EXCEL IN YOUR CLERKSHIP INTERVIEW – TOP TIPS!
These top tips are written by DeakinTALENT staff who have previously worked as Clerkship/Legal Recruiters for top-tier Law & Consulting firms.
The clerkship interview will seek to assess three core areas: 1. Ability (can you do it?), 2. Motivation (will you do it?); and 3. Cultural fit (will people like you and want to work with you?). On the flip side, you need to determine if a firm is the right match for you. To assist you with your preparation, DeakinTALENT’s top clerkship interview tips are:
1. PREPARE COMPREHENSIVELY
It goes without saying, but to perform well in a clerkship interview, thorough research and preparation are essential. The effort you put into preparation will help to distinguish you. Core areas to focus your preparation on include: Industry and commercial awareness Industry and commercial awareness involves being up to speed with the broader business world in which the law operates. Among other things, it enables you to form opinions and relate to the needs of clients. As such, it’s a required and sought after employability skill which will be assessed for in a clerkship interview. Example questions - What are some key challenges currently facing our industry? How do you keep up to date with what’s going on in our industry and the business world more broadly? What’s a business story in the media that has interested you recently? What’s your understanding of how our firm fits and operates within our industry? What’s an example of a case you’ve found interesting and why did it interest you? How to prepare – Read, watch, and listen on a regular basis. Read: Newspapers, business magazines, industry publications, books, news websites, blogs, Twitter. Watch: The news, and programs that provide an objective analysis of what the news means. Listen: Industry and current affairs podcasts, speakers at industry events. Knowledge of the firm Understanding the firm you are interviewing with is essential. Regardless of how impressive your other responses are, if it’s apparent that you don’t have an adequate understanding of or interest in the firm, it will be a deal-breaker. Example questions - What’s your understanding of our firm and the work we do? What interests you about working with our firm? What area(s) of law are you most interested in? What’s your understanding of our clients and how we work with them? How to prepare - A starting point for firm research might include; practice areas, reputation in the market, types of clients they work with, firm history, significant mergers/acquisitions, key competitors, office locations, number of employees, types of roles, firm values, firm culture, recent awards and notable achievements, recent media articles/mentions, community involvement, points of difference to others similar firms, the firm’s position on topics such as corporate social responsibility, sustainability, pro-bono, diversity etc. Don’t feel like you have to showcase all information you learn. Be strategic and weave it in organically. Knowledge of the clerkship position Clerkships are not for everyone and require maturity, resilience, and dedication. It’s important you have an understanding of the reality of what a clerkship entails, why you are applying, and how you are a good match for the position. Example questions - What do you feel you would bring to the firm/clerkship? What do you hope to get out of a clerkship with us? What do you think would be the most challenging aspect of a clerkship for you? How to prepare – Read information provided about the clerkship in detail (start with the firm’s website). Attend firm preclerkship events. Speak with people in your network who have previously (ideally successfully) undertaken a clerkship. Knowledge of your drive and motivation to pursue a career in law Your responses to questions about your interest in law, general motivations, and short/longer term goals will heavily influence decision making, and therefore need to be confident, considered, genuine and articulate. Example questions - Tell me about yourself. What motivates you? What achievement(s) are you most proud of, and why? Describe a recent goal you set for yourself and achieved. Why should we hire you? What are your greatest strengths/areas for development? Where do you want to be in five years? In ten? Describe a time when you have had to manage a stressful situation. Describe a time when you have managed conflict. Describe a time when you failed. How did you respond? What do you like to do outside of work/study? Why were your grades [at X time or for X subject(s)] low? How to prepare – Spend time on self-reflection. In addition to the above questions, brainstorm your responses to: What are ten words a good friend or family member would use to describe you? What values do you hold close? What have you achieved that you feel really good about? What have you enjoyed/not enjoyed about the work/study you’ve undertaken. What is your ideal work environment? What does success mean to you? What else is important to you outside of law?
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