Undergrad, law school, and the bar are all part of the journey and it seems that every time a student passes one phase of the process, another one is waiting.
When you finally jump through all of the hoops, you’re left with one final challenge: get hired. And that is certainly easier said than done.
This guide will help you prepare for the most common law firm interview questions + give advice how how to set yourself apart from the crowd.
There are certain imperative steps you must take when going to an interview. It seems to go without saying but you obviously must dress professionally and be on time. Here are some less obvious steps you should take:
Before the Interview
1. Research the law firm
Do research beforehand on the firm you’re interviewing with; it’s a must that they not only believe you’ve actually heard of them (or took initiative to learn about them), but that they were your first choice for a job.
There are a ton of resources online for doing reconnaissance (Glassdoor.com, LinkedIn, Matindale-Hubble, and articles written for legal industry periodicals, as well as obviously bio pages for the partners or staff you’re meeting.)
2. Understand the role you’re interviewing for
If you’re interviewing for an associate position (or even an internship), make an effort to really understand what the firm’s expectations are of you. This means either dissecting the job description or if there isn’t one, doing enough research to find out what the role really requires. This might seem like a given, but the competition is tough, and you can edge out other candidates by being more diligent on this front.
3. Know your career narrative inside out
Your resume (or a contact) may have gotten you the interview, but the real challenge begins now. About 10%-20% of the interview will be focused on confirming your resume and that you know what you’re talking about from a “technical” standpoint. The remaining 80%-90% will be about finding out if you’re the right fit for the position or culture (translation: finding out if you’re a pain in the butt to work with every day).
In addition to the typical law firm interview questions you’d expect to get (see below), you’re going to have to craft some “interview stories”. These stories are in fact those longer answers that you give to behavioral questions – for example: “Tell me about a time you had multiple, time-sensitive projects due — how did you prioritize and what was the result?”
The interviewer is likely to be looking for your prowess in several specific competencies or skills — they could be “time management”, “negotiation”, “calm under pressure,” etc.
Most people end up whiffing on this question because they start to ramble, go off on tangents, or just simply can’t articulate a cohesive and compelling story – and therefore waste a golden opportunity.
After doing your research on the job description, be prepared to have 3 or 4 of these relevant interview stories ready to use.
Most Common Law Firm Interview Questions & How to Answer
It reflects poorly on you if you’re unable or unwilling to answer a question an interviewer asks you.
Before your interview, research commonly asked questions and really understand and practice how you’ll answer them. Obviously, every interview will be different, but if you can articulately and thoughtfully answer the questions below (and also have several “interview stories” in your back pocket), you’ll likely land the position:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why did you decide to go to law school?
- Why did you choose your law school?
- Is your GPA an accurate reflection of your abilities? Why or why not?
- What makes you think you are a good lawyer?
- What do you know about our firm?
- What area of law most interests you?
- Tell me about a major accomplishment.
- What are your long-term career goals?
- What interests you most about the legal system?
- What are your weaknesses?
- How have your education and experience prepared you for the practice of law?
- Describe a professional failure and how you handled it.
- Why should we hire you over other candidates?
- What questions do you have?
Bonus tip: At the end of the interview, it’s important that you ask questions. It shows not only that you were prepared and listened thoroughly to your interviewer, but also that you are seriously interested in the firm. For more info on this, read our guide on the best Questions to Ask at the End of the Interview.
Finally, don’t forget your thank you note. The thank-you note is an important little piece of the interview process and an art form unto itself. For info on how to structure a great thank, you check out: Job Interview Thank You Notes 101
Getting a good position at a law firm is not easy even if you have stellar credentials — but remember, your resume is credentials are only a small part of the whole process. You can make up for any perceived weakness on paper by making the strongest possible impression when you’re face-to-face with the partners.
