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Q7: How do you prepare for an interview?
Don't rehearse. Know your resume inside out.
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Review firm's website, think out questions you will ask to "interview" the firm
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Learn everything about the firm and bone up on your common points. You are expected to do the work to meet their needs, a power imbalance you must accept and shape your preparations accordingly.
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familiarize self with resume -research the firm
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Research the particular firm you are interviewing with, look at the web profile of the interviewer you are assigned, but most of all be yourself. Be prepared to discuss the contents of your resume or anything else. The scope of the interview discussion can be quite wide (i.e. usually whatever you might have in common with the interviewer - i.e. travel - for instance at one of my interviews we discussed running with the bulls in Spain). The interview will tell you whether your personality fits with the firm's (and believe me, each firm has a very different personality).
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Don't prepare too much. Think about some things that might be asked and the answers you would give. Go over your resume and have something to say about everything on it.
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I review my resume and cover letter in detail. i then sit down and brainstorm as to how all of my skills gained and past work/volunteer experience will address the needs of the firm.
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don't bother, be honest
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Looking at the firm's website, areas of practice, ask other lawyers what the area of practice of that particular firm/lawyer
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Read about the firm. Make sure you know the practice area or their hiring needs.
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research the firm
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RELAX
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Prepare by familiarizing yourself with the firm. Know the history, size and practice areas and office locations of the firm. Most importantly, after doing all the background research, go to your interview prepared with questions to ask the interviewer. This is as much about you interviewing firms as it is about firms interviewing students. Interviews are not a passive exercise for students. You must go prepared.
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Talk to people who have worked @ the firm before; think about what you want to ask them; think about what you really want from the job. Talk to a supportive friend who thinks you are a great candidate and get them to remind you about your good qualities.
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review firm website and interviewer's information
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Very important to ask questions, have energy, and remember to smile and make eye contact.
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learn about the firm, its areas of specialization and who you will be meeting with
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UBC Faculty of Law Career Development Officer has great interview guidebooks that tells you everything to expect. The law school also hosts workshop and panels about interviewing. Make sure to attend one if not all of them. The ones where the recruiters come from the law firms to talk about the interview process is a must!
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I didn't really prepare much. I applied for summer articles in both Vancouver and Calgary. I think you learn the most by actually going and doing interviews. It's important to know yourself and know what you want in a firm and be able to talk about yourself a lot. The firms just want to get to know you. There are no tough legal questions (unless you are interviewing with the Crown or the Courts).
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I do a bit of research on the firm. Other than that, I am always my true self.
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Research the firm applied to through its website Talk to people who work (or know people who work)at the firm applied to
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Read the company web page to find out about the interviewer. Always ask who will be seeing you if you get a call from the firm to schedule an interview. If the secretary that calls has time, ask about the firm.
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Think about who you are and why you'd be a great lawyer. Learn how to sell yourself - pretend you're your mother!
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review website of the law firm - speak to any contact (prof, student working there) that you have - sleep well the night before
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Easiest source of information about the firm is probably their website, but don't count out the good information you can get on the firm through asking around.
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Research the firm, and do a trial run through of common questions with a friend.
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talk to your law school's CDO about mock interviews
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No preparation is necessary, with a person my age, due to the fact that I was in business for over 20 years.
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Research the firm. Research its areas of activity. Be prepared to discuss you.
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Look on the firm website, see what they do and pick a couple of areas of interest, but remain open to anything. Look up your interviewers and see what they do. Read up on newspaper articles that feature the firm. Get a good suit so that you feel confident. Wear comfortable shoes. Do not bring in your own coffee. Do not wear a skirt/shirt that is too short/tight even if you really disagree that it matters - it does. Practice a firm handshake and have a ready list of all the office addresses you will be interviewing at. Find a good check point (like the Hyatt washroom or a cafe) to regroup and check your teeth for spinach. When interviewing, always put a positive spin on everything, even if it hurts a little, like "I really like my classes, they are all interesting". Come armed with 3 or 4 ready questions for each firm so that when they ask, you have something to say. Send an e-mail after the interview saying it was nice to meet them and you look forward to meeting them again. Accept second interviews - make the schedule work.
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I find out everything I can about who will be attending the interview and the firm. Read a recent SCC decision in one of those areas. Find out if they have kids, play a sport, etc. If you share a similar interest with one of the interviewers make sure you drop that during the interview... "...I am a bit sore from playing squash this weekend... oh, you also play squash..." You need to personalize the interview. They need to be your friends!
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go to a bookstore and find a book on job interviews, one that has lists of questions, and make your self answer all the questions. have at least two questions ready to ask at the end of the interview. save two questions for the end. for every item on your resume, have a short story or explanation. It doesn't have to be humourous, but it could be. This gives the interview a chance to get to know you and may lead to more relaxed conversation.
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Be familiar with the firm. What areas of law do they practice in. How big is the firm. What is on their web page. Do you have something in common with the firm (interests, area of law you prefer). Have some questions prepared to ask the interviewer about the firm/ lawyers/ what to expect articling there. Dress in a nice suit. Be early. Bring samples of things you have written in law school with you!
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Know about the other party, the law firm. Ask yourself: if I were the interviewer what I would like to ask. So ask that to yourself.
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Think positive thoughts, think about what questions you might be asked, review the firm's culture and area of practice; research the people who will be interviewing you
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Relax. Be yourself. Firms are often looking for 'fit' rather than detailed information: they have most of that information from your resume. Will you get along in the firm culture? Depending on your personality ... either you will 'fit' or you won't. Having said that, it is important that you know about the firm prior to the interview: size, areas of law etc...
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Read the firm's propaganda, but don't quote it. Look up some recent cases they've done and say some names of lawyers you might like to work with (if it's true).
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ask others who have gone through the process and check the firm's websites
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Think of why you want to work there and what special skills you have to offer the firm you're applying too. Consider what type of law you're interested in and what sort of work experience you're after.
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go online to find out what standard job interview questions are and prepare answers to those questions; the most important part is to be yourself and relax; the firms want people who they get along with and who are interesting
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Know yourself
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prepare for commonly asked questions know what you want and where you want to go be yourself
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Do research on the firm, the interviewees, and some areas of interest; figure out your clothes and where you're going in advance; do some practice questions in front of the bathroom mirror
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Research the firm, develop a list of your own career expectations, contact current articling students
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Research the firm and your areas of interest.
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Get comfortable! Review your resume - that's the info the interviewer will have and will ask you about. Turn your mind to what they might ask. Rehearse some answers - have a friend ask some mock questions.
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Relax. They are really just conversations and most of the time the interviewer is happiest to talk about themselves.
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practice with someone, make up questions and come up with answers, speak to ppl from that firm, speak to other ppl who went through the process, look on the firm's website to find out info about the firm
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Research the firm, look at their website, research the lawyer you will be interviewing with. Actually verbalize answers to standard questions and prepare a sheet of questions you would like to ask them.
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think about answers to the basic questions but not to the point where the answers sound rehearsed. think of a few questions to ask about the firm so it looks like you know what types of law they do (and this could also be done for the individuals who are conducting the interview).
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research the firm and think about possible questions that you may be asked
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1/2 hour meditation before, large vodka on the rocks after. Know yourself. Prepare answers in advance to the questions that are typically going to be asked. Write them out, say them out loud in front of the mirror, get comfortable with how you sound.
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Research the firm -- website, publications, big cases the lawyers have been involved in, community involvement -- learn as much as you can. Call or e-mail a junior member of the firm, preferably an alumni of your law school, and ask them if they wouldn't mind talking to you for a few minutes about their experience at the firm.
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[posted June 3, 2005] |