Interview Prep for Lawyers: How to Show Up Ready and Confident
- Dec 17, 2025
- 3 min read
To wrap up the Application Playbook Series and the year, here is my final blog of 2025. I hope the final days of December 2025 treat you well. Happy holidays and happy new year! Lots more blogging to come in 2026.
I’ll get right into it: by the time you land an interview, the firm already thinks you can do the job on paper. The interview is about something else entirely. Fit, judgment, preparation, and whether you are someone they can trust on their matters.
Good interview prep is not about memorizing answers or trying to sound impressive. It is about showing that you understand the work based on your experience and are equipped to handle working in big or small teams, managing a client and managing your own time.
Here is how to prepare in a way that actually helps.
Do Your Homework on the People You Are Meeting
Before any interview, you should know who you are speaking with and more importantly, why they might care about you.
Start with the basics:
Review their firm bio and career trajectory.
Note where they worked before and whether they lateraled at any point.
Look at the deals, cases, or matters listed on their profile.
Then go one step further:
See if any of their deals or cases overlap with work you have done.
Search their name on Google because many partners publish articles, speak on panels, appear on podcasts, or comment on industry issues outside of their firm bio.
If they have written articles or appeared on podcasts, read or listen to them.
This is not about forcing references into the conversation. It is about understanding what they care about so the discussion flows naturally. When you know their background and interests, you will feel more confident and grounded during the interview.
Know Your Own Materials Cold
You heard this in law school and it still applies now, just at a higher level.
You should be able to speak clearly about everything on your resume. But as a practicing lawyer, that is no longer enough.
If you are a transactional lawyer:
Be prepared to discuss most, if not all, of the deals listed on your deal sheet.
Be ready to explain your role, the structure of the deal team, the timeline, and the substance of your work.
Be ready to explain what you actually did, not just what the team did.
You may even get asked what was the most interesting or fulfilling deal you have worked on. Have a prepared answer to that question and your reasoning.
If you are a litigator:
Be able to discuss each case listed on your representative matters list in a way that demonstrates you understand the procedure and key issues.
Have examples of your specific contributions to any of the matters listed, ideally you want those examples to show your judgment, writing, and advocacy skills.
Interviewers often probe here to test credibility. Concrete examples and clear explanations go much further than general statements.
Always Prepare for Substantive Questions
Even if you are told the interview will be conversational, you should prepare as if it will be substantive.
That means:
Being ready to walk through how you would approach a deal, issue, or procedural step.
Being ready to answer questions about common and uncommon legal issues and frameworks in your practice area.
If you are working with a recruiter, ask whether they expect substantive questioning and at what level. Recruiters often have useful insight, but preparation is still on you.
Ask Thoughtful, Strategic Questions
Your questions matter more than you think. They signal how you evaluate opportunities and how you think about your career.
Some of my favorite questions include:
For associates or partners who have lateraled:
“What drew you to this firm?”
“What prompted your move?”
To understand expectations:
“What qualities do you see in your highest performing associates?”
“What makes you want to staff an associate on your deals or matters?”
These questions invite real answers and often lead to candid insights about culture, expectations, and workflow.
Avoid questions that are easily answered on the website or that focus too heavily on perks or hours early in the process.
Additional Tips That Make a Difference
A few final points that often separate strong interviews from average ones:
Be concise. Lawyers appreciate clarity.
Do not overshare or ramble. Answer the question that was asked.
Be honest about what you do and do not know.
Show curiosity without insecurity.
Remember that interviews are two way conversations. You are also assessing them.
TL;DR
Interview prep for lawyers is not about sounding polished. It is about being prepared, thoughtful, and self aware.
When you understand the people you are meeting, know your own experience inside and out, and ask smart questions, you come across as someone partners can trust.
That is what ultimately gets offers.
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