Succeed at interviews for Scottish training contracts

If you’ve been invited for a traineeship interview it means that you have seriously impressed recruiters with your application and you’re in with a good chance. Now you just need to make an equally good impression in person.

Preparing for a training contract interview

Preparation is key to interview success. Make sure you’ve researched the organisation you’re applying to and know the basics, including which areas of practice it is well known for, if it came into being as the result of a merger and what transactions/cases it is currently involved with or has recently completed. At interview you are likely to be asked questions such as ‘Why are you interested in a legal career?’, ‘Why do you want to do your traineeship with us?’ and ‘What do you know about us?’ so make sure you’ve thought about your motivations in advance and have answers prepared.

It’s also important that you’re up to date on what’s going on in the legal world and the world at large. Reading relevant daily newspapers and legal press is a good way of keeping abreast of current affairs and developments in the legal world.

What to expect at an interview with a law firm in Scotland

Different organisations will use different interview structures so try to find out in advance whether you’ll be interviewed by a panel or one-on-one with the graduate recruitment manager. Be sure to read through your application form or CV and covering letter in the days leading up to the interview as you will be questioned on its content. It’s likely that your interview will be competence-based, with recruiters looking for evidence of skills that are beneficial and transferable to a legal environment. Questions such as ‘Give an example of when you had to work in a team’ or ‘Give an example of when you had to overcome a difficult situation with a friend, client or colleague' are designed to find out more about how you approach situations and work with people, and what skills and attributes you possess. Having a mental checklist of experiences to draw upon when answering questions will demonstrate to recruiters your strengths and skills across a range of situations, as well as providing evidence of your abilities in the workplace. Be forthcoming with information but keep it structured and sum up what you have learned from the experience.

Current trainees will often show you around the building so use the opportunity to ask about their workload and responsibilities, as well as how they are enjoying things to date. While it’s a more relaxed opportunity to ask questions, trainees will be asked to feed back on their impression of you so while it’s good to be social and engaging you still need to be polite and professional.

Top tips for surviving traineeship interviews

• Do your research.
• Attend practice interviews at your careers service.
• Re-read your application.
• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.
• Wear smart clothes.
• Be polite to everyone you meet.
• Be enthusiastic when talking about your experiences.
• Ask questions.