Sample Cover Letter

Interviews

INTERVIEW OFFERS

Congratulations on receiving an interview! This means the firm believes that you may be a good fit to work at their firm. The interview is an opportunity for you to show off your skills, talents and experience whilst demonstrating your knowledge of the job. Firms will look to ask you to elaborate on your CV and cover letter to assess your suitability to work at the firm.

TYPES OF INTERVIEWS

Generally there are two types of interviews, individual and group interviews.

Individual Interviews

Individual interviews are usually conducted by the human resources team along with another member of the firm in a traditional interview style set up. Some firms will use a generic question list whereas other firms will speak purely to your CV and cover letter. They are trying to get to know you better and understand how well you could fit within their firm. They are assessing your personality and characteristics and how you would fit into their office culture. They are looking for people they would like to work with, standing shoulder to shoulder. It’s important that you remain friendly and smile.

Group Interviews

Group interviews are designed to assess your ability to work in a team setting. More often than not, you will be required to discuss a problem scenario or case notes as a group. The problems tend to be generic in nature and often focus on ethics and technical related questions. It is important to communicate effectively with your team members and work together to achieve a common goal. Showcase both your ability to lead and your ability to work well as part of a team. If there is a member of your team who is being shy, ask them for their opinion on the matter and empower them to be included into the group. Be careful not to do this in a condescending way though! There will be one or two ‘silent interviewers’ present in the room who will observe the dynamics of the team and assess the problem scenario.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Preparation & Research

The interview stage is a great opportunity for you to set yourself apart from the rest. Be diligent and prepare for your interview by conducting research in order to gain a better understanding of the firm. Interviewers will want you to demonstrate your interest in the law, the firm and exhibit a desire to join them. You should conduct research into the firm’s culture, what they look for in prospective employees and, if you are told beforehand, the interviewers themselves. Be prepared to answer questions regarding some of the experiences that you have outlined in your CV and cover letter.

Further, you should conduct research about the actual job and what it entails. You should have an in-depth understanding of the job-description and be ready to express why you are the best person for the role.

The firm’s website is a good place to start when putting your applications together. You will find the firm’s values, various practice areas, employee biographies, recent transactions and information about clerkships and graduate programs. You may also discover whether the firm engages in pro bono or volunteering activities.

The Australian Financial Review and Lawyers Weekly are also great sources to help you understand the commercial climate. Many firms will look for candidates that are up-to-date on current affairs, especially those that include clients of the firm.