5 Questions you should expect at your next legal job interview

Entering the interview room is always stressful, but when you know you’ll be interviewed by people trained to question witnesses in court or well credentialed Partners, it’s understandable if you’re extra tense. Knowing what kind of questions to expect from your next legal interview can help you prepare, ensuring you sound cool and collected under fire. Here’s a look at five interview questions you might field when interviewing with a law firm.

What recent major case decision do you agree or disagree with, and why?

Questions about case law – old or new – are usually reserved for solicitor positions, but senior paralegals could field similar questions, too. Firms use these questions to see how much relevant legal knowledge and experience you have, but they are also looking for strong communication skills, analytical capability, and the ability for someone to make a well-reasoned argument. Some firms might not ask you to pick a case, but might provide a theoretical legal issue and ask you to reply to questions about it.

 What do you know about the firm?

Essentially, employers want to know if you’re the type to do your homework. How much do you really want this job? Enough to research the company so you can provide appropriate information and answers to questions? Researching the firm also provides you with information you need to ask your own questions in the interview and helps you make the right decision about a job offer. That shows employers you’re not likely to waste their time.

 Why do you want to work in the legal field?

Firms want employees who have a strong desire for the field and not just workers that need a stable paycheck. Some firms might even be more specific in this question: of all specialties in the legal field, why do you want to work in defendant insurance or environment & planning or corporate law? Go into an interview with as much knowledge about the specialty and your own goals as possible, so you can make specific statements when answering such queries.

 What is a problem you overcame in a previous position, and how did you go about it?

Legal staff with experience in the industry can often offer a very relevant anecdote that relates to this question, but those who are just out of university or making a career change might need some creative flair. Younger legal applicants can pull experience from university, volunteer work, or internships. Those making a career change can discuss a problem in another field, concluding with a sentence or two about how that problem or the lessons learned would be relevant in a legal environment.

 How did previous experience prepare you to work with this particular firm?

The answer to this question depends heavily on the type of job you’re applying for. Solicitors can provide information about previous significant matters and case work; recent grads can discuss internships, university work as well as non-legal job experience. Paralegals can do the same, but they might also highlight administrative skills such as organisation and computer capabilities.

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