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10 Top Interview Questions for Lawyers in 2013

10 Top Interview Questions for 2013
Interviews have got a lot tougher in recent times – reports of honest feedback being given (‘candidate was useless and just mumbled’ or ‘candidate was completely over the top and needs to calm down’) means that employers are being much more selective as to whom they invest in and employ.

 Here are our top 10 interview questions for 2013 - try them out if you are a law firm and as a candidate get ready for them! I was at a training course last week where the trainer basically stated that anyone who claims their business was affected by the recession has only themselves to blame. Not entirely sure how - after all it was a little unexpected to say the least - and if that mentality is starting to show, then it is likely it will also affect recruitment as well.
  1. Outline ‘quantitive easing’ in 20 seconds.
  2. I see you have moved about a bit. Does nobody like you?
  3. Why were you made redundant in 2007?
  4. Have you used the recession as an excuse for your own poor performance?
  5. Why hasn’t your billing increased in the last 2-3 years?
  6. How do we know you will not just take a better job in 6 months?
  7. What is your ideal job and how do we differ from it?
  8. What steps have you taken to reduce your own exposure to credit?
  9. Have you paid your mortgage off yet? Why not?
  10. What would be a good hourly rate/annual salary for you at this stage in your career? What about in 3 years time?
For 300 legal job interview questions for law firms please email me – jbfagan@ten-percent.co.uk and I will send you them over in pdf format by return.

 Jonathan Fagan is MD of Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment - Online Legal Recruitment for Solicitors, Legal Executives, Fee Earners, Support Staff, Managers and Paralegals. Visit our Website to search or download our Vacancy Database or view our Candidate Database online. 
Our Legal Careers Shop has eBooks on CV Writing for Lawyers, Legal Job Interview Guide, Interview Answers for Lawyers, NQ Career Guide, Guide to Finding Work Experience or a Training Contract and the Entrants Guide to the Legal Profession. 
 
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Location: London Borough of Islington, London EC1V 4PY, UK

Comments

Anonymous said…
I'm a solicitor and employed, have been for five straight years in the same place and clearly haven't been to an interview for a substantial time!

I was interested to see the interview questions but cannot see how people have a problem with them - I will demonstrate:

Q: Outline ‘quantitive easing’ in 20 seconds.
A: Here is some monopoly money that you really can buy things with.

Q: I see you have moved about a bit. Does nobody like you?
A: They all do until they realise how good I am; then jealousy sets in - how do you handle that in your firm?

Q: Why were you made redundant in 2007?
A: Why is anyone made redundant during a recession? Fortunately I have been working consistently since then. My more recent employers have a better business strategy, although I still have ambitions to go beyond...

Q: Have you used the recession as an excuse for your own poor performance?
A: I have performed well in good years and bad years - but I accept that one can only be as good as the material one has to work with.

Q: Why hasn’t your billing increased in the last 2-3 years? A: Because I don't bill, I work in house. My value has increased to my employer as I have taken more responsibilities on.

Q: How do we know you will not just take a better job in 6 months?
A: What could be better than this job? You don't know whether I will stay - so if you want to hang on to me this had better be a rewarding experience.

Q: What is your ideal job and how do we differ from it?
A: I'm not sure it exists, but here are some clues to the ways you differ - you are situated in Barnsley not Bermuda; there is no music involved; I will probably have to work until or past retirement age.

Q: What steps have you taken to reduce your own exposure to credit?
A: I cut up my wife's cards.

Q: Have you paid your mortgage off yet? Why not?
A: Because I transferred the house to my former wife together with the mortgage and my new wife is so close to paying off her mortgage that I can't be bothered to involve myself.

Q: What would be a good hourly rate/annual salary for you at this stage in your career? What about in 3 years time?
A: How much do you earn? That'd be a good start. As for three years - that's an ambitious aspiration - do you think you can hold on to me for that long?

Hope this gave you a giggle or at least a smirk!

All the best
23 March 2013 at 21:08
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