In the world of law, it’s no secret that there are some jobs that are more attractive than others. For example, if you’re looking to make a partner at a top firm or get your first job in-house, then you need to know what makes these types of firms attractive to potential hires.
And while they may be difficult to find out about online or through research materials (not everyone has access), there are some things that can help prepare you for an interview at one of these high-profile companies.
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Research the firm
When it comes to researching a prospective employer, an interviewee should do their homework. This can take many forms:
Research the firm’s website. You want to know what makes them different from other law firms, and how they plan on making themselves stand out from other companies in your industry or field of expertise. You’ll also want to look at some of their social media accounts (Twitter, LinkedIn).
These will give you insight into who works for them and what types of people they’re looking for—or if there’s anything about them that makes them great candidates! If possible try finding some news articles about the company’s work.
These may provide further details about issues that affect clients‘ lives right now as well as historical information on issues affecting society today – which might be helpful when thinking about whether this firm would fit well into yours!
Once you’ve narrowed down the field to a few firms, it’s time to start contacting them. If possible try sending an email that includes some of your recent work, as well as any relevant experience or projects that would be relevant for this firm.
Know yourself
When it comes to your job interview, you want to be sure that you know yourself. You should know what motivates and excites you, what makes the most sense for your career path, and if there is any way in which a potential employer can help guide or direct your career development.
If someone were honest with themselves they would realize that they do not have all the answers right now.
Everyone has areas where they need improvement before being successful at work. It’s important not only because we may not be able to give 100% of ourselves 100% of the time; but also because trying too hard can lead others down the wrong path! This could end up costing them more than just their time spent working on something else rather than focusing on their original goal(s).
Focus on your skills that are relevant to the job
You should focus on the skills that are relevant to the job you are interviewing for. This is not just about legal knowledge, but also about non-legal areas like leadership, communication and teamwork.
It is okay if you don’t have exact experience in every area of law that may come up during an interview; instead, focus on what you can do well in those areas.
For example: If they ask “Tell me about yourself” then tell them how you helped organize a charity event or board meeting last year where 200 people showed up (even though it was only 100 guests). Don’t be afraid to talk about weaknesses as well as strengths!
Know your application
When you’re applying for a job, it’s important to know what the company does and how they’ve been successful in the past. This will help you determine if this is the right place for your skills and interests, as well as provide context for your interview answers. Here are some questions that can help:
- What is their mission statement?
- What values do they try to uphold?
- How long have they been around?
- Who are their competitors today (and why)?
- What products or services do they offer (in addition to law), and how would these complement my skillset/background/interests)?
These questions will give you an idea of what the company is like, and how they operate. You can then tailor your answers during the interview to demonstrate your knowledge of these things—it’s easy for them to tell if you know what their company does or not! It also gives you something to talk about during a lull in the conversation.
Prepare for competency questions
Competency questions are a popular interview question that many law firms use to determine whether you’re a good fit for the job. They can be tricky to prepare for, but if you know what they are and how they work, it’ll be easier to answer them confidently.
What is a competency question? Competencies are skills or abilities required by your position at the firm—and they’re not just about knowing your way around an office! For example, if there’s something specific that’ll help make sure that you’re able to do your job well (like being able to speak multiple languages), then this would count as one of your competencies.
Dress in a traditional suit
In the eyes of most companies, a suit is the standard dress code for interviews. The suit should be well-pressed and dark, conservative and classic in style. It needn’t have any ostentatious details like stripes or buttons—but it should be tailored to fit you perfectly.
Trousers should be hemmed at the correct length (around midway between your ankle bone and halfway up your shin), while shirts should also be plain white with no pattern or collar details besides buttons on either side of your throat (for men).
Commercial awareness
In today’s competitive job market, it’s important to know what is going on in the world and what your company is doing. You should also be aware of your competitors’ activities to help you understand how they are responding to changes in their industries.
Keep note of what you do during your time at the firm
One of the best ways to prepare for a job interview is to keep a diary of what you do in a day. You’ll want to note down any tasks or tasks that take longer than expected, as well as any new skills or knowledge that come up during your time at the firm.
You should also note down any mistakes which occur during those days; this will help show potential employers how much effort you put into each task and how quickly those changes can be made when needed.

Take your time and be clear in your answers
The interview is a chance for you to get your best answers on the table. This means that if you’re asked a question and don’t know the answer, don’t try to fake it—it will show up in the way you speak and act. Take your time when answering questions; otherwise, it can seem like an excuse for not having thought about them enough beforehand.
If there are long pauses between responses or if some of the words come out wrong because their meaning wasn’t clear in your head before speaking them aloud (for instance, “I’m sorry”), then take another look at where those pauses came from so that next time around they won’t happen again!
And finally: remember that everyone else is taking this time as seriously as you are too! You should be able to talk confidently about topics without stumbling over yourself every other sentence like an amateur politician trying desperately not to make any mistakes during his first term in office (which he’ll probably end up losing due to how poorly planned out his campaign strategy was).
Your mom was right – always say “please” and “thank you”
It’s important not to be too formal, or too informal. You want to be polite and friendly but not over-familiar or too relaxed.
It can be tempting to try and make yourself sound more “professional” by using big words or using a lot of pauses between sentences, but this will just make you seem like you’re trying too hard (or boring). If someone asks if they can lend you money for gas, do they really need an explanation?
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Conclusion
Well, now you’re going to be a lawyer! Keep in mind that this is just the beginning of your journey to becoming a lawyer. With each step you take, think about why you chose this career path and what it means for your future.
You can always choose another path if something doesn’t work out as well as you had hoped—but don’t forget what brought us all here today: we want people who care about others; people who are willing to do whatever it takes for justice in an ever-changing world where everything can change overnight!
Your resume should be tailored specifically to the job you are applying for. If you have a resume that is customized to each position, it will help you stand out from other applicants. If a prospective employer looks at your resume and sees that you have experience in their field or with similar companies, they will be much more likely to call you in for an interview.
If you need help with your resume, we have a team of experts who can assist you. We will go over your resume and make sure it is customized to each position. Our goal is to help you stand out in the crowd of applicants so that you get the job!