Give details of the experience youve sought in your preferred field and how this has strengthened your interest in this area of law.
Vacation schemes arent the only experience of value, so be sure to mention periods of work shadowing and relevant extracurricular activities. For example, you could use your experience volunteering with a victims rights charity to demonstrate your passion for criminal law, your captaincy of a university sports team to show your interest in sports law or your creation and management of a local event, such as a fashion show or music or arts festival, to show your commerciality.
Gain an insight into the reality of working in law.
This question seems straight forward enough—hiring is an investment, and legal employers want to find candidates with sincere interest in working at their organization. Prepare by crafting an answer that includes what you love about the type of law the firm/organization handles and what about the job opportunity (or law firm) piqued your interest. Look at the job description and the firm’s website for details you can include in your answer. Take your research a step further by reading about specific matters the firm has handled and why that type of work fits with your professional goals. You can also discuss specific lawyers at the firm who you admire—but make sure you really understand their work if you go this route. Of course, a firm isn’t only about its billables—take time to research the firm’s culture and initiatives, and pinpoint those areas that stand out to you (e.g., pro bono program, sustainability initiative, active affinity groups, etc.) Thoroughly research the firm, and make sure to link your experiences and aspirations to the firm’s work and culture.
Interviews are naturally stressful because you can’t predict exactly which questions will be asked, but prepping for common interview questions will help you ease some stress. Whether you’re getting ready for an entry-level or lateral interview, OCI, or a callback, preparing in advance will give you time to think of specific examples and ways to tie your experiences to the specific role and firm/organization. Below are some common legal interview questions—plus suggestions on how to approach them.
This question may feel daunting if you have not faced this situation or can’t think of an example to share. Preparing in advance will go a long way with behavioral interview questions. Giving yourself time to think will likely unearth valuable past experiences that otherwise would’ve been difficult to remember on the fly.
Don’t worry—behavioral interview questions like this are not traps to disqualify you from the position. Instead, this type of question is an opportunity for you to display how you handle conflict with real experiences from your life. It’s critical that legal jobseekers prepare for behavioral interview questions, as they are becoming even more common in law firm interviews (especially as firms work to target implicit bias in hiring).
With regard to this specific question—conflict in the workplace—remember to stick with professional issues. Discussing petty matters or social situations can make you appear immature and unprofessional.
FAQ
What questions are asked in a competency-based interview?
- Describe a situation in which you led a team.
- Give an example of a time you handled conflict in the workplace.
- How do you maintain good working relationships with your colleagues?
- Tell me about a big decision you’ve made recently. …
- What has been your biggest achievement to date?
How do you answer competency interview questions?
- Situation: Describe the situation.
- Task: Describe what task was required of you.
- Action: Tell the interviewer what action you took.
- Result: Conclude by describing the result of that action.
How do I ace a legal interview?
- Do your research. Lawyers are known for being good researchers. …
- Be presentable and dress your best. …
- Come prepared to ask questions. …
- Be personable and show enthusiasm. …
- Be genuine. …
- Promptly send a thank-you note.
What do the 3 P’s of Interviewing stand for?
