Tag Archives: interview

What To Look For During Legal Recruiting Interviews

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The legal recruiting process is very important when trying to make a hiring decision. If you are looking for a new attorney for your firm, getting the right person matters. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell whether you have located the right attorney, or whether that particular lawyer simply interviews well. Making that determination before a hiring decision can save you a lot of trouble at a later date, when the person you have selected simply does not work out the way you intended. By learning what to look for throughout the recruiting and hiring process, you will be better prepared to get the best attorney for your firm.

What Interviewers Should Ask

Any interviewer who is focused on the legal recruiting process should be looking for the very best attorney for the job. Interviewers should look for attorneys who have a good work ethic, proper schooling, and a collaborative attitude that will help them at the firm if they are selected for the position. So, what can interviewers ask? Consider questions such as:

– What was the most important thing you learned in law school?
– What made you choose the legal profession?
– Where do you see the future of law in this country?
– Why did you choose your practice area? (personal injury, divorce law, etc)?
– What makes you most effective as an attorney?

Good Lawyer, or Good Interviewee?

Some people interview very well, but that doesn’t mean they are good attorneys. Deciding whether a person is truly competent, or whether they simply know what to say when they are being interviewed, can be difficult for an interviewer, but it is also a very important distinction to make. To make that determination, it is highly important to listen carefully to what a candidate says. Look for:

– Answers that are rehearsed or sound as though they are memorized
– Weaknesses that are actually strengths
– Smooth talk that avoids a direct answer
– Answers that are too fast, not well thought-out, or that delve into longer explanations than really necessary.


How Important is the Recruiting Process?

The legal recruiting process is extremely valuable. An attorney who is selected by any firm is one that has been chosen because it was believed that they would be a good fit for that firm. Not all attorneys are created equally, and many issues much be considered, including:

– Skills
– Abilities
– Where they went to school
– Quality of the work they do
– How well they fit into the firm where they have applied

In other words, personality matters in the recruiting process, as much as other aspects of hiring a new attorney to work at a particular firm. With the importance of various aspects, firms would be wise to take a careful look at their processes and make adjustments accordingly.

How to Land on Your Feet in the Legal Industry

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Getting let go or fired can be stressful, and if you’re like most people in the legal industry, you may feel uncertain about what options are available to you and what next steps to take. Here are some basic job search tips that everyone can use when they have lost their jobs. 

Update Your Resume

One of the most important steps you can take is to bring your resume up-to-date. All too often, we neglect this important document simply because we have a successful career. Keeping your resume updated with recent certifications, accomplishments and awards is important; take the time to review and update your resume today. Take some time to update your social media profiles as well; LinkedIn and other social sites can be a great source of new leads. 

Keep in Contact With Peers 

Networking is one of the best things you can do when searching for a new position. Remaining in contact with your former coworkers can help you stay updated on current changes in law that could have an impact on your future. Networking with those who are still active in the field will also help you feel less out of the loop from what is happening in the legal industry. Your existing network may also help you land a new position; always keep the word out among your peers that you’re looking for a new position. 

Take Job Hunting Seriously 

It’s easy to treat job hunting as something you must do. Chances are after a job loss you’re feeling despondent and ungrounded; make sure you treat finding a new position like a full-time job. The more seriously you take your job search, the more serious potential employers are to treat you seriously. 

Be Prepared for Interviews 

Many of us find the interview process stressful. If you have not been on an interview in a long time, you could benefit from a mock interview. Get a friend or family member to do a mock job interview so you can hone your interview skills. Make sure you feel confident about your answers to difficult questions you’ll likely face including why you are looking for a new position. 

Filling in Resume Gaps

You will need to explain to prospective employers why you are no longer at your previous job, whether you left by choice or not. It’s best to prepare an answer beforehand so you are ready to answer this question.

Sugar coating a firing can be challenging. The best way to handle this during an interview is to be honest about the circumstances without placing blame on anyone, including your former employer. Make sure you point out any lessons you’ve learned from being fired. 

Layoffs are fairly simple to explain; however, make sure your answer is truthful and brief. With the current state of the economy, and slow growth for the legal industry it is not uncommon for law firms to downsize. If needed, you may expand upon this with what you’ve learned from the experience.

If you’ve decided it was time to move on, you may have to explain what reasons were behind your decision. Make sure you avoid badmouthing the firm or its partners and instead, focus on the positives and what your prior position taught you about yourself and your career goals.