What questions should I ask at the end of a law firm interview?
It’s no secret that interviewers are testing you on the questions you ask, as well as the questions you answer. But what are they looking for? How can you prepare? And what should you want to find out?
In this blog post, we’ll discuss 10 questions that have been tried and tested and are great to ask at the end of an interview. Not only will it show that you’ve researched the firm, understand what they do and are interested in learning more, but it will impress the interviewers too.
So, what questions should you consider asking, and how many questions should you ask?
How many questions should you ask at the end of a law firm interview?
To get the most out of your interview, learn more about the firm and show your interest in the position, we’d recommend preparing 3-5 questions to ask in your interview. This is because some of these questions might come up naturally throughout the course of the interview, and if you only think of two and ask them at the start, you’re going to start to panic at the end. Having 3-5 questions prepared means you can show that you’re engaged throughout the whole interview.
Why should you ask questions at the end of your law firm interview?
As previously stated, asking questions shows you’ve done your research and preparation, and are engaged in learning more about the firm, which are definite ticks! In addition to this, asking questions can help you find out important information that you want to know, to help you make a decision on whether you want to work there too. You can also show off your own values in these questions too. Not sure what we mean? Read on…
What questions should you ask at the end of a law firm interview?
1) Pro bono work is very important to me, can you explain the level of commitment the firm has to pro bono work?
Make sure you research the firm to see if this information is already available, and if so, you can reword it based on the information you find. But this is an example of a question that shows off your interests and priorities too, so not only do you get to show you’ve done the research, find the information you need to make a decision, but you also offer extra information about yourself that the interviewer might not hear about otherwise.
2) What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting here?
This will give you helpful information to understand any obstacles that you might not be expecting, so if you are successful you can prepare for this too. You could think of a couple of clarifying questions to continue the conversation so you and the interviewer can get to know each other better which helps to humanise an experience.
3) What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced since working for the firm?
Again, this is a great opportunity to keep the conversation flowing and find out some first-hand experience about working within the firm.
4) Is flexible working part of your firm’s policy?
In a hybrid world, your expectation might be very much that you will be able to work remotely, but this might not be the case. If this is something you want within your role, you should ask about this in your interview to find out where the firm stands on this, if it’s not obvious on the website.
5) I’m really interested in [this area of law] and know that your firm practises in this. What is the likelihood that I would be able to practice in this area in the early stages of my career?
Not only does this show that you’ve done the research into the areas of law the firm practices in, but you can show off your knowledge in the area in a discussion. For example, did you cover a module on this during your studies, have you carried out a research project in this area or are you following any high-profile cases in the subject currently? This will really help you to stand out from the crowd.
6) How are seats allocated?
This is important to ask if you feel the interview has gone well, and if you are interested in a specific area of law.
7) What traits make someone successful in this role?
We’ve already discussed some traits that we think law firm interviewers are looking for in this blog post, but it’s good to clarify what specific qualities this firm are looking for. This means that if you aren’t sure whether you’ve demonstrated them all throughout the interview, you can reiterate how you are able to demonstrate these qualities.
8) Tell me about a memorable case/deal/issue you worked on while working at this firm/organisation.
If your interviewer has discussed what niche they work in, include this in your question to show that you were engaged in the conversation.
9) I really like this about your firm, but what do you think makes your firm stand out?
This shows that you’ve done your research into the firm but also means you can find out what others think of the firm too.
10) How do you think the firm will develop in the next 3/5/10 years?
We’d recommend choosing the date range based on how old the firm currently is, and whether they discuss any future plans with you. This shows you are thinking about the future and your part of the future with them.
And, if you happen to have had all your questions answered throughout the duration of the interview, we’d recommend saying “No, any questions I had have been answered already, I look forward to hearing from you.”
How can you prepare asking questions in a law firm interview?
Do your research
This is key for improving your confidence, helping you to frame the questions correctly and showing off your interest in the firm.
Use open-ended questions
Although you likely just want the interview to be over, asking open-ended questions mean you can keep the conversation flowing and get to know the people interviewing you and vice versa.
Think about the answers you might receive
If you think about what the interviewer might answer, you can think of some follow up questions too.
Ready to interview for your next role and show off your questions?
If you are looking for your next role in a law firm, have a look at our careers page to find out what firms are currently hiring.