Securing an interview at a law firm is a significant step toward launching or advancing your legal career. However, excelling in the interview requires more than just a perfect CV or excellent grades. Law firms seek candidates who already have a passion for law and possess practical skills and relevant experiences that make them a good fit for the firm's culture and needs.
To stand out in your law firm job interview, you must effectively showcase your skills, experiences, and potential. And we’ve got some advice on how to do just that.
Law firms often specialise in different areas of law—corporate law, medical negligence, intellectual property, and family law, among others. Before your interview, research the firm’s practice areas and tailor your responses to highlight your experiences or interests in the firm’s designated field. It may not be the best practice to express your interest in corporate law for a law firm that specialises in medical negligence!
Tip: Bring up specific cases, projects, or academic work relevant to the firm’s specialities. For instance, “During a previous project on data breaches, I found particular interest in *data breach case*”
Lawyers must be skilled communicators, and the way you convey your experiences within your interview can demonstrate how effective your communication skills are. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) is a great way to answer behavioural interview questions that require you to give specific examples from your past experiences.
This method helps you stay organised while ensuring that you don’t skip over important details. For example, if asked about a time you handled a difficult client, you could say:
Legal practice is fundamentally about solving problems—whether through litigation, negotiation, or compliance strategies. During the interview, be ready to discuss situations where you’ve used your analytical skills to solve potential problems. Highlight how you identified a legal problem, assessed possible outcomes, and implemented a solution.
For instance, explain how you approached the task if you handled a research-heavy project or worked on a case with multiple legal precedents. Did you weigh different legal arguments? Did you find a creative solution that others might have missed? Offering concrete examples of your critical thinking will help the interviewer see you as someone who can tackle challenges head-on.
Most legal work is done collaboratively, whether it’s within a legal team or through coordination with other departments (finance, HR, etc). Law firms want to hire solicitors who can collaborate effectively with others. In your interview, describe experiences where you worked successfully as part of a team, resolved conflicts, or contributed to group goals.
For instance, if you worked in close partnership with colleagues on a previous case, really enunciate how you worked together to solve the case professionally and efficiently.
Demonstrating curiosity about the firm’s culture, practice areas, and ongoing cases shows your genuine interest. Thoughtful questions also allow you to display your knowledge and analytical thinking further. For example, you can ask about:
By asking insightful questions, you create an opportunity to engage in a two-way conversation rather than a one-sided interview. It’s also a chance to subtly show that you’re already thinking as if you were a solicitor at their law firm.
A law firm interview is your chance to show that you’re more than just any other candidate with legal knowledge—you’re someone who can effectively apply that knowledge to real-world situations. You'll make a lasting impression by tailoring your experiences to the firm’s specialities, using the STAR method to structure your responses, demonstrating problem-solving and practical skills, and asking insightful questions. Be prepared, be confident, and show how you are the perfect fit for the firm’s team and culture.
Best of luck at your next law firm job interview!