how to interview the prospective associate attorney

Associate attorneys typically provide assistance to seasoned attorneys and may work in any area of law. When interviewing associate attorneys, the most suitable candidate will demonstrate excellent research, writing, and negotiating skills. Be wary of candidates who are exploitative and lack communication skills.

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What is the interview like at a law firm?

Dec 14, 2010 · How to Interview a Prospective Attorney Use Your Instincts. . You should leave a meeting or a phone call with your potential attorney with a sense of trust and... Ask for an explaination of the legal issues related to your case. . Any attorney worth his or her chops should be be... Find out how you ...

What should you look for when hiring a lawyer?

Interview Questions for Associate Attorneys: 1. Why did you decide to become an associate attorney? Demonstrates an interest in the profession. 2.Which strategies have proven to be most effective at trial? Highlights legal expertise. 3. Can you describe a time when you were forced to deviate from your moral code? Reveals morals and reflexivity. 4.

Why do I need an attorney with years of experience?

Aug 21, 2017 · 2 Answers. ↳. It says on my resume that I am barred in DC and Maryland. ↳. Attorneys are not “barred,” they are “admitted.”. Hence, they may pass beyond the “bar” that separates the spectator area from the well of the court. It is non-attorneys who are barred from entry there. Less. Associate Attorney was asked...

What questions do they ask in a law school interview?

Below is a list of questions we’ve compiled that we feel can help you, the candidate, set yourself up to show you’re genuinely interested in the role and also dig a little deeper to learn more about your potential new employer. (Remember to customize your question set to fit the law firm, or company, you are interviewing with): Here is the ...

What questions should I ask at an Associates Attorney interview?

What questions should you ask in a law interview?

What are good questions to ask lawyers?

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

How do you handle stressful work situations?

How do you answer what is your greatest weakness?

What lawyers should not tell?

How do you tell your lawyer what you want?

How do I talk to my lawyer for the first time?

How do you answer a lawyer question?

How do you know if your lawyer is selling you out?

How do you question a defendant?

General questions

These questions help a hiring partner get to know you a little more by understanding your passions, interests and how you may fit into the firm's culture:

Questions about experience and background

These questions help an interviewer understand how your education and previous experience translate to the role:

In-depth questions

An interviewer may ask these questions to get to know how you build a relationship with clients and navigate court issues. These questions also give you a chance to explain your processes and display the parts of your personality that make you the right candidate for the role.

Sample interview questions and answers

Review these sample interview questions and answers to form your own responses:

Law firm interview tips

Here are some interview tips to consider so you can present yourself well to the hiring partner:

Is Their Primary Focus on Estate Planning?

This question may or may not be important to you from the standpoint that if all you need is a simple will, power of attorney and health care documents, then a seasoned and sophisticated attorney may not be right for you.

How Many Years of Experience Do They Have?

The more years of experience the attorney has - whether the attorney is a generalist or primarily focuses on estate planning - the more the attorney will have had the opportunity to see their essential estate planning documents in action when a client becomes disabled or dies.

Do They Have Flat Fees or Hourly Rates?

This is an important question to ask so that you won't be surprised by hidden fees and costs. These days the majority of estate planning attorneys charge a fixed fee for most, if not all, of their services. This will give you the peace of mind to know that the flat fee is all that you'll be required to pay.

How long is a micro interview?

Essentially, you are preparing for micro-interviews of 30 to 35 minutes with each person or group of people on your interview schedule. Though each interviewer is unique, you can expect common themes and similar questions when meeting with most of the attorneys.

What is a reputable recruiter?

A reputable recruiter should be knowledgeable about the particular firm’s and practice group’s structure, culture, and work assignment system and should be able to provide insight and intel based on their strong relationships with the firms and from the experiences and feedback of past-placed attorneys and interviewees.

Can you please name a Supreme Court case that impacts your practice of law on a daily basis?

The purpose of this question is not necessarily to test the substance of the answer but more the fact that the candidate has an answer. This is indicative of the fact that they are informed and see the larger picture. So much of what a lawyer does relies on having strong background knowledge of the law.

Can you give an example of where you have chosen to involve yourself in the broader legal community?

Lawyers that network and do the “extra-curricular” activities are generally better informed about recent developments than other attorneys. In addition, networking helps a lawyer build a reputation in the legal sector. Attorneys who have better connections with other attorneys benefit from getting referrals of business from those other attorneys.

How do you handle a disagreement with a superior over a legal matter?

Disagreements happen in the practice of law. Two attorneys can reach different opinions about an issue and both can be correct. It is even more difficult when one of the attorneys works for the other. Part of being a successful lawyer is learning how to make one’s voice heard without being overbearing.

Can you elaborate on a situation where you were unsuccessful and how you handled it?

You should get a sense of how the lawyer handles adversity because there is quite a bit of it in the legal profession. A good lawyer will learn from failure and make the necessary adjustments so it does not happen again in the future. Every lawyer will experience failure at some point.

What aspect of the daily job of being a lawyer interests you the most?

Every lawyer has strengths and weaknesses. Some attorneys do things better than others. This question will test what a lawyer believes that they are good at and what interests them. If they indicate that they dislike a critical basic area of the job, it can help you determine where they would be a good fit in your company.

Have you ever worked on a case that was hard not to take home with you? How did you handle the situation?

Depending on the type of law they practice, lawyers may have to work on cases that evoke emotions like those in family cases or criminal trials. This question allows an interviewer to gauge a candidate's ability to maintain their mental health when working on particularly difficult cases.

General Questions

Questions About Experience and Background

In-Depth Questions

Law Firm Interview Tips

• Here are some interview tips to consider so you can present yourself well to the hiring partner: 1. Familiarize yourself with recent court rulings. 2. Research the law firm. 3. Bring examples of papers you've written.

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