Articles From the Team
Solicitor interview questions – our top 10 to prepare for…
Given the global pandemic and consequential uncertainty about both our personal and professional lives over the course of the past 18 months, many of you won't have moved jobs or explored the job market for a long while.
While this is great for your CV and demonstrates loyalty and staying power, it does nothing for your interview technique which can become rusty over time.
This makes the prospect of an interview nerve wracking however in order to progress your career sometimes a move in needed and as we are in a candidate short market, experiencing record high levels of vacancies, there really has been no better time to explore your options. On top of this, firms are reporting excellent performance and growth and most firms have increased salaries across the board so the stability and security of a move is good and the chances are that you will benefit financially from a decent uplift on your current package.
Most firms tend to steer away from the obscure questions you may have been told to prepare for earlier on in your career (If you were a biscuit what type would you be?!) and don't want to catch you out, rather they genuinely want to see if you would be a good fit for the job they are recruiting for so most interviews will be CV based and designed to find about you, your experience and motivations.
There are certain questions which crop up time and time again so whilst you don't want to over prepare and come across as too rehearsed and unnatural, do think about how you would approach the following...
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1. Tell us about you/talk us through your career history…
2. Why law? Why commercial litigation? (your chosen discipline)?
3. Why are you considering a move from your current firm?
4. Why have you applied for this vacancy/to this firm?
5. What do you know about us? Our work, clients, sectors that we work in?
6. What do you enjoy/dislike about your work?
7. Give an example of how you've handled a difficult situation at work or a difficult client?
8. Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?
9. What are your strengths/weaknesses? How do you overcome your weaknesses?
10. How would your boss describe you and how would your friends describe you?
You should also prepare questions for the interviewers. Well thought out questions that demonstrate a genuine interest in the opportunity in terms of the role/firm/team and will assist you in deciding whether or not to accept the job if successful in your application will be well received.
Also make sure you have given some though to any significant/recent legislative changes that might impact your area of law and also consider how both Brexit and Covid-19 have affected the law and your practice area and any challenges they may have created.
Always be open and honest about where else you are interviewing. The firms you are applying to will appreciate this so that they aren’t blindsided post offer when you turn around and say you have decided to accept another position (that they knew nothing about) and it can also help to create momentum and speed up the process.
As your legal recruiter, we will also be able to provide you with advice in relation to specific questions to prepare for depending on which firm and for which role you are applying and we will talk you through a thorough interview preparation in advance of any interviews we arrange on your behalf.
If you're about to start your job search and want expert advice to help you secure and prepare for interviews, then contact BCL Legal for a confidential discussion.