The Interview

Overview

An interview is the culmination of your research into the firm and your personal ‘sales effort’ represented by your cover letter and CV. Reaching the interview stage is an achievement in itself, as partners are willing to give up time and high billable hours to meet and get to know you.

Types of Interviews

Interviews can vary significantly depending on the particular organisation. You can even experience very different styles of interview between particular interviewers at the same organisation. Given that you might not be able to predict what kind of interview situation you will be walking into it is useful to be aware of the different varieties. In the instance you do know something about how the interview will run, this is a great opportunity to practice what you might say.

The first aspect of the interview which may vary is the number of interviewers. Depending on the number of interviewers, the manner in which you respond may differ. Regardless of the situation ensure you give ample eye contact to everyone in the room to demonstrate that you are comfortable holding a conversation with multiple listeners. As an example, clerkship interviews often will consist of two interviewers who may be lawyers, human resources employees or both.

The number of candidates in the room may also vary; you may be interviewing with other hopefuls for the job. In these interviews you have the opportunity to demonstrate that you are able to listen to others in the room, whilst clearly conveying your own responses. Bounce off the ideas of others in the room and try to help everyone feel included. Take initiative with your responses without being too authoritative.

Remember that in this kind of situation it is important that the group achieve its assigned goal and that to stand out, one does not always have to be the leader of your group. Observers will assess your contribution to discussion, expression, reaction to others and contribution towards reaching group goal. To perform successfully you should consider your position before contributing, listen to and support others, show courtesy and tact, remain composed and keep a focus on the goal and on time limits.

Another variable in the interview process is the structure of the interview itself. Some have set questions to be answered, while other interviews have no structure and may take the form of a conversation. Remember this is a sliding scale and interviews may be a blend of the two, with some requisite questions asked with casual conversation in between. A top tip is to do a quick search of people’s interview experiences at the organisation or similar organisations , so you can be prepared for the interview environment you will be heading in to.

General Interview Tips

• If you are asked to answer behavioural questions (e.g. “tell me about a time when you demonstrated leadership”), use the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This allows you to support your answer with concrete evidence. What action did you undertake and what was the result of the action? • Be yourself, be calm and try not to show your nervousness. • Small talk is good to break the ice before and after the formal part of the interview. • Make sure you re-read your cover letter and resume before the interview to remind yourself of what you wrote.

Before the Interview

Know your CV and cover letter like the back of your hand! Your CV and cover letter have created a positive impression, so you now have an opportunity to reinforce this opinion. The interview should be seen as a two-way process: the firm will ask you to expand on elements of your cover letter and CV, and you will be expected to ask questions of the interviewer(s), which allows them to find out more about you and ensure you are the ideal candidate for the job.

Research

As you did for the cover letter, you need to research the firm in more detail for the interview. Aside from preparing for likely interview questions, you will also be expected to have done some research into each law firm. You should research:

• The firm’s practice areas and particular strengths; • The organisational structure, rough number of partners/lawyers/directors etc. (briefly); • The name(s) of key people in the organisation. Mention this only if you have something interesting to say (e.g. admire the Managing Partner’s leadership style); • The firm/organisation’s culture, values, atmosphere (crucial and should be incorporated into your responses); • The organisation’s recent work, deals, cases or transactions; • Business affairs, such as a recent or intended merger; • Brief understanding of the firm’s reputation; • The structure, activities, number of rotations etc of the position you are applying for; and,

Don’t forget to revise any personal knowledge or familiarity with current employees of the firm/organisation. You may have met them at the various cocktail evenings or you may also know recent UNSW clerks or graduates. Research methods include:

• The firm/organisation’s website, particularly pages such as ‘Our People’, ‘Our Culture’ and those dealing with the clerkship and graduate programme. • Media (Australian Financial Review (Friday legal affairs section); Lawyers Weekly) • Speaking with employees of the firm/organisation at various events held in the lead-up to the interview period.

On the Day

What to bring

In order to feel confident and well prepared you will want to take a copy of your CV, cover letter, and the official copy of your academic transcript available from Student Central.

Presentation

You have the firm’s attention and they already value your skills and experience. The interview is your chance to continue to impress them. You need to create a positive and professional impression to give yourself the competitive edge.

