questions to ask when interviewing for lateral attorney

by Zola Wyman 10 min read

Lateral interviews are much less likely to have the “tell us about law school” and generic “ what are your strengths and weaknesses ” questions. Instead, the interview will be focused around three themes: Your work experience Your reasons for leaving What you want Let’s walk through them.

More probing questions can include: “Are there particular aspects of the firm and practice group that you have enjoyed most?” (this is especially relevant if the attorney has practiced with other firms); “The team's role in the merger of two pharmaceutical companies is intriguing, can you tell me more about your ...

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What is the interview process like at a law firm?

11 Questions to Ask During Your Legal Interview No matter how you look at it, getting called in for a job interview is no small feat. After all, you’ve literally beat out hundreds (maybe even thousands) of qualified candidates.

How do I prepare for a lateral interview?

A law firm hiring for a lateral position is looking for you to fill a specific role in a specific practice group. The interviewer will want to know if you have the skills to fill that role—so the bulk of the interview will be discussing your current job. First, identify whether the position you are interviewing for is exactly what you currently do, or if it’s a transition (and how big of a …

How do law firms hire lateral lawyers?

When do lateral attorney candidates start job searches?

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How do you prepare for a lateral law interview?

12 Lateral Interview Tips from a Legal RecruiterKnow your resume and deal sheet/representative matters sheet cold and be able to talk intelligently about anything on them, even if it was years ago. ... Do as much homework on the firm and on your interviewers as you can. ... Do not sound negative about your current firm.More items...

What questions should I ask in an attorney interview?

Litigation-related questions to ask a lawyer in an interview include:How many court and jury trials have you done and what is your win percentage? ... What is the chance that I receive a favorable outcome? ... What are the risks if the case does fail? ... What are the odds of a settlement? ... How long should I expect this to take?

What are the top 5 questions to ask an interviewer?

Asking questions of the interviewer shows that you're interested in them as a person—and that's a great way to build rapport.How long have you been with the company?Has your role changed since you've been here?What did you do before this?Why did you come to this company?What's your favorite part about working here?

What are the three most important questions to ask in an interview?

The 3 Most Important Interview Questions To AskTell me about yourself. Oh, there's so much I'm looking for in this question. ... Tell me about a time you failed at a goal you needed to achieve. ... Tell me about a time you succeeded at a difficult task.May 7, 2015

What are some illegal interview questions?

Illegal Interview QuestionsAge or genetic information.Birthplace, country of origin or citizenship.Disability.Gender, sex or sexual orientation.Marital status, family, or pregnancy.Race, color, or ethnicity.Religion.Nov 17, 2021

How do I prepare for an attorney interview?

If you are interviewing virtually, all of these tips apply.Do your research. Lawyers are known for being good researchers. ... Be presentable and dress your best. ... Come prepared to ask questions. ... Be personable and show enthusiasm. ... Be genuine. ... Promptly send a thank-you note.Oct 28, 2020

What are 10 good interview questions?

10 Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer ThemCould you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief? ... How did you hear about this position? ... What type of work environment do you prefer? ... How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations? ... Do you prefer working independently or on a team?More items...•Nov 11, 2021

What are 5 unique questions you can ask at the end of an interview?

20 smart questions to ask at the end of your next job interviewWhat do you personally like most about working for this organisation? ... What do you find most challenging about working for this organisation? ... How would you describe your organisation's culture? ... Can you tell me about the kind of supervision you provide?More items...

What question should I ask at the end of an interview?

14 Great Example Questions To Ask At the End of An Interview. Can you tell me exactly what I would be expected to do if I was hired for this position? Can you walk me through a typical day here at Company X? If I were hired for the position, would I be going through any training prior to actually starting the work?

What are the 5 hardest interview questions?

The 5 Hardest Interview Questions (And How To Answer Them)Tell Me About Yourself. ... Tell me about a time you made a mistake or experienced a failure and how you dealt with it. ... Describe a time you dealt with a difficult colleague and what you did. ... Why did you leave your last job? ... Why do you want this job?

What are the 8 hardest interview questions and answers?

