Sample Interview Questions--Lawyers

1. Why do you want to be a lawyer?
2. Why did you decide to attend law school?
3. Why did you choose this particular law firm?
4. In what school activities have you participated? Why?
   Which did you enjoy most?
5. How do you spend your spare time?
6. What jobs have you held? How were they obtained, and why did you leave?
7. What courses have you liked best in law school? Least? Why?
8. Is your GPA an accurate reflection of your abilities? Why or why not?
9. Why did you apply to our firm (or respond to our desire to interview you)?
10. What do you know about our firm?
11. Do you feel your legal education has been good?
12. What qualifications do you have that will make you successful in this field?
13. What makes you think you're a good lawyer?
14. How interested are you in sports?
15. If you were starting law school all over, would you still attend?
16. What is your rank in school? Is your GPA a good indicator of your abilities?
17. Was your involvement in school activities worth the time you devoted to them? Why?
18. What characteristics do you think a person needs to be a successful attorney?
19. Why do you think you would like practicing law?
20. What do you think you'll be doing during your first year with our firm?
21. Do you prefer working with others or by yourself?
22. Who are your best friends? Why?
23. What areas of law interest you?
24. Can you take instructions without feeling upset?
25. How did previous employers treat you?
26. What have you learned from other jobs you have held?
27. Can we get recommendations from your previous employers?
28. What interests you about our firm? Why would you want to represent our clients?
29. Have you ever had to withdraw from a class?
30. Have you ever had any difficulty getting along with fellow students or faculty?
31. What is the source of your spending money?
32. Do you like routine work?
33. Define cooperation.
34. What interests you about the legal system?
35. Are you willing to fight to get ahead?
36. What area of law interests you? Why?
37. What job with the firm would you choose if you were given the choice?
38. Which of our practice areas interest you and why?
39. What types of people seem to rub you the wrong way?
40. What are your special abilities?
41. What do you think the disadvantages of practicing law are?
42. What have you done that shows initiative and a willingness to work?
43. How many hours a day do you think a person should work?
44. What are your goals?
45. Do you have any questions for us?
46. Tell me about a professional failure and how you handled it.
47. Why should we hire you over our other applicants?
48. Tell me about a time when you had to accomplish a task under a tight deadline while working with someone who was difficult to get along with.
49. What are the three most important things that you contribute to an organization? What are the three most important things that you could contribute to our firm?
50. What are some of the most imaginative and creative things that you have done in a job?How do you deal with stress or conflict? What clues have you come to recognize as signals that you may be under too much stress?
51. How would a good friend describe you?
52. What kind of people do you find most difficult to work with?
53. What do you think are the most important characteristics and abilities for any person’s success? 
54. How do you rate yourself in these areas?
55. When have you failed?
56. Describe the circumstances and how you dealt with, and learned from, the experience.
57. Describe the work environment that you consider optimal for your personal satisfaction and best performance.
58. Scenario: You are an attorney working at our firm on a day when you are the only person in the office. An elderly woman comes into the office asking to see a lawyer right away. She does not have an appointment but says that she needs to sign some papers. She has no papers with her. What do you do?
59. Scenario: You are meeting with a 65-year-old gentleman to take will instructions. He tells you that he has three adult children who are financially well off. He advises that he is divorced, pays spousal support to his ex-wife, and is currently living common law with another woman. Although he has no problems sharing most of his personal information, he refuses to answer any questions about his assets and tells you to write down $1 as his net worth. How do you proceed?
60. Tell me about what you would consider a major accomplishment.
61. How do you manage your day?
62. What motivates you?
63. If offered this position, how long do you plan to stay with us?