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You’re Hired! Job Hunting Advice For Law Students and Young Lawyers
What to Ask Before Your Interview
Before your interview, ask some questions to ensure the interview runs smoothly:
◗ Where should you park?
◗ Is there any construction or any traffic
issues in the area?
◗ When should you arrive?
◗ Do you need to bring extra copies of your resume, writing samples and transcripts?
◗ How long will the interview last?
◗ With whom will you be meeting?
◗ Is there anything else you should know about the interview?
Common Questions and How to Answer Them
The following are common interview questions and how to answer them:
◗ Why did you leave your last firm? Do not blame or insult your former
employer. Assume responsibility where appropriate. If your dismissal wasn’t due to your work product, focus on that. If it was due to work product, be honest but explain what you learned from the experience. You have to walk the line between putting yourself in the best light while not coming across as someone who makes excuses or takes shots at a former employer.
◗ Why do you want to join our firm?
Discuss why you want to join the firm in terms of the firm’s mission, vision and values. Memorize them, recite them and
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explain why they speak to you.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
You want to be a valuable member of the firm, assisting and facilitating it to achieve its mission, vision and goals while growing as an attorney and becoming a leader in a given sector or practice area.
What’s your view about work life balance?
This is a trick question. If posed by
a partner, they want to weed out associates they perceive as lazy. You don’t want to be an indentured servant
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©2020 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
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SECTION 09 YOUR INTERVIEW