Don'ts of Seasonal Clerkship and Law Graduate Interviews

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If you have an upcoming interview at a law firm, here is a list of Don'ts as told by someone who went through the clerkship and graduate application process.


 

Photo by Issy Bailey on Unsplash


So, don't:

  • Come not having done your research about the firm and/or interviewers (if known).
  • Come not having practised your interview skills and your answers to common interview questions.
  • Come not having remembered the content of your resume.
  • Be late to your interview.
  • Come not dressed the part.
  • Come not having your phone on silent or turned off.
  • Not show enthusiasm. 
  • Not smile or not be friendly.
  • Not make eye contact with your interviewers.
  • Not closely listen to your interviewer and not answer the question asked of you.
  • Not be concise and not be "to the point" in your answers.
  • Not slow down when answering and not be clear in your speech.
  • Launch your answer immediately if you are still thinking and not ready to answer.
  • Waffle or come off as nervous.
  • Fidget in your chair.
  • Not be confident.
  • Put yourself down, be negative or be defensive.
  • Sound rehearsed or robotic.
  • Not be genuine in your answers.
  • Come not prepared with your elevator pitch answer to "Tell us about yourself".
  • Come not prepared with your answer to "Why do you want to work here?"
  • Come not prepared with your answer to "Why did you want to study law?"
  • Come not prepared with your answer to "Why do you want to do commercial law?"
  • Criticise any former employers or colleagues when answering questions. 
  • Not use the STAR structure when answering behavioural questions.
  • Come not prepared with some questions for the interviewers.

For more tips on interviewing, check out our Guide to Clerkship and Graduate Interviews or this Lawyers Weekly article which I co-authored.

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