Job interviews are a crucial point in the hiring process. Despite their significance, you’d be surprised at how many candidates make basic mistakes when interviewing at law firms. So what are they and how can you avoid them at your next big interview? Here’s a look:

Mistake #1. Not researching the law firm.

As soon as you are contacted for an interview, research the law firm to learn about who they are and what they do. The more you know about their size and what areas of the law they practice in, the better prepared you will be to ask intelligent questions and properly evaluate whether the firm is a fit for you.

A good place to start when researching a law firm is to go their website. You may also want to dig a little deeper and look into other legal resource websites, such as Martindale-Hubbell. If you know who is going to be conducting your interview, see if their bio is on the law firm’s website. Look for common ground, such as alma maters or interests.

Mistake #2. Not promoting yourself.

To effectively promote yourself – and what you bring to the table – you first need to determine your strengths and what the most important points are to get across to the hiring manager. Hopefully, either through the job description or the law firm’s website, you’ll be able to determine what problems the firm is trying to solve by hiring a new employee. So in your interview, promote those qualities that match the firm’s needs the best.

Another option is to find out what cases the law firm is involved in or recently completed (many law firms advertise these on their websites) and mention how your skill set will assist in those types of cases.

Mistake #3. Complaining about a past job or law firm.

During your job interview, don’t complain about how happy you are to leave your last law firm. That’s an immediate red flag for a hiring manager and a good way to take yourself out of the running for the job. For all you know, the hiring manager could have a friend or family member that works there.

Mistake #4. Not answering questions articulately.

When a hiring manager asks you a question, they’re not just evaluating your response. They’re also assessing how articulate you are and how quickly you think on your feet. Here are some common interview questions you might be asked:

• Why are you leaving/did you leave your current/last position?
• Why do you want to work at our law firm?
• Why should we hire you?
• What made you get into the legal field in the first place?
• What’s your greatest strength and biggest weakness?
• What accomplishments are you especially proud of?

Mistake #5. Not asking any questions.

This is a sign that you haven’t done your homework or you simply don’t care enough about the job to learn more. That said, don’t ask a question just to ask a question. Have some smart questions prepared before you go into the interview.

Remember, the hiring manager isn’t the only one doing the evaluating. You should be evaluating whether the position and the law firm are a fit for you. Here are some questions to get you thinking:

• Why is the position open?
• What’s a typical day like in the position?
• What are some common traits that successful employees at your law firm have?
• How are new legal or support staff trained? Do lawyers and support staff work together in teams?
• If so, who would I potentially be working with?
• What’s the culture like at the law firm?
• Are there any recent cases that best highlight the firm’s abilities?

Also, don’t ask any questions about compensation, including salary, bonuses, and health insurance, unless the hiring manager brings it up first.

And if you’re a legal professional looking for legal employment in Rancho Cordova, Pacific Staffing can help. We’ll take the time to learn about your career goals, work environment preferences, interests, and aspirations so that we can match you with a legal employment opportunity that’s a great fit for your unique talents and personality.

Contact us today to learn more about legal employment in Rancho Cordova.