Below is a list of questions associated with interviewing separated into three categories: 1) questions you may be asked; 2) questions you might ask; and 3) questions you should avoid asking. This is not a comprehensive list of questions but a guide to consider.
For a more robust list of behavior-based interview questions, see https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/sample-behavioral.
Questions You May be Asked in an Interview
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why did you choose to go to law school?
- Why did you choose Capital?
- How do you like law school?
- What is your favorite/least favorite law school class? Why?
- Why are you interested in this opportunity in this firm?
- Why should we hire you?
- Why do you want to work for us?
- What skills from your previous position can be transferred to this position?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What is the biggest mistake you ever made?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
- Are your grades indicative of your ability?
- Why aren’t your grades better?
- Why are your grades lower than a “B” average?
- Why do you want to work in [city, state, country]?
- Why did you go to school in Columbus, Ohio if you wanted to work in [city, state, country]?
- Why is there a gap in your employment history?
- Why didn’t you get an offer from your last employer?
- What kind of salary are you looking for?
- If you could change one thing about yourself professionally, what would you change?
- Describe your most rewarding law school experience.
- Give me an example of how you have worked with someone who disagrees with you. How did you persuade your colleague to work with you?
- Describe any prior work experience that you believe has prepared you for this clerkship?
- What have been your greatest challenges in law school? How have you overcome them?
- Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.
- What experiences have you had to develop your oral and written communication skills?
- Tell me about a time when you had too many projects and assignments to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks. Explain how you would decide how to prioritize each assignment
- If called upon to work on a team, what strategies do you use to ensure that tasks are completed?
- Have you ever worked in a school or work environment where you were given little instruction or guidance?--How did you handle the assignment? What was the result? What could you have done differently?
- Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation and how did you handle it? If given more time would you have responded differently?
- Explain the factors you would consider if you are faced with a scheduling conflict between a work event and a school or personal event and you must choose to attend one?
- Describe a difficult or unpopular decision you have made and the process you went through to make that decision.
- What is your typical way of dealing with conflict?
- Describe the last time your work at school or on the job was criticized and how you dealt with it.
- Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
- Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even though you felt that you had nothing in common with that person.
- What are your professional goals?
- What would you like to accomplish by the end of the summer?
- What do you expect from the organization that hires you?
- Is there anything that you would like to tell us?
- In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue facing the legal profession in the 21st century?
- What would you do if you won the lottery?
- With whom in history would you like to speak?
- If you were a tree, what kind would you be?
- If you could choose any other profession other than being a lawyer, what would you choose?
Questions You Might Ask in an Interview
- You seem to like your job. How did you choose it?
- What kinds of cases are you working on?
- What is a typical day like for you?
- Did you clerk here?
- How is your job different from what you expected it to be?
- What do you wish you had asked when you interviewed here?
- What do you like about your job?
- What is the best thing that has happened to you while working here?
- If you could change anything about your job, what would it be?
- What is the most interesting case you have worked on?
- What have you learned because of working here?
- How long were you at the firm before you had significant client contact?
- Did you start in your current practice area? If not, why did you switch?
- What do you find most challenging about being a lawyer?
- Who will assign my work?
- What would a typical day be like for me?
- Will I get feedback on my work?
- What kinds of cases will I work on?
- What kind of work will I do?
- How does someone become a star—what makes them stand out?
- What was it about my resume that got me this interview?
- How has the practice changed over the last 5 years?
- How have your clients’ needs changed over the last 5 years?
- Where do you see the partnership heading in the next 5 years?
- Do you work mostly on your own, or do you work on projects with other attorneys at the firm?
- Do you have a formal mentor or training program for new associates?
- What skills does the firm look for in an associate?
- How are summer associates supervised?
- Is there a formal review process?
- What does it take to be successful at your firm?
- Why did you decide to join the firm/ agency/ company?
- What do you find most rewarding about the practice of law?
- What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you least enjoy about your job?
- What words of advice can you give to a student beginning their first law clerk experience?
Questions You Should Avoid Asking in an Interview
- What are the hours?
- What is expected of me?
- What billable hours do you expect?
- What are the benefits packages like?
- How much vacation time will I get?
- What is the salary?
- What kind of secretarial support will I get?
- How many people besides me are you hiring or interviewing?
- What is your policy on maternity leave?
- I have heard rumors about your firm. Are you not doing well?
- What don’t you like about the firm?
- How does your firm compare to X firm?
- What is the culture of the firm?
- What is the firm atmosphere?
- What kinds of cases will I work on?
- What kind of work will I do?
- How does someone become a star—what makes him or her stand out?
- What was it about my resume that got me this interview?
- How many attorneys do you have?
- What are your practice areas?
- In which cities do you have offices?