Nine times out of 10 you will be asked, “Is there anything else we can tell you about our firm?”. Never say, “I think I know everything I need to know for now.” This can be interpreted a lack of interest. ALWAYS have at least 3 questions in your back pocket. As an interviewer, I welcomed questions that were unique and made me think. Ask what you need to know to determine if this is a good fit for you. Be prepared to ask thoughtful questions that engage the interviewers.
While I am reluctant to provide too many specific examples because I don’t want to encourage everyone to ask the same questions. The sampling below gives you a sense of what I mean by a “good question”.
- What makes a student/associate excel at your firm?
- Are there common skills that successful students/associates have at your firm?
- What skill or character trait do you think is hardest for a student to develop?
- Can you tell me about a recent file where a student assisted you and describe what he/she did?
- What type of work do you give to students? Is there room for greater responsibility as my skills develop?
- Does the firm provide any formal training in business development or client management?
- Are there opportunities to shadow senior lawyers?
- How would you describe the culture or personality of the firm?
- What would you say are the firm’s core values? How do they play out in practice?