Generally, formal business attire is most appropriate. However, dressing standards might differ depending on the firm or organisation. Choose styles and colours that do not distract others or yourself. They should fit well, be in good repair and be neatly pressed.

Grooming and hair

Clean, neat and simple. Pay attention to possible details eg chipped nail polish and dirty fingernails. Make sure aftershave/ perfume you wear is not overpowering.

Make a good first impression

Your relationship with the interviewers, especially your non-verbal communication is crucial in the success of the interview. If you appear to be confident and enthusiastic from the outset, your answers are more likely to be reviewed positively.

Starting the interview confidently

The impression you create will weigh upon the tone of voice you use. Attempt to communicate positive emotions (interest, enthusiasm or confidence) rather than negative emotions (anxiety, uncertainty or boredom). Modulate your voice to maintain the attention of your interviewers and use hand gestures where appropriate to reinforce an image of confidence.

Introducing yourself

Preparing an opening line may assist you to exude an air of confidence. Use a simple phrase such as, ‘Good morning, pleased to meet you. I’m Sally Gong’. Choose something you feel comfortable saying and say it instinctively. Smile and talk to, not at, the interviewer. Show the interviewer that you are glad to meet them and you are enthusiastic about the job. Remember, you do not have to use this opening - another conversation may take place - but it can be reassuring to have prepared and practiced a backup opening line.

Building rapport

While having canned small talk on the weather or news may help ease initial nervousness, the most important aspect to building rapport is being genuine. Coming off as artificial can be just as damaging as a slight bit of awkwardness. During the interview take into account their language, body language, and consider their perspective to form your responses effectively. Subtle mirroring and responsiveness to the interviewer will help build rapport (i.e. if they lean forward, you may lean forward, or if the interviewer sits with arms on the table, you may do the same).

Body language

Maintain appropriate eye contact throughout the interview (do not stare or look away too much). Listen carefully to what the interview is telling you about the organisation and your likely role within it in order to ask informed questions in response. Use appropriate listening cues such as nodding in order to look engaged at all times.

Answering questions

Listen to the interviewer and clarify the question if you do not understand it to allow yourself to answer the question adequately. The bucket approach (i.e. throwing everything that you know about the question) will not effectively answer the quesiton. Try to relate your answers to the requirements of the position and the organisations.

Formulate some well-considered questions prepared before the interview, as in many cases, interviewers will give you time to ask questions or make further comments at the end of the interview. If you have any important things to add about your suitability, do it at this point. Have a closing statement prepared, for example, “thank you for your time, it was a pleasure to meet you,” so that you leave a confident and enthusiastic impression with the interviewer.

Types of Interview Questions

There are many types of interview questions, and while the underlying intent of the interviewer may be self-evident with some, for others it’s important to understand what the interviewer is trying to find out about you. Regardless of the question asked, remain calm and confident in your answer.

Introductory/background questions

These questions are designed to find out a little bit more about you. It is a chance for you to explain what you have done, your attitudes and values, and the choices you’ve made in your life. It is often a good idea to address the question in a reverse chronological order and also to start with a brief synopsis. Remember that you need to be informative without going into so much detail that you bore your interviewers.

• Tell me about yourself. • How would you describe yourself ? • What are your strengths and weaknesses? • Is there an achievement of which you are particularly proud? What is it and why is it significant?

Objectives

With these questions, you need to demonstrate to the interviewer that you have thought about what it is that you want from working at the firm and what you hope to achieve. At the same time you need to assure them that you are flexible and would be prepared to work in a range of areas. Some example questions include:

• What are your long term and short term goals and objectives? How are you preparing yourself to achieve them? • What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

Behavioural questions

To address these questions apply the STAR model and consider various scenarios, such as a time you were a good leader, resolved a problem, or adjusted to a last minute change. This could also include questions such as ‘tell us a time you resolved a conflict’.

Career interests

Employers are often keen to find out what your major areas of interest are so that they can better assess how well you will fit into their organisation, both now as well as your potential to develop within the organisation in the future: • What kind of positions are you most interested in? • Do you have a locational preference? Where would you like to work? • What is your understanding of the current legal climate here in Australia in comparison to USA or UK? • Will you relocate? Are you willing to travel?

Your contribution to the organisation

• Why should we consider you for this position? • In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company? • What other skills would you like to develop in the future? • Is there anything else we should take into account to help us make a decision?

