The gateway to your legal career means cracking the code of the on-campus interview through preparation, precision and poise.
Interviewing can be a nerve-racking experience, particularly when your professional future could depend on the outcome.
For most students entering their second year of law school, the art of the interview is front and center as they prepare for on-campus interviews (OCIs).
Take it from Alison Monahan, cofounder of Law School Toolbox. She says OCI success is all about being prepared and confident and rolling with the inevitable punches.
“Most law school graduates remember with anxiety their first on-campus interview,” she said. “It’s a dreadful rite of passage for almost anyone wanting to work in a large firm during and after law school.”
While there’s no secret decoder ring, Monahan and other career counselors offer tips to help you gain confidence and present your best self.
Be informed
Know when and where the interviews will take place. Be in contact with your academic adviser and your school’s career services office to confirm the date, time and location. Find out if the interviews will be in person or virtual. Check out the school’s website for OCI information. If particular firms are on your list, go to their websites to learn everything you can about them.
Jill Backer, associate dean for professional development at Ave Maria School of Law, echoes the advice on researching law firms, adding that being informed means knowing what sets the firms apart from each other.
“If you are granted an OCI interview, do a deep dive on the firm’s website and research,” she said. “Say you want to do real estate work and the firm does real estate, but the interview is for the Chicago office. Make sure to research how many attorneys do real estate in Chicago. It may be that the Chicago office doesn’t do real estate, so be aware.”
Monahan reminded that many firms do their hiring early, outside the standard OCI process.
“That’s one more reason to review firm websites regularly,” she said. “You may need to apply to the firms directly, rather than doing an interview through your school.”
Be prepared
Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”
To be competitive in the interview process, start preparing early. Monahan said first-round interviews will take place either in the summer or in the first few weeks of the fall semester.
“Once classes begin and you are thrust back into the stress of classes, the Socratic method, case briefing and exam preparation, you will not be as focused on preparing for the interview season,” she said.
Early prep work allows time for preparing cover letters, resumes and writing samples and fine tuning your interview skills.
At Cooley Law School, the Career and Professional Development Office encourages students to make appointments for one-on-one interview preparation help. The office offers mock interview sessions and workshops on interviewing techniques, as well as tips on how to improve your resume and cover letters.
“The career office will give you advice on how to answer seemingly simple questions such as, ‘Tell me about yourself,’” said Karen Poole, director of career and professional development. “The answer to this question is your opportunity to set yourself apart from all the other equally qualified candidates.”
Be precise
“Have application documents that are free of errors,” Monahan said. “Utilize your school’s career services resources to help you in your preparation for the recruiting season.”
OCI interviews are usually short, about 20 to 30 minutes. They will be a whirlwind of questions about your legal reasoning, past experiences and aspirations.
Given the brevity, be prepared to succinctly convey your strengths and why you are a good fit for the employer.
“There are countless sites on the internet discussing common and more challenging questions that interviewers might ask,” Monahan said. “Make a list of the top 20, and give each a little thought. You don’t need to memorize your answers, but if you have at least given some consideration to a thoughtful response to each beforehand, you will be far more comfortable and confident during your interviews.”
Monahan said you can also have your very own AI career coach by having Claude or ChatGPT ask you law firm interview questions and suggest answers.
“It’s important not to sound too scripted, but figuring out ways to frame your unique story and respond to questions about weaknesses never hurts,” she said. “Also, have questions ready for the interviewer to show you’ve done your homework.”
Be polished
Ellen Robb, director of career services at Mississippi College School of Law, stresses the long range importance of delivering a polished interview performance.
“Think of the OCI as something more than just an interview for a summer position,” she said. “It could be the start of a professional relationship, whether you are offered or accept a job from that firm.
A couple of years down the road, you may find yourself in a deposition with an attorney who interviewed you in an OCI, so developing pleasant relationships and being on good terms with people goes a long way.”
Jae Wyatt-Keyton, executive director of career services and professional development at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, said it’s normal to feel intimidated and anxious during an OCI. She recommends practicing answers to questions such as “Tell us a little bit about yourself” in the mirror prior to the interview.
Monahan tells those preparing for job interviews to “keep your positives in mind.”
“You are applying for these jobs as a successful law student,” Monahan said. “You got into law school in the first place, which means you are competent and capable. Carry a level of confidence with you into the interview.
“You have earned your place in the seat across from those interviewers, so be confident in the great qualities you have to offer the firm. If you believe in yourself and believe that you would be an exceptional addition to the firm’s team . . . you will have a much easier time convincing the interviewer of that fact.”
Cooley Law’s Poole said that in addition to dressing professionally and having copies of your application documents with you, remember to smile.
“That smile not only sends a positive message, but it helps you relax,” Poole said. “It’s hard to feel tense and anxious when you have a smile on your face.”
Code not cracked?
What if things go poorly?
“Make note of the areas in which you were not as prepared as you thought and get counseling from career services,” Mississippi College’s Robb said. “Dust yourself off and reset for the next interview.”
Monahan said to think of a bad interview as a learning experience and gain from it.
