Below are some questions we have gathered from various interviewers. It will help you to review them
but don't worry about memorizing the answers to every single one of them. Try to keep in mind the
general theme of the interview. Employers want to know why you are interviewing with them, what
you can do for them, what type of person you are and what distinguishes you from the other candidates.
There are also some questions employers are not allowed to ask.
A list of inappropriate questions can be found on the U.S.
Department of the Interior website.
Background
What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
What qualities do you have that will make you a successful lawyer/advocate?
Have you had a person who acted as a mentor at some point in your life? Tell me about him or her.
How did you choose your college and/or law school?
What courses have you liked best? Least? Why?
What do you like least about law school?
Do you think your grades are a good indication of what kind of lawyer you'll be?
How do/did you like your journal or clinic participation?
What is your favorite non-law-related activity.
Career Objectives
What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
What do you see yourself doing five to ten years from now?
How would you describe the ideal position for you?
What two or three things are most important to you in a job?
Do you know what type of law you want to practice? Why?
Work Experience
Describe your work experiences. What did you like/dislike about them?
Why did you leave?
What skills did you develop in your previous positions?
How is your experience relevant to our work?
Do you have supervisory experience?
Tell me about a time when you were in a pressure situation. Why do you think this situation
arose? What in hindsight were you most dissatisfied with about your performance? What do you
wish you had done differently.
Tell me about a situation in which your personal obligations and business or school commitments
conflicted. How did you resolve the conflict?
Tell me about a situation from your most recent job that required you to exercise judgment.
Assume you are asked by two partners to complete two different assignments, but you only have
time enough to complete one. What would you do? (Hint the right answer is to go to both partners
and ask them to help you prioritize explaining to them your situation.)
What type of issues or cases did you work on?
Job Considerations
Do you have a geographical preference?
What ties do you have to this geographic area? (Note: This question is of particular concern to
some firms offering summer associate positions. Firms may be reluctant to hire a student with no
geographic ties to an area, because they are afraid the students won't accept a later offer of
post-graduate employment. Anticipate this question so that you can address convincingly your interest
in and/or connection to the area.)
Are you looking only in this particular substantive area?
Where else are you interviewing? Why?
What salary are you looking for?
Why Us?
How did you learn about us?
Why did you decide to interview with us?
What do you think it takes to be successful with us?
Why should we hire you?
What have you learned from the attorneys you have spoken with here?