The Rules of Legal Job Interviews The main aim and focus during interview must be: EVERYBODY LIKES ME, I LIKE EVERYBODY, I AM WILLING TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING (WITHIN REASON), I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH ANYTHING OR ANYBODY 12 additional tips: Do not reveal your political leanings if at all possible during interview. Sit on the fence. Likewise for religious views. If asked questions about your negative points, turn it to your advantage and give positive responses – eg: you work too hard sometimes, you take on too much work, sometimes you are over enthusiastic, this sort of positive criticism sounds much more effective than “I can be patronising at times”, “I am sometimes defensive”. This is not assisting your case. Do not ask clever questions in response to the interviewer’s questioning of you. She is there to offer you a career break, and you must be nice to her at all costs. Ask for a glass of water at the start of the interview, and when stuck on a question, take a sip...
Award winning blog with 100s of articles on the legal profession, legal recruitment and legal job markets by Jonathan Fagan, MD of Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment, recruitment consultants based in the UK providing a full range of services for solicitors.