Legal intern and trainee lawyer interview questions: 12 to prepare for

Too few legal intern and trainee lawyer postings have a full description to count on their own, so these shares are from all 26,041 postings with one.

1. Tell me about something you owned from the first idea to the result.

   44% of all 26,041 open postings with a full description ask for ownership or end-to-end work.

   A good answer shows: That you saw it through when it got hard, with a number for the result.

2. Tell me about a time a rule or regulation slowed your work down. What did you do?

   40% of all 26,041 open postings with a full description mention compliance or regulation.

   A good answer shows: That you followed it and still delivered, not that you went around it.

3. Tell me about a time you had to win over people outside your team who disagreed with you.

   33% of all 26,041 open postings with a full description mention stakeholders.

   A good answer shows: Who they were, what each side wanted, what you did to reach agreement and how it ended.

4. Describe a project you delivered with people from other teams. What was your part?

   27% of all 26,041 open postings with a full description ask for work across teams.

   A good answer shows: Your own part, how you kept the teams in step and the result.

5. Tell me about a time plans changed at short notice. How did you adjust?

   24% of all 26,041 open postings with a full description describe a fast-paced place.

   A good answer shows: A quick new plan, what you dropped on purpose and how you kept others informed.

6. How much are you able to travel for work?

   24% of all 26,041 open postings with a full description mention travel.

   A good answer shows: An honest number of days or share of time, so there are no surprises after the offer.

1. Tell me about yourself.

   Almost every interview opens with it.

   A good answer shows: Under a minute: your current work as a legal intern and trainee lawyer, one result with a number and why this job is the next step. Not your whole resume.

2. Why do you want to work here?

   It tests whether you read about the company.

   A good answer shows: Something specific: a product, a goal from the posting or a problem you can help with.

3. Why are you leaving your current job?

   It checks for problems you might bring along.

   A good answer shows: What you are moving towards, said briefly, with no criticism of your employer.

4. What are your salary expectations?

   Only 6% of today’s legal intern and trainee lawyer postings state pay, so be ready to name a figure.

   A good answer shows: A range you can defend, based on postings that state pay and on your experience. Ask for their range first if you can.

5. What is one of your weaknesses?

   A classic, still asked.

   A good answer shows: A real weakness that does not block this job, and what you do about it.

6. Do you have any questions for us?

   The last question of almost every interview.

   A good answer shows: Two or three questions you prepared; the list below has some.

What would make someone in this role successful in the first six months?

It shows you think about results, and the answer tells you what the job really is.

Why is this role open?

A new role, growth or someone leaving: each tells you something different.

Which countries and time zones can this role be done from?

27% of today’s legal intern and trainee lawyer postings are remote, and many of them still limit the countries.

What is the pay range for this role?

Only 6% of today’s legal intern and trainee lawyer postings state one; asking is normal.

How will my work be measured, and how often will we review it?

You learn what matters to your manager before you start.

What are the next steps, and when will you decide?

You know when to follow up, and you can plan around other offers.

What questions are asked in a legal intern and trainee lawyer interview?

Questions about the duties of the job, about how you work (end-to-end ownership, compliance and regulation, stakeholders) and the questions almost every interview has, such as “Tell me about yourself” and your salary expectations.

How should I answer legal intern and trainee lawyer interview questions?

With a real example: the situation, what you had to do, what you did yourself and the result, with a number. This is the STAR method; aim for 60 to 90 seconds an answer.

How do I prepare for a legal intern and trainee lawyer interview?

Prepare three real stories with a number each (a result, a problem you solved, work with other people), practise them out loud for 60 to 90 seconds. Read the posting again the day before: the duties it lists are what they will ask about.

Is a legal intern and trainee lawyer interview hard?

Most interviews mix questions about the skills in the posting with questions about how you work; the technical part is easier with a real example ready for each skill.

What salary should I ask for as a legal intern and trainee lawyer?

Look at postings for this work that state pay, adjust for your experience and the country, and ask for their range first.