10 Mistakes That Can Cost You Your Law Interview

By Matt Lee
Tenge Law Firm, LLC

The law is a cutthroat profession. Every newly-minted lawyer will be jostling for a position in the best law firms, and just the same, these top law firms will only be choosing the best. Now a lot of your competitors will more or less have the same educational background and work experience as you, so how do you make sure that you’re the one who clinches the interview? 

Colorado firm Tenge Law recently published a helpful infographic which lists crucial points on how to ace a law interview. Below is a rundown of some common mistakes mentioned in the infographic that any law interviewee should always be mindful of. 

1. Not arriving on time 
 Keep in mind that you will be taking up the interviewer’s time, and it’s always possible that there are other candidates he needs to accommodate. Show your eagerness and respect by arriving at least 10 to 15 minutes early.




2. Not dressing up professionally 
It’s undeniable that appearances make a big impact especially on people who are not familiar with you. You have a limited time in which to impress the interviewer, so make every second that you are looked at, count. Dark suits in black, gray, or navy with minimal jewelry work best, and make sure everything about you is neat and clean. 

3. Not being polite and friendly
Always be pleasant and respectful, especially once you set foot anywhere near the firm’s premises. You’ll never know who you might be interacting with, and with social media, they can either spread a good, or bad word about you quickly. 4. Handing badly-written resume - The person who will be reviewing your CV will most likely be busy going through others as well, so make yours as concise as possible. List down only the most notable of your achievements related to your chosen career, anything else could even be detrimental. 

5. Not reviewing potential questions
This can be the most difficult part as there are no real “correct” answers to questions such as: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Tell me more about your resume. Tell me more about some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced and how you solved them. These questions allow the interviewer to get an insight on your attitude and how your mind works. It’s subjective, and your best bet would be, to tell the truth, but phrase your answers in a positive and optimistic tone. 

 6. Not asking the interviewer any questions
During the interview, you should be working to build rapport with your interviewer, and you can have a better chance when you’re allowed to ask questions. Show your eagerness by asking specific questions about the firm, especially details that are difficult to get by research alone. 

7. Not doing background research on the firm 
Never ever be caught off-guard not knowing about the firm you want to work at. Do research as early as the first moment you consider applying at a particular law office, your knowledge about their organization will show how much you want to be a part of them. 

8. Not doing a follow-up 
It’s not often that candidates in law offices get hired on the spot. Law firms often prefer to call back after they’ve carefully considered several candidates, so it is very important that you send a thank you note a day after the interview, and a follow up 1-2 weeks after, to keep the links of communication fresh. 



9. Putting another firm or lawyer in a bad light
Always observe professional courtesy. Nobody wants an employee who talks behind their back, and this is most especially true in the legal profession where image and confidentiality are taken very seriously. 

10. Being unsure or arrogant 
Make sure to project an air of confidence in a positive, non-condescending manner. Remember that confidence does not equate to being cocky, but don’t be too timid and self-effacing either. Get rid of awkward hesitations and speak in a calm and straightforward manner. 


The infographic also includes statistics on outcomes of callback invitations to and interviews of Class 2017 for Summer 2016 positions, which provides valuable insight into the current level of competition new lawyers will be facing. 

Law Career Development recently hosted a mock interview event here at GGU to help students overcome their anxiety for Summer Job Fair Interviews. If you are interviewing anywhere and require tips and strategies on acing interviews,make an appointment with our LCD counselors. To make an appointment, simply visit LCDonline ,call 415-442-6625 or email lawcareer@ggu.edu .