The most industrious Common Poorwill, a nocturnal bird native to North America, will only hibernate for one month before once again starting its daily habit of hunting moths, grasshoppers, and beetles. So too does the North American law student awaken from their month-long winter break to re-initiate their habits of daily readings, writings, and cold-calls. But the inexperienced 1L also faces a peculiar challenge upon their return: the law school interview.  

Just as the prudent squirrel buries nuts for the winter, the thoughtful law student heeds the call of their Career Services Office to send out applications before winter break. Similar to the forgetful squirrel’s nut budding into a strong oak, the forgetful law student’s application can turn into a fruitful 20-minute interview. However, how much ground can be covered in 20 minutes? How simple is it to sell yourself as a professional in an industry you’ve only formally joined three months ago?

Luckily for most of us, this is not the CSO’s first rodeo. They will let you know how to dress, what kind of questions to expect, how to answer, and how to close things out. 

First, it’s always better to err on the side of over-dressing. For lads that means a dark colored suit and tie, and for ladies, a neat pant-suit. The purpose is to convey a first impression of professionalism. In terms of the questions to expect, you’ll likely encounter behavioral interview questions, hypothetical questions, or simple get-to-know-you questions. While you can’t anticipate the exact question they’re going to throw at you, preparation is still vital to give a satisfying answer. Know what your strengths and interests are and have a few stories prepared which exemplify those strengths and interests. Don’t try to subvert the question to try to give an answer you’ve rehearsed constantly, but use the platform as a means to give the impression that you’re enthusiastic and capable of forming a logical narrative as to why you want to work at their office. The way you present the story tells the interviewer a little bit about how you perceive yourself. You want to exhibit a degree of self-confidence while maintaining an appropriate degree of humility to show that you are a willing learner, but still capable of self-direction. 

After you’ve demonstrated a certain level of competence, which was already substantiated by the fact that they deemed you worthy enough to interview in the first place, sometimes you just have to convince them that you fit there. That might even require you to stray away from the law and go into some wacky topics that you just so happen to be passionate about, like Lululemon pants, your fandom for the Boston Celtics, or even your obsession with cricket. Of course, let the interviewer be the first one to steer the ship to these non-law topics, but once they’ve gone into that direction, embrace it. That way, when the interviewer is looking over candidates at the end, they can remember you as “that guy who I talked to about Lululemon pants” and might pick you because they want to come into work everyday with a person who brightens the office with their personality as well as their competence and dedication.

Finally, it is always a great idea to ask your own questions at the end of interviews. I’d recommend having a few general questions to throw out there if you’re struggling to come up with one on the spot. Nevertheless, it’s always best to formulate specific questions in light of the interview that indicate genuine curiosity, good listening skills, and a deeper interest in the work or the locality.  

It may seem daunting to try to tell the story of the roughly 200,000 hours (~ 23 years) of your time on Earth in 20 minutes, but just know that at the moment the interview starts, you are at the peak of your abilities, armed with wisdom gleaned by your vast experience. Be proud of who you are and where you come from, and let your earnest compassion come through while conveying to your interviewer where you’d like to go next.

Prep is good. Want to do a mock interview with the CSO? Reach out to them.

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Alex Mostaghimi is a first-year student at BC Law. Contact him at mostagha@bc.edu.