Questions To Ask in Your Law Firm Interview

Asking questions during a law firm interview matters because the answers provide you with helpful information about the firm and your potential role. Having questions prepared also shows the law firm your values, work ethic, and priorities. Preparing can help you appear more confident during your interview, as well. Relevant questions show your intelligence, analytical thinking skills, and initiative. Although it is a small step to take during your interview preparation, having questions establishes you as a strong candidate for the law firm.

Discover real interview questions asked for thousands of job titles.

Creating poignant questions for the interviewer requires some research. Relevant questions will impress them and increase your chance of being asked back for a second interview. Here are some tips to consider when preparing your questions:

Research the law firm

Conduct background research on the firm before creating your list. Use this information to guide your questions. Begin by visiting the firm’s website and familiarizing yourself with its mission, vision, and goals. It’s helpful to note the year the firm opened and any high-profile cases or clients. Knowing the clientele can reveal their values and the type of individuals who work there. A firm that often represents and defends small businesses in frivolous lawsuits believes in honesty, integrity, and has a strong work ethic, whereas firms with many high-profile cases might seek to attract new clients and build a reputation.

Review position specifications

Reread the job posting, and look at the qualifications and responsibilities listed. Identify keywords used to describe the position, and consider how your resume, experience, and skills qualify you. Think about the different ways the position contributes to the firm’s success. Identifying a correlation between the specific position you seek and the firm’s goals creates a foundation for questions to stem from and provides you with strong material for unique questions tailored to the job. These steps will prove you are a viable candidate and verify your genuine interest in the role and the firm.

Structure open-ended questions

You will gather the most information from a response if you format your questions in a manner that requires elaboration. Avoid asking questions with simple “yes” or “no” responses when possible. Questions that begin with “why” or “what” invite a deeper explanation. Questions requiring elaboration in the answer will give you a complete understanding of the firm and your potential co-workers.

Review these questions to pose during your law firm interview, and learn their benefits.

On average, how long do associates stay with the firm?

This question provides valuable information about the firm pertaining to employee satisfaction. You can estimate how long it will be until promotion opportunities come and what kind might be available. If attorneys have to go elsewhere for promotions, turnover rates will be higher and might signal a demanding work culture with high expectations of associates. Knowing how to manage stress can help you succeed in a demanding role.

What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting here?

This open-ended question requires a reflection and humanizes the interview experience by putting the interviewer in a position to share a personal experience. Ask clarifying questions afterward to showcase your communication and listening skills. The interviewer might have sound advice about potential situations you might encounter. Asking for personal experience expresses an interest in a potential co-worker. Building relationships is an important skill that shows you value the opinions of others.

Can you tell me about the opportunities for advancement within the firm and the typical career path and timeline?

This detail-focused question communicates to the interviewer that you are driven and committed to your career. Your forward-thinking goals and priority on a leadership position reveal that you are looking for ways you can help the firm. It allows for elaboration and can also give you key information about the opportunities for upward mobility within the firm. In some cases, associates can work their way up to being partners. While other firms might have different routes and opportunities, such as a chance to lead firms in other cities, it will depend on the leadership structure within the firm and its size.

More law firm interview questions to consider

The interview will answer some of your prepared questions with organic conversation, making it important to have several selections to increase your chance to learn about the firm and role. Here are some example questions to choose from or to inspire others, which you can edit to suit a specific firm:

1. What is this firm’s greatest strength, and why?
2. How does the organization handle failure?
3. Can you describe any team-building opportunities the firm hosts or supports?
4. Can you detail for me the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
5. How much contact would I have with individual clients?
6. What are the qualities of the ideal candidate for this position?
7. How is workload distribution determined and what types of assignments would I receive?
8. Does the firm have a mentor program?
9. What differentiates this firm from others?
10. What are the key qualities needed to succeed in this role?
11. What is the greatest challenge the firm currently faces?
12. How and how often is performance evaluated?
13. What responsibilities do new associates typically have?
14. Where do you see the firm in the next five years? Ten years?
15. Can you explain the level of commitment the firm has to pro bono work?
16. What steps does the firm take to promote diversity?
17. What was the greatest obstacle the previous person who filled this role had? And what steps did they take to overcome it?
18. Can you describe the typical client the firm represents?
19. What does the firm do to attract new clients, and how are new associates involved?
20. What is the female-to-male leadership ratio within the firm?
21. What adjectives do you think best describe the firm’s culture and why?
22. What role does technology play in the firm’s daily activities?
23. Do associates and partners typically work individually, or are tasks and cases tackled by teams?
24. How many minorities work within the firm, and how do you promote their identity?
25. Will I be working with a consistent team, or will my team members vary depending on the case?
26. What opportunities for professional advancement does this firm offer?
27. How does the firm measure success?
28. What is the singular characteristic required of all who work here?
29. What is the greatest challenge that a person in this position faces, and how would you advise them to overcome that challenge?
30. What do you expect of new associates within their first six months?
31. What supports are in place to help new hires acclimate to the firm and procedures?
32. Why did you decide to work with this firm?
33. Can you describe the firm’s management structure?
34. What relationship does management or leadership have with the rest of the firm?
35. How has the firm’s mission changed throughout the years, and why? What steps has the organization taken to react to the current trends in politics and changes in the economy?
36. What actions does the firm take to ensure the safety of all who work here?
37. What will be my greatest challenge within the first 30 days in this position?
38. What are the opportunities for personal development and continuing education?
39. How do you see the firm’s values aligning with the changes in today’s society?
40. What is one of the determining factors when selecting a new hire?
41. What qualities make someone successful in completing the responsibilities of this role?
42. Is there a shadowing or training program to support new associates?
43. What are some of the best things that contribute to the firm’s positive culture?
44. Do you have any concerns about me as a candidate that would disqualify me from the position?
45. What attracted you to this practice?
46. What benefits have you seen from being a part of this practice? What have been the challenges?
47. What advice would you give a person just starting their career with this firm?
48. Can you describe the typical case load per associate or attorney here?

Having insightful questions to ask at a law firm interview can help you have a positive interview experience and leave a lasting impression with the law firm. Share what your interview experience was like with a company.