Congratulations on receiving an interview! The firm wants to see if you are a good fit. The interview is your opportunity to showcase your personality, skills, talents, experience, and knowledge of the job. Firms will ask you to elaborate on your CV and cover letter to assess your suitability to work at the firm.
Individual interviews
Video interviews
The interviewers are usually a HR rep and a senior lawyer. They will assess your personality and characteristics and how you would fit into their office culture. In an individual interview you could be asked a range of questions:
Increasingly common in the hiring process - it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with all the variables so you can be prepared.
• General or personal: focus on your personality, experience, and achievements. Firms will generally ask you about things you have achieved, why you chose to study law, and things you included in your CV and cover letter. • Technical or situational: focus on your ability to overcome adversity and your knowledge of the legal and commercial world. It is best to come in prepared for these questions. Research the firms and run mock interview sessions with friends, family, or colleagues.
Group interviews
Designed to assess your ability to work in a team setting - you might be required to discuss a problem scenario or case notes as a group. Some interviews will be live, so The problems tend to be generic you might join a video conference in nature and often focus on ethics link the firm shares with you. Once and technical related questions. connected, you’ll be able to see It is important to communicate and speak with an interviewer on effectively with your team members and work together to achieve a the other end. You might get a pre-recorded video common goal. Showcase both interview. You get instructions on your ability to lead and your how to join the interview. Instead ability to work well as part of a of being connected with a person, team. If there is a member of your you’ll be prompted to answer team who is being shy, ask them videoed or written questions. You for their opinion on the matter and will record your answer to each empower them to be included into question and the firm will review the group. Be careful not to do this the recording later. There is often in a condescending way though! a time limit, and you may have set There will be one or two ‘silent interviewers’ present in the room chances to answer. Dress as though you are attending who will observe the dynamics of an in person interview. Close the team and assess the problem other apps or windows on your scenario. computer.
Networks Use the network of the people you know to ask them questions. This could be your peers, the Blackstone Committee, or relevant HR departments. Talk to people who work or have worked at the firm that you are applying to. Ensure that you are speaking to a range of people to gain a holistic perspective of the organisation. The key is to try to build relationships early and maintain them throughout the year, so your contact doesn’t feel ‘used’ when you need to ask them for help before an interview. Also remember that people love helping one another and that they will feel honoured that you are asking them for their advice and opinion, so never feel afraid to reach out! Don’t be afraid to just cold-call / email lawyers at firms and areas of law you are interested in and ask for a coffee. Be respectful in your approach and don’t let any rejections wear you down. These are professionals and are sometimes just simply too busy to meet up. Most people really enjoy talking about what they do and helping others. Remember they were once in your shoes and know how difficult the process is!
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