Dear Friends,
In my prior post, we discussed some job search tools and strategies. Identifying those potential opportunities can be challenging, especially amidst the preparation for exams, deadlines, briefs for writing courses, and everything else you may be juggling. I want to offer you encouragement during this stressful time, and also remind you that you can do challenging things. Do. Not. Give. Up.
Once you research your potential job market and start applying for positions, you are faced with the job interview itself. An interview is an excellent way to distinguish yourself as a successful candidate, as well as build rapport with the interviewers.
Like many of the topics we have already covered, job interviews are another skill set that you are honing. And while you may never be able to predict every question or curveball thrown your way by the interviewer, you can prepare thoroughly before taking the interview seat.
Thus, in this post we’re going to cover some best practices for interviewing, frequently asked questions, and how to confidently approach interviews. Ready? Let’s go!
Best Practices
Tip One: Perfect your elevator pitch. You may have heard me mention this skill within the networking space and I would love to emphasize it here. Almost every law student I have engaged with has struggled with this at some point, and it is almost always one of the key questions asked in a screener interview.
Unlike the 30 second breezy overview that you learn and deliver while networking, your elevator pitch for job interviews can last up to 2 minutes and should be tailored to the specific job at hand. Think of the pitch as a 90% professional (your educational background, what got you into law, and professional experiences that led you to this specific position) and 10% personal (hobbies, goals, skills that don’t apply to the legal field).
Always keep relevance at the forefront. Maybe undergrad was years ago, so you can quickly give a brief background of college, while highlighting key steps that brought you into law and that you are enjoying. And remember your audience. If you are interested in criminal law overall, but interviewing for a public defender’s office, speak to your interest and acumen in defense work, not just your overall interest in criminal law. As indicated above, the personal component should be something of interest but doesn’t have to be long. Only share what you want and always remember to keep professionalism in play. For example, if you won drinking champion of the year in college, that probably should not be in any professional elevator pitch!
Tip Two: Research the company you are interviewing with. While a website or blog will never be fully comprehensive, it should give you a strong sense of their priorities, their brand, and the skill set they expect. Try to tailor your answers and ask questions that are specific to that job, which will allow you to connect more closely with the interviewer and company. While your research should not be akin to an appellate brief or as in-depth as your torts outline, researching and taking notes is a must for an interview that you are serious about.
Tip Three: Prepare, prepare, and prepare. Give yourself extra time to get to the interview, if it is in person. If it is virtual, do a test run of your camera, microphone, and video-call software, and find a quiet spot to interview. Unless stated otherwise, dress formally. This means a nice pantsuit/dress with a blazer, sensible shoes, and a conservative number of accessories. Do you have to cover every piercing and tattoo? Absolutely not! You want to be yourself in any environment. However, this is also not the time to wear your loudest colors, plunging necklines, or tight fitting attire. Suits (whether as separates or bought together) are a must, unless the interviewer states otherwise. Also, bring a hard copy of your most current resume and any other application materials.
Tip Four: Develop 2-4 specific questions for that employer, and make sure the answers cannot be easily found on their website. Think beforehand about why you want to ask the questions you selected. The more authentic you can make the experience, the greater the likelihood that you will feel comfortable with the process.
Tip Five: Listen to the question posed and not the question you wished was asked! When your adrenaline is pumping and nerves are kicking in, even the best prepared of us may get rattled. So, take a deep breath, think through the actual question being posed, and give a well-reasoned answer. Some questions may require a multi-part answer, so think through your answer, organize it, and make sure you are addressing the question comprehensively.
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself (i.e. your elevator pitch)
What isn’t on your resume that you want us to know?
Why are you applying for position X and why are you the best candidate for the position?
Great strengths/biggest weaknesses?
Tell me about a time when…(you failed at something, were challenged by someone, had to overcome an obstacle, fill in the blank)
Favorite/least favorite class?
Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
What would be three words that a colleague would use to describe you?
What type of work environments do you excel in?
These questions (and more) are some of the classic interview-style questions that carry over well into the legal field. As you prepare for the interview, your Career Service Office or Academic Advising Office (or any equivalent!) should have some ready-made materials specifically tailored for interviewing for jobs in the legal market.
While not exhaustive, these questions provide a sampling of the open-ended narrative questions about you, or related to you. These questions, while they still require preparation, are meant to be exploratory and allow you to tell your story and why you are the best fit for the job.
Some questions tend to be more behavioral in nature (especially when interviewing for a criminal law position), and some are even hypothetical situations. While it is impossible to predict the nature of each question, spending time with resources and prepping for various types of questions is extremely worthwhile. Thinking through several mock questions (those mentioned above and others) is also very helpful. It allows you to process content and provide thorough answers when asked in real time. A large benefit of interview prep is thinking and planning answers ahead of time and allowing practice before the actual interview. That way, even with a bit of nervous energy at the actual interview, you can take comfort in knowing you can provide a thoughtful answer for most, if not all questions.
Poised & Prepared
There is no singular secret to success and having a “perfect” interview. Rather, the focus should always be on preparing, practicing your elevator pitch, your “why” for the job at hand, and reviewing the specifics of that particular entity. You cannot control whether or not you get the job, you cannot control the interviewer’s questions, and you cannot control how the other interviewees do. You can only control how you show up and present. And with practice, some research, and putting some heart into the process, chances are you are going to present extremely well.
Interested in learning more about the different types of questions utilized in law interviews? Want to learn about some of my favorite interviewing resources? Connect with me on LinkedIn and drop me a note. I will be in touch!
Kristina Bilowus is an Assistant Director of Career Development at MSU College of Law. She is also the current Treasurer of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, vice president of the Hellenic Bar Association, co-chairs the DEI Committee for the Oakland County Bar Association and co-chairs the DEI Committee for the Ingham County Bar. She is also a board member for the Michigan Center for Civic Education.
