Prepping for an interview at a law firm? Don’t stress out just yet. We have all the helpful tips you need to build your confidence and help you stand out from the competition.
All you need to do is a little research, some preparation … and take a deep breath. Whether it’s your first interview or been a while since you’ve had to interview for a new role, getting ahead of your preparation will be the key to standing out. You might be going in for an associate role, paralegal, attorney position or an internship.
Regardless of the role, it’s competitive out there and taking the time to do your research and come in prepared will help you get your foot in the door.
6 Key Tips to Stand Out During Your Law Firm Interview
Take notes of these six important tips to help you stay confident during your interview.
1. Research the firm
Research doesn’t just stop at the case you’re working on. When you land an interview at a firm, you need to dive a little deep into the firm’s history, what they stand for, and what are some of the essential cases they are known for. Looking at the hiring manager or interviewer’s background will also help you understand their experience and their time at the firm. When you go into an interview knowing the culture, what is expected of associates and other aspects of the firm, your interviewer will be impressed that you took the time to get to know their organization.
Additionally, the research you do will help you figure out whether you are a good fit for the role and the firm, what work you will be doing, and which of their areas of specialty will pertain to you. This will help you set the tone for the interview and give you good talking points with your interviewer.
2. Dress to impress
In the legal world, you are representing clients and the firm you work at. This means that it’s important to look sharp and presentable. Dressing appropriately in clean, crease-free and professional attire will help you give a good first impression during your interview. You need to show them that you care about the role – coming into the interview looking sloppy shows that you didn’t take the time to be presentable and ready for something important.
We all know the saying: when you know you look good, you feel good. So, dressing well will only boost your confidence which will be beneficial for you when interacting with individuals at the firm.
3. Highlight your successes
As you start sharing your experiences, make sure you highlight the important career successes, growth and anything else that would make you an asset to the new firm. You want to show the firm why they should work with you and how you will help the firm grow. Share what you have learned in the past and how you are using your knowledge to continue to grow in your roles.
People like to hear how you have improved and what you have done that led your previous firm to success. Make sure you come prepared with these key talking points in mind.
4. Come prepared with questions
While you are being interviewed, you will also need to ask some questions to show the hiring manager what interests you and where you see your career going at the firm. Questions regarding how the firm is growing, what values they stand for, and any other questions that show your interest will be well received.
Having questions prepared beforehand will show that you are interested and curious about the firm from the get-go. Make sure you prepare for these questions in case they get asked back to you as well!
5. Brush up on your skills
Before going into the interview, you need to know what skills are required for the role. Each field of law is different and the firm may only represent a certain clientele in specific fields. You will need to showcase how your skills will fit the required role and why they will be helpful for the clientele.
In the same way, brushing up on your soft skills and highlighting your strengths is also important. Time management, communication and problem-solving are some of the top soft skills needed in the legal field. Showing off your soft skills and how you have used them in the past will be extremely important to the hiring manager to see how you will be able to collaborate if hired by the firm.
6. Be you!
This is one of the most important tips! Be yourself and show off your personality. Law firms want to hire genuine people who care about the law and would like to see who you are as a person and how you would fit in with the culture. Don’t be too hard on yourself and try to relax. You got this!
We hope this inspired you to put your best foot forward and avoid putting too much pressure on yourself. While the legal field is competitive, there is a lot of growth and many opportunities out there for you.
Ready for a new opportunity? Our recruiters at Adams & Martin Group are here to help. Contact us today to learn more and get started.
Good luck!
