Insight & Advice

Advice: Interviews

Congratulations - a firm has invited you to interview. This is your chance to impress, so thorough preparation is essential.

Details of the interview

• Where and when will the interview take place? Plan your journey to the interview in advance and always take a map.
• Be on time. If in doubt, arrive at your destination early and find a nearby cafe to gather your thoughts and calm your nerves. Being late for any reason will immediately put you on the back foot.
• Always dress in a business suit. No exceptions.
• Make sure you know who you are meeting. Most partners’ details are on the firm’s website. Prior to the interview, take the time to get an insight into the partner’s background and work practice.

Preparation for the interview

• Know your CV. Make sure you are confident about talking in detail about anything in it. Spend some time going over your notes of the cases/transactions listed in your CV.
• Do the due diligence. Conduct some research on the department you are hoping to join – the size of the team, its client base and its reputation – and the firm as a whole – the culture, ethos, values and recent firm news. (Most of this information will be on the firm’s website.)
• Spend some time getting up to date on the latest legal developments in your area. Look at recent publications in your area of specialism. (Firms often have updates and articles to view on their websites.)
• Speak to people you know at the firm to gain a strong insight.
• Because firms like to understand your choices and the reasons behind them, be ready to answer key questions like: “Why are you leaving your current firm?” and “Why are you interested in joining this firm?” Make sure you present every move in a positive light. Avoid admitting to bad previous choices or making negative comments about previous employers.
• Be ready for technical questions: these can be asked at either a first or a second interview.
• Prepare a list of questions for the firm. Every firm wants to know that you are genuinely interested in them and that you have given serious consideration to working there. (This is a vital part of the interview process, not least because interviews tend to last no longer than 45 minutes and, by the end of perhaps just two interviews, you will be expected to know if you would like to join the firm.)
• Practice your answers out loud. This will help you formulate your answers and give you the chance to improve your interview technique.

The interview

• Be confident: start with a firm handshake and remember to smile. Firms want lawyers who make a good first impression. After all, you may one day be meeting their clients.
• Don’t avoid questions and don’t give excessively long answers. If you don’t know the answer to a question, then – unless you can make an intelligent stab at it – simply say so. If it is a technical question and you can provide a partial answer – for example, you know where you would look for the answer – then it is always better to do so. Remember to answer the question that has been asked, not the question you wish had been asked.
• Don’t talk too much. Interviews are a two-way process, so you don’t need to do all the talking. Just as you are providing information about yourself to the firm, so the firm should be providing information about itself to you.
• Don’t talk too little. Remember that interviews are about exchanging information. So, answers of “yes” or “no” are unlikely to suffice.
• Whenever possible, support your answers with examples. This gives you a vital chance to highlight your strengths and experience.
• Watch the interviewer and be aware of your interviewer’s body language. You may be able to gauge if your answer has hit the right mark or whether you should change tack.
• Do not mention salary unless specifically asked. We will negotiate on your behalf and can guide you on the appropriate remuneration.
• Finally, think about the type of lawyer that you would employ if you were in the interviewer’s shoes: someone who is confident, enthusiastic, good at his or her job and good with clients. This is the image you should endeavour to portray throughout the interview.

At the interview’s end

• Again, be confident: leave with a firm handshake and a smile. Whatever has happened during the interview, you should always try to leave the interviewer with a good impression of you. Even though you may not wish to continue the interview process, it is good for your professional reputation to end the interview on a positive note. If you are keen to continue the process, let them know.
• After the interview, make a note of the questions that you were asked and your responses. This will give you an accurate record that may prove helpful for other interviews – either at that firm or elsewhere.
• Call us and provide full and frank feedback on the interview. We will also obtain feedback from the firm and manage the next part of the process for you.

We can help
We provide tailored interview training upon request. This can be an informal discussion or an in-depth mock interview.