“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.”
I came across these words from Arthur Ashe during my Course aux stages, and they quickly became my mantra for the whole process. True, this period, filled with meetings, cocktails and business cards can be stressful, and even exhausting. You’ll hear recruiters explain that there’s no magic catch phrase or reply that will set you apart from your peers, and that you must be yourself. They’re absolutely right. However, staying true to yourself while being adequately prepared makes all the difference.
Preparing for the first informal meetings
Before your initial meeting with lawyers and recruiters, you must take the time to browse the firm’s website. Take note of its values, clients, cases, and other important information. Browse the lawyers’ bios— should they attend your interview, knowing about their education, and even their interests, could fuel your discussion and allow you to discuss mutual interests. A lively and interested candidate always leaves a better impression.
Preparing for the interviews
Even when you think you know everything about yourself, some questions may still catch you by surprise. When you’re put on the spot, you may find it difficult to recall a relevant example in support of your answer to a question. We’ve all experienced situations where, after the fact, we suddenly thought “I should have answered that!” To avoid this, I suggest you take part in the preparatory activities organized by your law school, especially simulated interviews.
I also found it quite useful to brainstorm a list of questions that could be raised during the interview and prepare my answers in advance. Some law schools will offer you compendia of the most frequently asked questions.
Finally, I suggest contacting fellow students who have been through the Course over the last few years and asking them about the most surprising or problematic questions they were asked in interviews, especially by the firms you’ve applied to.
I found that the more I was prepared, the less stressed I was, and that the less stressed I was, the more natural I was. It was then easier to improvise, joke, and ask the questions that really mattered to me.
Béatrice D’Anjou is a litigator in our Insurance Law Practice Group.