Most schools conduct interviews that consist of an interviewer asking the applicant about their background and why they want to attend law school, in addition to questions regarding the law school itself.
Your ability to respond intelligently to interviewer’s inquiries about law school programs, faculty and unique offerings will certainly impress them. Be prepared with answers you can talk intelligently about! Do your research prior to attending interviews at law schools of interest.
1. Why do you want to be a lawyer?
Law school is an academic challenge designed to sharpen analytical reasoning skills and familiarity with legal case law. To be considered for admission, applicants should possess self-motivation and desire for learning; interviewers often ask this question in order to assess if an applicant’s motivations are genuine.
Preparing for interviews requires thinking carefully about why you want to become a lawyer, including details that demonstrate why that particular area of law interests or career goals you.
Keep in mind that top lawyers possess exceptional attention to detail, such as being able to read and process large volumes of information quickly. Your interviewer may ask how you intend to maintain this skill as a student.
2. What area of law do you want to specialize in?
Declaring what type of lawyer you wish to become before enrolling in law school may not be mandatory, but it would certainly make the most out of your law degree if it did so. Finding a practice area that aligns with your strengths, personality and interests will maximize its benefit for you.
Answering this question provides another opportunity for you to demonstrate your research skills. Be sure to outline which programs, courses and extracurricular activities you intend on engaging in at specific law schools.
This open-ended question may seem intimidating, but it’s actually an excellent opportunity for interviewers to learn more about you. Simply be as honest and set ambitious goals – specificity always impresses more! This question is among the most frequently asked at law school interviews.
3. What are your career goals?
Communicating your career goals clearly can make an application stronger, demonstrating to interviewers that you are serious about law school and have an ambitious plan for the future.
The purpose of this question is to get an idea of your long-term ambitions, such as becoming a partner at a law firm or working on cases involving high stakes or complex legal issues. Your goal should be big enough to challenge while still being realistic; and remember to break them down into manageable steps for maximum effectiveness.
Keep your responses short and focused; oversharing or discussing irrelevant anecdotes may come off as offensive.
4. What are your motivations?
Interviewers may ask about your motivations for attending their law school and it is essential that you are ready with an insightful response that showcases who you are as an individual and how they will add to the school community. Take this chance to showcase yourself! This interview gives an excellent opportunity for you to show the interviewer who makes you unique while providing insight into how you will contribute positively towards the law school experience.
Answering this question accurately should reflect both your personal statement and diversity statement. Interviewers want to hear that you are driven by a desire to make an impactful contribution in both legal practice and society at large.
Remember to dress professionally, arrive on time, and be prepared to answer various questions related to your background and interests. Practicing responses ahead of time will give you greater confidence during interviews.
5. What are your motivations?
Ask yourself this question to explore your motivations as a law student and lawyer. Reveal how your beliefs and values drive you to uphold the rule of law while fighting for vulnerable populations’ rights.
Admissions interviewers want to see that you have a passion for law and will make an effective contribution to their program. To demonstrate this, prepare well by conducting extensive research about each law school prior to your interview – this way you can tailor your responses for them specifically and show your enthusiasm about their programs. Furthermore, practice your answers before the interview so they sound natural rather than scripted; additionally check out this episode of Status Check with Spivey for additional interview preparation tips!