|
Q9: What questions should you ask the interviewer?
Really try to find out about the firm. They are all different.
----------
What the firm's goals are, whether the firm has an "open door" policy; what kind of training is offered to students
----------
Where is the firm going? Do you have a strategic plan/direction? What's in it for me?
----------
why they chose that firm
----------
Can you tell me some of your favourite stories about this firm / the lawyers in it? How long have you been practising? What was your articling experience like? Did you article at this firm? If yes, what made you stay? If no, what made you come to this firm?
----------
Try to think of a lot of different questions that show your knowledge of and interest in the firm.
----------
have they had an articling student in the past? what is their timeline for hiring? is there any potential for employment at the end of the articling term?
----------
philosophical questions, never practical ones
----------
What is expected from Articling Student? Area of practice of interviewer (if it is a big firm). Ratio of articles hired back as associates
----------
Ask about firm culture. Ask about firm practice areas. Ask what firm needs are. Ask who is there and does what.
----------
what type of work an articling student typically gets, and how much support they have for students.
----------
Questions regarding the firm's culture (ex. employee sporting activities, pro-bono activities), questions regarding the firm and its clients (research the firm in local business papers and see what kinds of business transactions or litigation it's been involved in), questions as to why the interview chose the firm and why the interviewer has chosen to stay at the firm
----------
As the interviewer about the firm's hire-back rate. The rest of the questions you ask should be related to your particular interests. Show an interest in the firm, in the direction the firm is going and in its future.
----------
What will my billing target be What will my salary be Can you recommend a 3-year associate I can talk to? Will I be able to request certain types of work? Is the firm sociable? What hours do people keep (when do they arrive @ the office and leave)? What benefits will I get?
----------
level of involvement in files, ask for examples of what students do
----------
What they want in an articling student, and what you can do to meet those needs/expectations.
----------
what the working environment will be like (type of work you will receive, dedicated rotations), hire back rates
----------
The articling arrangement. How hireback decisions are made? What level of responsibility you can expect? The scope of the work you can expect to be involved in.
----------
Make sure you've read their website so that you don't ask a question about something you could easily find out if you took a bit of time. Ask about a specific area of practice that you are interested in or an interesting case that you know the firm has acted on. Lifestyle questions are always a bit of a touchy subject. Play it by ear depending on how the interview is going.
----------
What do you like best about your firm?
----------
"Why would I not want to work at your firm?"
----------
Ask about the firm. Ask something that shows you did a bit of research. Always ask about the interviewer’s specialty. Usually you will hear something from the interviewer that tells you about her/him. Follow up with a question that shows you are listening
----------
Ask about the firm culture. Turn the behavioural questions on the interviewers, they're great ways to get true answers - i.e. ask for an example of an interesting file/case they worked on recently, ask about things they do with other members of the firm (inside and outside of "firm-life"),etc.
----------
what do you not like about working here - what is the most satisfying part of your practice - does the firm work well together
----------
(1)What direction is the firm heading in? (try and find out how the firm is doing financially in order to assess whether the firm has enough work to allow them to keep you on as an associate) (2) how is work assigned to students? (3) what type of experience can I hope to receive? (4) what is the social life of the firm like? (or is there one?)
----------
This will matter on what you want in a job - it's important to be honest and ask honest questions, you need to know what you are looking for in an article before going in. They will appreciate your honesty, and if they don't then they were not the firm for you. Ask about how much mentoring you will receive.
----------
what is expected of you - it varies from firm to firm.
----------
I would ask: 1. If they read a lot and for how many hours, while at law school or when preparing for an exam, as this will show me if they are willing to work overtime. 2. If they have children, would make sure if they have made full arrangements for instances when they have to work overtime. 3. If they have a soccer game on a week-end, and it's necessary they go as they need him... would the student go, or finish/help with an important case of her boss or ppl?
----------
You should ask about the firm's future as it will provide an idea to the interviewer that you are interested in long-term prospects and not just the short-term one of getting qualified.
----------
What firm practice areas are growing/shrinking? What is the firm culture? What sets the firm apart in terms of the student program? Do you get to have a lot of client interaction? How are staff treated (risky - but a good question)? What kind of extraordinary opportunities are available at the firm? Where do you see the firm going in the next 5-10 years? DO NOT ask about salary, benefits, what other students are working there, whether the days are long etc. You should know this already. Most of the salary info. is on the website for big firms and for small fims, ask a law school or do a no-names call to the firm's HR/student co-ordinator.
----------
Ask something original that shows you have put some thought into it. Like ask one of the interviewers how they got into construction litigation... they'll be impressed (and flattered) that you knew! How do they mentor their students. Whatever you ask make sure you come across as SUPER KEEN about working there. Every student committee member I've spoken with said the KEY for them is to be confident that if they put out an offer that student will accept - no question and no uncertainty. Often, firms will not offer top students a position b/c they don't think that student will accept. So they rank students according to (1) desirability and (2) retainability. So even if you are not the top student, if you make it clear that you really, really want to be at that firm and you will accept right now they may offer you a spot before another 'better' candidate.
----------
Why did they choose that firm? What do they like best about the firm? and about practicing law? Anything they wish someone had told them while they were still in law school? Any courses they would recommend taking?
----------
What sort of work will your articling students be doing (writing, researching, drafting, etc.). Is there an articled student who works there who I might ask questions of? Somethings about the firm and/or lawyers in the firm or practice areas.
----------
What they are looking for and assert that you have the package for them. Ask for a tour around the office. Ask for stuff and resources such a library, etc.
----------
how are hire-back decisions made? any questions you might have about the firm and what it offers students.
----------
Mentoring programs? Professional development? Rotations in the firm?
----------
Ask what the partnership potential is. Ask how work is doled out - from partners only, or from everyone. What's the social environment like? Be frank, as I was, that I wasn't interested in going to a place where no fun is allowed. If the firm values and trusts its people, they assume that you know when to have fun and when to work. Ask about how much hands-on stuff you will see - ICBC firms are great for getting you into court on minor chambers matters.
----------
why type of work you should expect, court experience, practicing different areas (rotations at bigger firms)
----------
Ask what sort of work experience you can expect to have. Show an interest in what the firm does and ask about what the various lawyers do.
----------
questions that make it seem like you're interested in the job; also try to demonstrate that you've researched the firm
----------
Culture of firm, maternity/paternity leave, probability of hire-back,
----------
In what direction is the law firm going ie. what are their future plans what are their expectations in terms of how many hours they will expect you to work Do they anticipate hiring after the articling period
----------
variety of work: conduct of own file or just research?; any formal supervisory structure; what to do for research -- in-house library and/or electronic resources
----------
Always ask a question. Tailor the question to the firm. Perhaps ask about the level of client interaction.
----------
Ask about the areas of your interest. Ask about elements of the firm's culture that are important to you. An interview is not just about whether the firm wants you...it's also about whether you want the firm. Try and make sure that you will be happy with the match.
----------
What can you expect from articles at this firm re: variety? How would they characterize the work environment?
----------
Hire back ratios. Rotation system.
----------
ask about different practice areas, articling rotations, mentorship programs
----------
Ask about something they do. Ask about job expectations/description.
----------
Always more about themselves because that is all that they really care about. How do I progress in this firm, because I want to be in for the long term. Always focus on the positive - If I exceed your expectations... (not what are your expectations)
----------
What kind of experience their articling program offers, what professional development opportunities there might be...
----------
[posted June 3, 2005] |