Job Interviewing Advice

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Professor Gregory Berry

On Preparing for a Job Interview

Question for Professor Berry:

A law firm has contacted me about interviewing for a summer associate position. Do you have any advice for law students, especially 1Ls, about interviewing for a relatively large firm other thanwearing the uniform? I'm not really sure what to expect. Please advise.

PROFESSOR BERRY's RESPONSE:

A useful way to prepare for a job interview is to approach it the same way you would an oralargument. The reason is that a job interview and an oral argument are very similar in theirmaterial aspects. An interview, like an oral argument, is a discussion between the applicant(advocate) and the employer (court). It is, of course, not a meaningless conversation but rather adiscussion leading to a decision in which the applicant is highly interested. The most important taskof the applicant, therefore, is to put before the employer probative information that will lead theemployer to reach a decision that is both sound and favorable to the applicant's position.

As I have said many, many times, mastery of the CRPAC paradigm is a lawyer's coin of the realm. The reason this analytical framework must be mastered is because it has universal applicability. Itis applicable to legal writing, oral arguments, trial preparation, appellate litigation, non-legaldebates and conversations, and job interviews. Regarding job interviews, keep this important fact inmind: you are representing the most important client you will ever have -- yourself -- and yourclient needs you to persuade the employer to reach a particular conclusion. The employer is goingto reach a conclusion the same way you are trained to do using the CRPAC. First, (s)he is going toapply one or more job related standards (i.e., rules) and second, (s)he evaluate the facts presented todetermine whether the elements (i.e., the determinative facts) of each standard is met. If thestandards are satisfied, (s)he concludes the applicant is a good candidate for hire; if they are not, theapplicant receives a polite "don't call us, we'll call you."

With these principles in mind, it is clear what the applicant needs to do. First, much serious thoughtmust be given to the standards the employer is going to apply. Second, the applicant must be able inthe course of the interview to present facts, not merely opinions, beliefs, and wishes, that willpersuade the interviewer that applicant meets or exceeds the applicable standards.

The interviewer uses the interview to ascertain whether the applicant will make a positivecontribution to the success of the organization's mission. In the legal workplace the interviewer islooking to make the following conclusions about the applicant:

1. YOU CAN DO THE WORK. (The applicant possess the skills required to performher duties well. The applicant can produce high quality work under deadline with littleor no supervision.)

2. YOU WILL DO THE WORK. (The applicant possess the motivation andprofessionalism to perform consistently at a high level.)

Job Interviewing Advice

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3. YOU CAN WORK WITH OTHERS and OTHERS WILL WANT TO WORKWITH YOU. (The applicant is dependable, responsible, considerate, temperate,cooperative. The applicant is a good listener and has excellent interpersonal skills. Theapplicant can lead when necessary and follow when required.)

4. YOU WILL BE A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION TOOTHERS. (The applicant can be trusted to represent the organization without fear ofembarrassment or risk to the organization's image of professional competence andservice.)

Your objective as the interviewee is to place before the interviewer concrete information (i.e., facts)that will support the above conclusions. What facts should an applicant present during theinterview? Use the facts that are most relevant to the issues involved, such as your past academicperformance, your work experience, extracurricular activities, and your life history. You also needto ensure your resume and writing samples do not undermine your claimed professional competence,motivation, and attention to detail.

An interview is not a press conference in which you answer a question and then wait for the nextquestion to be asked. Rather, an interview is a dialogue in which you both answer and askquestions. Remember that the interviewer has a dual role: (1) (s)he must determine whether you area good candidate for employment in the organization and (2) (s)he must be able to persuade you thatthe organization is an employer from which you would welcome an offer of employment. If you donot ask any relevant questions, you deprive her of the opportunity to extol the virtues of herorganization and undermine your claimed ability to conduct a reasonable inquiry into the facts andlaw.

In sum, prepare for an interview with the same professionalism and rigor required of your legalwriting assignments: identify the issues, gather the relevant data, generate and evaluate solutions,make a decision, and act. In acting on your decision make sure you have identified and understandthe applicable standards and can marshal the facts needed to establish each element of thecontrolling standards.

See, I told you that LRRW is by far the most important course you will take during your law schoolcareer. By the way, do not forget to wear your uniform.

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Last updated on March 25, 2000 Copyright © 2000 Professor Gregory Berry another "Write for the Occasion" Co. creation