Common Law School Interview Questions!
The law school interview is an opportunity to have an in-depth discussion with the selection committee and convince them why you deserve a spot in that prestigious law school. Make sure to talk about your achievements, goals, internships, or anything that tells them what makes you a promising candidate.
If you’ve reached the interview stage, congrats! It certainly isn’t easy to make it to the interview stage, mainly if you’ve applied to some of the top law schools, because the competition is fierce.
Making it to this stage is undoubtedly an achievement, but hey, there’s still a long way to go. You really need to make sure that you nail your interview and impress the panelists. If you’re unsure how exactly to do that – we’ve got your back! Let’s dive right in.
Mode of Interview
The first thing you should do is go to the law school website and see the format they follow. There are quite a few law schools like Yale and Stanford that don’t require an interview, while there are others like Columbia and UChicago that send an invite for an interview via Zoom or Skype.
Some of the law schools interview all students, while others, like the top law schools such as Harvard and Columbia, only conduct the interview by sending invitations.
Work on Your Critical Thinking Skills
The admission panel may ask you law school interview questions to test your critical thinking, legal reasoning, and analytical skills. Of course, as a lawyer, you’ll have to react promptly in challenging situations and think things through. This is just a teaser for that! So stay confident, and give them the best answers possible. It’s more of a curve ball thrown your way.
Adopt the strategy of staying up-to-date with current affairs, especially around the time of your interview. Spend an hour daily reading the news and articles online. The interview panel might ask you for your opinion on a particular issue. The last thing you’d want is to listen to them cluelessly.
Don’t Miss the Mock Sessions!
The best way to practice for a law school interview is to practice out loud. Sure, an idea may sound great in your head, but does it sound well-articulated when you say it? That’s exactly what you need to practice. The more you practice, the more fluent you will be during your interview.
Pro-tip: Sit in front of the mirror, and practice the answers. But hey, don’t rote-learn them. You do wanna come off as a natural!
Another way may be to ask your friends or family to interview you. They may be able to help you analyze your weak areas so that you can work on them before the actual interview.
Your Body Language Matters!
Being an A-grade, an extraordinary student is one thing, but it really won’t do you wonders if you can’t carry yourself well. Your body language is the icing on the cake regarding law school interviews. For the law school interview, keep up the A-game for the formal law school attire. If you’re worried about how to dress up for the law school interview, then here’s our tip: dress up nicely in formal attire, whether it’s an in-person interview or online via Zoom. Goes without saying that when you dress well, you do feel more confident!
Moreover, maintain eye contact with the interviewers; if it’s an in-person interview, greet them with a firm handshake. Your charisma.
A Quick Checklist of Law School Interview Questions you Should Prepare for!
Of course, it may vary from one applicant to another. Although these sound very basic, cliché questions that you should prepare for the law school interview, take our word for it – amidst the nervousness; students often struggle with these questions.
Make sure that you prepare well for all these common law school interview questions.
⦁ Tell us about yourself
Yeah, that DAMN question every single time! Give a short introduction about your educational background, your interests.
Read More: Unpacking the Law School 509 Report: A Guide for Prospective Students
⦁ What are your career goals, or where do you see yourself in the future?
You can divide your goals into three categories; short-term (1-2 years), mid-term(3-5 years), and long-term (6-12 years) goals. While talking about your goals, use the SMART strategy, and make sure that your goals sound realistic and achievable.
⦁ Your leadership skills
The panelist wants to see how you can take responsibility and act in certain situations. Make sure you talk about how your practical leadership skills made an impact on a certain group or how you led a team.
They also want to know how you handle a crisis situation or during conflict management.
⦁ Your Academic Background
The panelist may ask personalized questions regarding your transcripts and academic background. If there’s a gap in your resume, don’t forget to brief the panelists on that and how you took your time during that time. Whether you started a job, interned at a particular place, or did a course online.
They may also ask you why you have studied a particular subject and what developed your interest. Moreover, if you have a low grade in one of the modules for any reason, use this question to explain it to the panel. Of course, a bad grade shouldn’t hold you back from your dream of attending a top law school.
