Raising the Bar on Interview Technique
updated on 21 July 2009
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You already know how tough it is to become a barrister. You know you need a sparkling academic record, bags of experience, and enough drive to turn Lewis Hamilton green. But none of those will help if you fall on your face - either literally or metaphorically - during the all-important interview. The interview is your chance to show off your remarkable quick thinking, charisma and wit.
There are two stages to a successful interview. First is the preparation and second is the technique you demonstrate at the interview itself. By taking some time to consider both stages you can confidently approach that sturdy wooden door of the chambers you're destined to work in, knowing that you're about to deliver a fine interview.
Preparation
One of the most common reasons for failure at interview is where a candidate is ill-prepared so spending some time on this could make all the difference. Remember that an interview is a two-way process. It is an opportunity for those that work in the chambers to figure out what you'd bring, as well as for you to think whether it's a set in which you'd like to practise.
First, go back to your application. Analyse it in the three main areas: academic life, work experience and extracurricular activity. Ask yourself why you made the choices you did, what you have gained from your experiences in terms of skills and personal development, and whether you would have done anything differently with the benefit of hindsight. This is the time to prepare an explanation for any gaffes in your academic record. An interviewer will almost certainly want to discuss in more depth what aroused their interest in the application.
Spend some time looking for clues to questions in your application. If you have been a keen and committed player of a sports team, or a member of a rather off-the-wall society, or have travelled during a gap year, then you might reasonably expect the interviewer to pick up on those points. Something made them interested enough to invite you to interview, so what was it?
You will have to convince your interviewers that you are genuinely interested in a career at the Bar, so it is important to read the newspapers, particularly the law sections, to keep up with current events in your chosen field. No interviewer will ever go for anything too obscure but they will expect you to follow major cases in the press.
The set will also want to establish why you applied to their chambers in particular, so research their members thoroughly. They will only expect you to know what is available to you but if you know nothing about them, they won't be impressed!
Although you can never know exactly what interviewers will ask, there are some questions for which you can prepare. Of course there will be obvious examples such as "Why law?" and "What's your least attractive quality?", but there will also be trickier ones. Here are some real questions asked in recent interviews at different chambers in London:
- What effect have legal aid cuts had on your aim to be a criminal barrister?
- What song would you sing at karaoke?
- Why not international human rights law?
- Are you in favour of plea bargaining?
- Do you think there should be a sharia court in the United Kingdom?
- What did you do last weekend?
- Would you have chosen to prosecute or defend Saddam Hussein? Why?
- What are the names of the heads of chambers where you did your mini-pupillages?
They may also put you on the spot with an ethical dilemma. For example, would you betray the confidence of your client's wife if it is in the interest of your client? And here's another stickler: you are climbing up a mountain and are attached to a rope. Attached to you by rope is your friend. You get into difficulty and have no choice but to cut the rope to save your own life. Are you culpable?
So that's their agenda. Now what's yours? You should use the interview to try and find out whether this is a set you'd like to join, and indeed, they'll expect you to ask questions. You might want to know more about pupillage and the likelihood of gaining tenancy, for example. Expect a conversation in the true sense of the word. Think about which issues you're concerned about before the interview rather than during it! Chambers will be more than a little surprised (and disappointed) if you have no questions at all.
The final part of your preparation should be to give some thought to what you are going to wear. You don't need to rush out to Armani but you do need to be recognisable as a future barrister so go for smart, business attire and play it safe!
Interview Technique
If you have prepared thoroughly for an interview, it shouldn't be too nerve-wracking when you arrive at chambers. Everyone feels nervous but this can work in your favour, for when the adrenalin is pumping it can make you that little bit sharper. You should feel reasonably confident that someone has found your application interesting enough to want to meet you but if you know you’ll have a problem with nerves, seek help beforehand.
Throughout an interview, your interviewer will be trying to assess how good you will be with clients. Will you make a client confident in your ability as a lawyer? This is a key issue for any barrister and it is therefore very important that you demonstrate an appropriate level of confidence at your interview. Make eye contact, smile and listen carefully to what is being said. Make sure that you sit comfortably so that you are not perched on the edge of your chair or slouched down. Your body language will say a lot about your confidence.
Because an interview is a two-way process, be ready to share in the conversation you prepared. The interviewer will set the course of that conversation but don't make it hard work for them. Monosyllabic answers do not work. It is also important not to get so carried away that the interviewer finds it hard to get a word in. Be enthusiastic about what you have achieved and be interesting to talk to. Be prepared to express an opinion in a discussion but don't defend it to the death - show instead that you can listen to the views of others. And don't end up interviewing them!
Many people worry about how to deal with difficult or unexpected questions, such as some of those above. It is OK to take a minute to consider your answer to a question but don't allow long silences to develop. If you don't know how to answer a certain question, don't blab - just say so.
Every interviewer has their own style of interviewing and you may find that all your careful preparation has been for nothing. It has been known for a keen rugby fan to spend the entire interview discussing rugby with a candidate who has listed rugby as their main interest. The key is not to panic and feel cut adrift simply because the interview is not what you expected. Be prepared to think on your feet and give it your best shot. That's what you'll have to do in court.
Allow plenty of time to get to your interview and aim to get there at least 15 minutes before so that you have time to gather your thoughts. There is nothing more likely to cause panic and anxiety than the fear that you are going to be late. This will also give you a chance to check your appearance and evict that blob of mayo from your cheek.
Don't forget - you should remember that you are being assessed constantly from the time you arrive at reception to the time you leave so it is important not to let your guard down. If you are being shown around by a current pupil, it might not be wise to confide in them things you would not say to the interviewer. If you are offered lunch with other candidates and pupils, be careful what you say and avoid any alcohol that might be offered. You need a clear head to be successful. Having said that, don't feel you have to be someone you're not. We know this may be easier said than done, but do try and relax and be yourself as much as possible. The interview is for both you and the set to get to know each other better.
Lastly, a top student tip on pupillage interviews - if you are given coffee, don't eat the chocolate biscuits. The chocolate melts a little as it rests on the saucer against the cup and you can guarantee that someone will want to shake your hand just as you realise you have chocolate all over your fingers! Good luck!
