The best lawyers have a high level of competence. As part of your student interview, you may be asked the following questions: You are unlikely to have time to discuss all aspects of the problem. It is much better to say a few things very well than many things wrong. As a lawyer, you often have to think standing up and under pressure – without support. To describe a time when you had to act on your own initiative, draw on your experience to clearly demonstrate the problem or challenge you faced, how you overcame it, and the outcome of your actions. Interview panels look for hard evidence that you can handle under pressure. The question of legal ethics is also an opportunity to be original, to show a little intellectual intuition and to stand out from the competition. This is one of those moments when interviewers take stock of your character and intellect, so it`s important to make a good impression. To give you a head start, we`ve gathered advice from students and interviewers on a dozen sets. In this course, “How to Answer Legal Questions in the Interview” will be discussed during the application process for students. Michael Levenstein, a lawyer at Gatehouse Chambers, will guide students through a civil matter. The question will be available before the event. This interactive event allows students to get an idea of how to approach a legal issue and what a student committee might be looking for.
Law-related interview questions are asked to understand your perspective on applicable laws and the challenges facing the legal profession. Here are some questions you might be asked: It`s also worth remembering that the interviewer will interview 100 candidates and they won`t remember your face, so always link to the form to make sure you`re memorable to interviewers. If you have something original or memorable on your resume, you can stand out in the interview panel`s memory. Your CV and experience form the basis of the student interview questions you are asked. It`s important to know your resume inside out and be prepared to provide hard evidence of how your skills can add value to the rooms you`re interviewing with. This is a classic question and a recurring problem – both in the application phase and in the interview. It is really important not to give a generic/boring answer to this question. It is also important to have done extensive research in this area of law in order to give a good answer to this question.
A good answer has legs and goes beyond superficial examination of the subject. This question is asked to give student interview panels an idea of who inspires you and why. This can reveal a lot about your character and qualities that you might consider a good lawyer. These questions are designed to test your knowledge of the different legal professions and, in particular, a good understanding of the Bar Association. This is a must to keep up to date with the latest developments in the bar. A thorough knowledge of bar traditions and history is also required. Chambers recruiters tell us that the intention behind these questions is not to test the extent of a candidate`s legal (or political) knowledge, but to examine their reasoning abilities beyond the confines of a legal textbook. “It`s more of a personality test,” one recruiter revealed — one skill every lawyer needs is to be able to approach an unexpected problem or puzzle calmly and logically. Even if you are the rain man of the law, you must also be able to solve real-world problems. Drug legalization and reform of assisted suicide laws are standard responses. One in four candidates in recent years will have said so. These answers will cause you two problems: first, they won`t be appealing, and the panel probably won`t remember you.
Second, the panel will know these standard fallback answers and be willing to tear up your arguments with ease – and yes, there are arguments both ways, so if you think yours is irrefutable, you`re not ready for an interview. Outcome – Finally, talk to the interview board about the results of your actions and what those results say about you as a candidate. Remember, especially with lay clients, that these are people who are not familiar with the legal process and can therefore be stressed or scared. It is important to answer the question during the interview as if the client were there. This can mean being robust or soft, depending on who the customer is and what scenario exists. Adapt accordingly. The UK judicial system is under constant scrutiny, so it is important that you provide an answer that reflects the current position of the Bar Association and shows that you understand the challenges facing the legal profession and how they can be overcome. The interview board tests your pleading skills and, finally, how you can articulate an argument convincingly – a key quality required by any aspiring lawyer. Be sure to analyze the issue objectively, as you may be asked to provide your point of view, but also an alternative point of view. Some questions may be: You have accepted the student body with a set of rooms. Another set that you prefer and have always wanted to join will then make you an offer a week later. What do you do, why and what approach do you use? Also, make an effort to remain politically objective.
If you are asked what you think about cuts to legal aid, a diatribe about the Conservative Party hating the poor will not go down very well. What for? Because this argument is political rather than logical. Being a lawyer requires a certain degree of impartiality, so personal opinions and personal beliefs must be kept out of the dispute. Something that comes with this is that you should try not to be too serious. One student recalled, “I felt like the interview session was an opportunity to enjoy the exercise.” Despite the nature of some of the questions, this is not the most serious part of the interview. Student interview questions related to the debate are harder to prepare, but you`re not supposed to solve a specific problem in two minutes. Instead, you are expected to present a logical, well-presented and well-structured argument to address a hotly debated legal issue. Use this guide to learn about some of the student interview questions you may face and how to answer them. One way to impress is to go beyond the immediate problem by making connections with other cases or legal principles. This shows the extent of your knowledge. Another sign of quality is the attempt to understand the reasons for the law, as it shows an appreciation of the “big picture”.
As with other jobs, you will need to convince the interview panel that your choice of rooms is a good fit for your profile and career goals.