⦁ Your strengths and weaknesses
(make sure you think these through, and not only mention your weakness but also tell them how you acknowledge this weakness and how you’ve figured out a way to overcome it.
While talking about your strengths, talk about the qualities that you’re most proud of and what you have/or wish to achieve because of those qualities.
⦁ Why do you want to go to THIS chosen school?
Ideally, make sure that you thoroughly go through the law school’s website and social media accounts before the interview, and take a look at all the exciting things they’re offering and what exactly it is that attracted you to apply to this law school. Is it the campus, the course modules, or any of the professors you want to learn from?
Now connect this question to your career goals, and tell them how you think THIS university will help you achieve your goals.
⦁ Why do you want to become a lawyer?
(they’re looking for a lot more than, oh, it has been my dream since childhood). Give them good motivations and what led you to pursue law. Sure, the Boston Lawyer or SUITS made us all want to live that cool lawyer life, but during the law school interview, you need to give them solid reasons.
Is it a particular case you want to work on? Do you wish to address social inequality and work for matters related to women’s empowerment? Is there a specific life event that motivated you to become a lawyer? The thing all of these points through!
⦁ Your extracurricular and resume
The law school, especially if it’s one of the top law schools, isn’t only looking for a student with grades. They’re looking for an all-rounder candidate who can manage the extracurriculars along with the studies. If you’ve been someone who knows how to balance extracurriculars and has participated in moots, MUNS, public speaking or taken up an additional course, now may be the time to shoot your shot and impress the panelists.
⦁ What makes YOU a good fit?
The best strategy to answer this question is to think about how you will add to the law school and the community. Make a checklist, and see how can the law school benefit from you. Whether you would be contributing to the blogs and social media of the university, or you would take part in research, or you have some skills that your peers can learn from.
Pro-tip: Think of all the reasons that make you stand out. The interview panel is obviously not looking for basic answers. They need to know why they should give you a chance from a pool of hundreds of students.
The Ball is in Your Court!
After asking you the questions, the interview panel will throw the ball in your court and give you a chance to ask them anything. Make sure that you prepare a few questions beforehand that’ll leave an impression on them that you’ve thoroughly done your research. You can look up their website and ask about a particular project to show your eagerness to join law school.
Furthermore, if you have any questions or confusion regarding the program, now may be an excellent chance to ask them.
You can ask them about the professors, the societies, or any kind of academic support law school offers students. Don’t ask them questions that you can easily find online or in the FAQ section of the website.
Quick Tips to Ensure that Your Law School Interview goes Smooth!
Summing it Up!
Just remember our rule of three C’s; connect the points, be conversational, and stay confident throughout!Law School Interview Questions!
Best of luck, champ!
FAQs
A: Dress professionally and conservatively. Wear a suit or dress pants/skirt and a blazer, along with a collared shirt or blouse. Avoid wearing anything too flashy or revealing.
A: Law school interviews typically cover a wide range of topics, from your academic background and work experience to your motivations for pursuing a legal career. Some common questions include:
⦁ Why do you want to go to law school?
⦁ What are your strengths and weaknesses?
⦁ Can you tell us about a time when you faced a difficult challenge and how you overcame it?
⦁ What area of law are you most interested in and why?
⦁ How do you handle stress and pressure?
A: Start by researching the law school and familiarizing yourself with its programs, faculty, and mission. Review your application materials and be prepared to talk in depth about your experiences and achievements. Practice answering common interview questions with a friend or mentor, and consider doing a mock interview with a career counselor or admissions officer.
A: Dress professionally, arrive early, and be polite and courteous to everyone you meet. Make eye contact, speak clearly and confidently, and listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions. Show enthusiasm and passion for the law and the school, and be prepared to ask thoughtful questions of your own.
A: Some common mistakes include being late or unprepared, talking too much or too little, being overly nervous or boastful, or failing to ask thoughtful questions. Avoid discussing controversial or polarizing topics, and be careful not to come across as arrogant or entitled.
