Learn How to Ace Law Firm Interview Questions

Learn How to Ace Law Firm Interview Questions Interviewing for a law firm aint easy. Guest blogger Sara Witt shares her insights on preparing for the law firm interview.Undergrad, law school, and the bar are all part of the journey and it seems that every time a student passes one phase of the process, another one is waiting.When you finally jump through all of the hoops, you’re left with one final challenge: get hired. And that is certainly easier said than done.The current job market for law school graduates isn’t great. Last year, the National Association for Law Placement reported that only 87.6 % of 2010 graduates were employed after graduation, and being employed doesn’t necessarily mean they are getting paid; this is a low rate unseen since the mid-1990s.What this job market means for new lawyers is that they not only need to interview well, but set themselves apart from the crowd.There are certain imperative steps you must take when going to an interview. It seems to go without saying but you obviously must dress p rofessionally and be on-time.Here are some less obvious steps you should take:1. Really Research the Law FirmDo research beforehand on the firm you’re interviewing with; its a must that they not only believe you’ve actually heard of them (or took initiative to learn about them), but that they were your first choice for a job. There are a ton of resources online for doing reconnaissance (Glassdoor.com, LinkedIn, Matindale-Hubble, and articles written for legal industry periodicals, as well as obviously bio pages for the partners or staff youre meeting.)2. Understand the Role in the Law FirmIf youre interviewing for an associate position (or even an internship), make an effort to really understand what the firms expectations are of you. This means either dissecting the job description or if there isnt one, doing enough research to find out what the role really requires. This might seem like a given, but the competition is tough, and you can edge out other candidates by being more diligent on this front.3. Know Your Career Narrative Inside OutYour resume (or a contact) may have gotten you the interview, but the real challenge begins now. About 10%-20% of the interview will be focused on confirming your resume and that you know what youre talking about from a technical standpoint. The remaining 80%-90% will be about finding out if youre the right fit for the position or culture (translation: finding out if youre a pain in the butt to work with every day).In addition to the typical law firm interview questions youd expect to get   (see below), youre going to have to craft some interview stories. These stories are in fact those longer answers that you give to behavioral questions for example: Tell me about a time you had multiple, time-sensitive projects due how did you prioritize and what was the result?The interviewer is likely to be looking for your prowess in several specific competencies or skills they could be time management, negotiation, calm under p ressure, etc.Most people end up whiffing on this question because they start to ramble, go off on tangents, or just simply cant articulate a cohesive and compelling story and therefore waste a golden opportunity.After doing your research on the job description, be prepared to have 3 or 4 of these relevant interview stories ready to use.4. Preparing for the Law Firms Interview QuestionsIt reflects poorly on you if youre unable or unwilling to answer a question an interviewer asks you.Before your interview, research commonly asked questions and really understand and practice how you’ll answer them. Obviously, every interview will be different, but if you can articulately and thoughtfully answer the questions below (and also have several interview stories in your back pocket), youll likely land the position:Tell me about yourself.Why did you decide to go to law school?Why did you choose your law school?Is your GPA an accurate reflection of your abilities? Why or why not?What makes y ou think you are a good lawyer?What do you know about our firm?What area of law most interests you?Tell me about a major accomplishment.What are your long-term career goals?What interests you most about the legal system?What are your weaknesses?How has your education and experience prepared you for the practice of law?Describe a professional failure and how you handled it.Why should we hire you over other candidates?What questions do you have?5. Always Ask QuestionsAt the end of the interview, its important that you ask questions. It shows not only that you were prepared and listened thoroughly to your interviewer, but also that you are seriously interested in the firm. For more info on this, read our Top 12 Best Questions to Ask at the End of the Job Interview article.6. Dont Forget Your Thank-you NoteThe thank-you note is an important little piece of the interview process and an art form unto itself. For info on how to structure a great thank, you check out: Job Interview Thank Yo u Notes 101Getting a good position at a law firm is not easy even if you have stellar credentials but remember, your resume is credentials are only a small part of the whole process. You can make up for any perceived weakness on paper by making the strongest possible impression when youre face-to-face with the partners.