Tips for the Law School Interview

Roughly half of the T20 law schools conduct interviews for admission. And since the pandemic, many of those interviews are virtual interviews, where applicants are typically asked a set of questions and are required to record a video response.

Gabriel Kuris, founder of Top Law Coach and contributor at US News, recently offered a few tips on how to prepare for video interviews, and covered some of the most commonly asked questions.

REMEMBER VIDEO ETIQUETTE

Similar to an in-person interview, video interviews require some rules of etiquette.

“Take care to dress professionally, make eye contact with the camera, enunciate and smile naturally,” Kuris says.

Additionally, you’ll want to ensure your environment is set up for quiet and focus.

“Schedule the interview at a time that fits your schedule and your energy level,” Kuris says. “Make sure your webcam is level with your face, your internet connection is steady, your environment is quiet and well-lit, and your background is not distracting. Do your best to avoid interruptions by people or pets.”

PRACTICE WITH A TIMER

When it comes to practice, the best way to prepare is with a timer. Kuris recommends practicing recording answers to common interview questions so you can get a sense of how long a one-minute answer really is.

“Use the prep time provided to plan out your responses, to keep them on topic and coherent,” Kuris says. “It’s best to aim to complete your response in about 45 seconds to give yourself a margin of error. The video recording may ruthlessly cut you off mid-sentence. Avoid repetition or overly scripted answers. Instead, aim for a professional but conversational tone. Be sure to squarely address the question asked, even if you end up meandering to related topics.”

COMMON QUESTIONS

The most common law school interview questions, according to Kuris, are:

• Why do you want to go to law school?
• Why are you interested in this law school?

“For the first question, spend some time thinking about how to articulate your commitment to a legal career,” Kuris says. “For the second, be sure to ground your answer with specific offerings or attributes that excite you about a law school. Research the school’s website to learn more about its strengths.”

Above all, Kuris says, remember to remain calm. If you’ve made it to this stage of the admissions process, you’re already doing something right.

“Unlike a job interview, you don’t need to stand out as the absolute best candidate,” Kuris says. “Law schools accept many of the applicants they interview, and they are just looking to make sure you can present yourself professionally and think on your feet.”

Sources: US News, 7Sage Admissions