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Q8: What kind of questions will you be asked in an interview?
See ZSA link.
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Why you want to practice in the firm's area of law
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Why law? Why us? 5-year, 10-year future plans?
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why you wanted to go to law school/become a lawyer -previous experience, as listed on resume
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Anything. Be prepared to have a structured, gov't-style interview (which sometimes means the firm is somewhat stuffy) or a very casual interview, the scope of which is broad and light (= fun firm).
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Depends on the firm. Big firms tend to ask typical questions - like why did you choose our firm, what did you like about law school, etc.. Small firms ask more questions about work experience, what your areas of interest are, and practical legal experience.
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how does your work experience/volunteer work/education relate to the position applied for?
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not as important as your enthusiasm
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What do you want to do when you get called to the bar? Hobbies? If person belongs to associations, etc.
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Why us? Do you have any questions about us? Tell us about yourself? Tell us why we should hire you.
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why you want to work at that firm...and the dredded "so tell me about yourself"
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What was your favourite class in law school, do you know if you want to be a solicitor or a litigator, what attracted you to law - the same questions will be asked at almost every interview
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Certainly, you will be asked about your particular area of interest, but much of the conversation (in my experience) appeared purely social in nature (i.e. hobbies, travel, professors that the interviewers know, etc.).
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why you want to work there
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Depends on the interviewer's experience ... go through the many lists available on the internet and expect questions on your resume.
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for articling spots, usually why you applied to that firm, and what are your areas of interest. they will likely also ask you about your outside interests
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Everything imaginable. Mostly they're just casual chats about you and the work that they do. They're usually not very intense. I've never gotten standard questions like what are your strengths and weaknesses. It's more of a chat to find out what kind of person you are, and if they expect you to fit in to their firm.
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#1 question - why do you want to work in Vancouver (fill in which ever city you are applying to). I grew up in Richmond and went to school in Edmonton and still got this question. You must convince them that you want to stay in the city. #2 question - something off your resume that intrigued them about you. E.g. I worked for Canada Customs, I was a researcher in a Biology lab in my undergrad, I did Jazz and Ballet in my spare time. Something that differentiates you from the masses.
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Anything other than law-related questions (unless you're applying to the DOJ).
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"Why did you apply to our firm?" "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" "What are your career goals?"
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Mostly they will ask about something that caught their attention in your resume. Some will ask about what courses you most liked.
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Surprisingly, few employers use behavioural questions. The employers will try to figure out who you are, what your interests are (both work-related and non-work-related), and how well you would fit within the firm. Think of a good story about something you did in case you need to fill time or avoid an awkward pause.
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what can you bring to this firm - what is your worst quality - how do your courses fit into your goals - what is your ideal working environment
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Nothing really too substantive. They might ask why you took this course or that in law school, but they won't grill you on your transcript. Most of the time, all they are really trying to assess is your personality. They're looking for someone who they think will fit in with the other personalities in the firm. In my experience with articling interviews, the interviewer(s) and I basically shot the breeze for 45 minutes to an hour.
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What type of experience are you looking for.
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usually questions arising from your resume such as your interests
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Usually, the prospective future employer is more ill at ease that the person interviewed. That is simply because they are too busy and have more demanding things to do than to interview a person.
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Typically you are asked about yourself and your future goals. Sometimes you are asked about substantive law - in my case in about 5% of the total interviews.
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Why are you interested in this firm? What kind of law do you see yourself practicing? How are you liking law school? Tell me about yourself? Have you travelled? What are your job experiences? What are your best/worst job experiences? Is there anything you want to know about the firm?
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Depends. Some are all business while others just want to get a sense of the kind of person you are. What kind of law do you want to do? (make sure you know what they do) Why are you interested in us? (have good reasons b/c they hear it all) What do you do in your spare time? (make sure you know their interests so you can emphasize certain things)
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Why do you want to work at this firm? Why did you go to law school (the actual answer doesn't matter; just have something to say) Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
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Why do you want to work here? Do you have any questions you want to ask us about the firm. Can we see samples of your writing? What was your favourite class or classes in law school? What was your least favourite and why? What do you think you want to practice in (litigator/ solicitor)? [It's okay to not know yet] What are your interests? What have you been up to this summer, etc. If we asked you to write a memo on X where would you start? If we asked you to write a memo on Y what should you NOT do? What did you do before law school? What remuneration do you expect at this job? What hours do you expect to work?
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Anything from illegal questions to what can you bring to this law firm, how can you bring clients, etc.
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Anything. What was your favourite job? What do you want to be a lawyer? How would you handle a hypothetical situation? Why are you interested in certain area of practice? Further details on something in your resume
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Why do you want to work for us? Where do you see yourself in 5 or 6 years? What areas of law are you interested in? How would you handle various difficult client/opposing counsel scenarios?
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It is too varied to say in advance. Sorry to be unhelpful. However, if you have done something unusual (cloned a gene, climbed a mountain), expect to talk about it.
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educational and work background, interests, hobbies, why you want to practice law
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Almost anything. Of course you'll be asked about your work experience and what courses you like at law school, but they may also ask about personal hobbies or experiences you mentioned in your cover letter or resume.
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anything - but you can predict some of the regular questions
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3 best qualities, 3 worse qualities, why that firm, location, prospects of staying, community involvement, client interaction, how going to develop client base
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Why you went into law What are your areas of interest What do clients value in their lawyer
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why us; why you; why law school; why this city; "future plans" (translation: having a baby anytime soon? yes, they still ask that)
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The classic, "why do you want to be a lawyer". Also, what are your weaknesses.
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Usually questions about the things you have done reflected in your resume. It's really more of a conversation than a series of Q&A.
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What you took in school, what you want to do in law, q's re: whether your personality would suit you well in this firm
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What type of law are you interested in? What do you find most challenging about law school?
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what area of law interests you, what you do in your spare time, why you chose this firm
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Why law? Why (area) law? Why did you or didn't you take certain courses. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
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what kind of law do you want to practice? why did you apply to our firm? What attracts you to our firm?
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completely depends on the person conducting the interview
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Tell me a situation where you had a problem and you overcame it. Tell me what you would do if I came to you with work and you could not do it. Do you really have an interest in this area of law or are you just trying to get a job (be prepared to back it up) Personality conflicts with people, how do you resolve them? Angry client, how do you soothe them?
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It varies tremendously -- be prepared to discuss anything on your c.v. as well as your law school experience, hopes and dreams for practice, and current events, movies you've seen, what you do in your spare time, etc.
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[posted June 3, 2005] |