Commitment to work and to the organisation

An employer is interested in how your values are aligned with their firms. This is one area where you will shine if you have done thorough research.

• What do you know about our company? • What you understand about the current climate of the legal industry? • How do you keep informed professionally? • Give me an example in your career where you felt like giving up but managed to keep going. • Why did you decide to seek a position with this company?

Education

With these questions, interviewers hope to gain more insight into your educational background. Most importantly, they are interested in the reasoning behind your decision to study the course you did and what you think you have attained from your studies. Follow-up questions include:

• Why did you choose to study law? • What university subjects did you like the best and least? Why? • Do you plan to continue studying? • What courses have you taken that prepared you for this position? • What part of your education do you see as being most relevant to this position? • Is your academic performance any indication of how you will do this job? • What do you like about your discipline of study? • Why did you fail/perform poorly in this subject?

As for this final question, it simply demands honesty: the firm is likely to be satisfied if you can cite extracurricular commitments, employment or something similar. The benefit of such a response is that you are simultaneously outlining a strength, namely your involvement in activities outside university and your work experience.

• Do you have any vacation employment or previous experience in the legal context? • Most jobs have their frustrations and problems. Describe some that have particularly dissatisfied you. • What have been the most satisfying aspects of jobs that you have held? • What has been the value of your previous work experience?

Other interests

With these questions, employers are trying to gain a better understanding of you, and thereby better assess how well you are going to fit in with the company. There are no right answers to these questions, but it is important to think about how your interests and goals fit in with what the company does and how it hopes to develop in the future.

• What are your outside interests? • Who is your favourite novelist? • Do you like/dislike football?

Approach to work

Employers are often interested in knowing how you manage different responsibilities, particularly how you prioritise your time. They are also interested in knowing how you cope in stressful situations involving tight deadlines and large amounts of work.

• How do you work under pressure? • How do you balance work priorities and those of your personal life and family? • Give me an example of when you had to work to an important deadline. What did you do to ensure that the deadline was met? • Have you ever had to persuade people to your way of thinking? • Describe a situation when you had to explain a difficult concept to someone. Tell me about your approach. How do you know they understood?

Problem solving/analytical skills

• This might include scenarios such as “here is a problem that we faced recently, how would you have dealt with that?” • Tell me about a time when, despite careful planning, things got out of hand.

Teamwork/leadership

• Have you been in any situations where you have been required to perform as a part of a team? What was the situation, what part did you play in the team and what was the outcome of the exercise? • Can you describe a time when your team fell apart. What was your role in the outcome? • What kind of people do you find difficult to work with and why?

Creativity/initiative

• Have you ever been responsible for the generation of a new idea or suggestion? Describe and explain. • Tell me of a time when you generated a creative solution to a problem.

Client focus

• What is your definition of ‘excellent’ client service? • Tell me about a time when you went beyond the call of duty to help a client. • Describe a situation that illustrates how you developed a positive relationship with a client.

Questions you may ask

At the end of the interview you will be given the opportunity to ask questions of your interviewer(s). This is not a mere formality, it is expected that you ask some questions, which at the very least will reflect your interest in the organisation or firm. Be judicious in your choice of questions. Asking questions with an obvious answer would reflect inadequate thought and preparation. Always prepare a list of potential questions to ask in advance. Examples of such questions include:

• Why did you choose to work here? What was the ‘clincher’ in your decision? What did you find unique about this firm? • How is a work/life balance encouraged in this firm? How do you achieve this balance? • How often is feedback provided, both to summer clerks and to full-time lawyers? • What sort of induction and training do you normally offer? • What is the firm’s policy on taking leave for further study or associateships? • What long-term career opportunities are available at the firm? • What do you enjoy about your practice group? What led you to work in it? • What sort of work would I be doing in your practice group? • Are there any secondment opportunities for lawyers at this firm? • What ‘extracurricular’ activities are available for clerks? • What is your usual retention rate between summer clerks and graduate lawyers? • How many years of service does it tend to take for a lawyer to be promoted to a senior associate or partner? What other factors are relevant in such a promotion? • How do the various practice groups communicate and collaborate with each other when a matter requires it?

After the Interview

Be sure to follow up and write a thank you letter to the HR from the firms you receive an offer from.