The 10 hardest interview questions (and how to answer them)Tell us about yourself. ... What are your weaknesses? ... Why do you want to change jobs? ... Where do you see yourself in five years? ... How Would Your Colleagues Describe You? ... What did you like most/least about your last job? ... Tell Me About a Mistake You've Made.More items...•Jun 16, 2021

What are the top 5 questions to ask an interviewer and answers?

Here are the five most common interview questions, and how you can answer them like a boss:Tell me about yourself? ... Why are you interested in this job? ... What would you say are your greatest strengths? ... What do you think are your biggest weaknesses? ... Where do you see yourself in five years?

The interviewer may control the format, but you control the message

Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on lateral partner moves from Lateral Link’s team of expert contributors. Abby Gordon is a Director with Lateral Link’s New York office. Abby works with attorney candidates on law firm and in-house searches, primarily in New York, Boston, and Europe.

This Strategic Info Will Help You Win Business And Cases

Lex Machina’s Outcome Analytics stand apart in enabling you to make confident, data-driven decisions in varied areas of your practice. Here’s how.

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.

How long is a micro interview?

Essentially, you are preparing for 30–45-minute micro-interviews 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 the first step in interview preparation?

Self-assessment is the first step in interview preparation – know your strengths and weaknesses and be able to articulate them well. Likewise, consider your motivations for moving and formulate a strong and positive explanation for your interviewers.

How to prepare for a first round interview?

Utilizing your research and interview preparation, focus on connecting with the interviewers and demonstrating your competence for the position in the first round. Stay positive, ask questions and be an active listener. For a firm, you want associates to see you as a person they want to work with and you want partners to see you as a devoted attorney for their practice group and firm. Tailor your questions to specific partners and associates. For instance, ask associates about the work they are currently doing and how cases and deals are assigned. If an associate lateraled in, ask about his or her experience in the transition. Consult partners about the big picture; inquire about how the firm/practice area (locally/ nationally) will change in the coming years or the biggest challenges the department currently faces. Ultimately, your first round interview should grant you a strong overview of the work environment and provide a good comparison to your other options.

Who is Raj Nichani?

Raj M. Nichani, Esq. is the president of The RMN Agency, a full-service legal search and staffing company specializing in the permanent and temporary placements of legal attorneys and professional staff with law firms and corporate legal departments. Raj and his team are dedicated to placing the highest quality candidates based on their own unique needs. The legal recruiting company was recently ranked the best legal staffing firm of 2014 by The Daily Report. You can reach Raj at (678) 842-5855 or by email at [email protected] or by visiting thermnagency.com for updated job postings and further information on the recruiting process.

What to do before a second interview?

Before your second interview, reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of your first interview and seek to improve your responses. A recruiter can typically give you insight on your performance as well as provide coaching to strengthen your responses so you are prepared to answer the more arduous questions in subsequent interviews. In the second round, your primary goal is to prove that you aren’t just a strong candidate, but the best fit for the position. You will also have more opportunities to ask in-depth questions, and it’s always a good idea to refer to previous conversations with other interviewers to steer your questions.

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.

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.

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General Interview Preparation

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Self-assessment is the first step in interview preparation – know your strengths and weaknesses and be able to articulate them well. Likewise, consider your motivations for moving and formulate a strong and positive explanation for your interviewers. Make sure your motivation doesn’t give the impression that you will …
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Phone Interviews

  • There are a few important things to remember with a phone interview. First is the obvious – always interview in a quiet place (that isn’t at your current firm). Second, print out and assemble your notes for reference including your resume, writing sample, interviewer profiles, notes on the practice area(s) and firm, a list of key points (e.g., why a lateral move), and questions to ask inte…
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In-Person Interview, Round I

  • Utilizing your research and interview preparation, focus on connecting with the interviewers and demonstrating your competence for the position in the first round. Stay positive, ask questions and be an active listener. For a firm, you want associates to see you as a person they want to work with and you want partners to see you as a devoted attorney for their practice group and fir…
See more on attorneyatlawmagazine.com

In-Person Interview, Round II

  • Before your second interview, reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of your first interview and seek to improve your responses. A recruiter can typically give you insight on your performance as well as provide coaching to strengthen your responses so you are prepared to answer the more arduous questions in subsequent interviews. In the second round, your primary goal is to prove t…
See more on attorneyatlawmagazine.com