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Nailing the clerkship interview (from those who have been there, done that)

There are plenty of things you can do to position yourself well in an interview and maximise your clerkship prospects, write Mei Gong and Jimmy Ngo.

user iconMei Gong and Jimmy Ngo • 02 August 2023 • Careers
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Real talk: the clerkship process is intense, difficult, and full of ups and downs.

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You have done the most difficult part of writing up the applications, perfecting your résumé and possibly having done hours of research on each potential law firm.

Now is the middle of the clerkship interview season – the most uncertain part of the process where you hope that you click with the right people at the right firm and get that coveted summer internship offer at the end of it.

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The good news is that while some of it does rely on luck, there are plenty of things you can do to position yourself and maximise your clerkship prospects. Before we get to the “nitty and gritty” of the clerkship interviews, let’s tell you a bit about our clerkship interview experiences.

And yes, before you ask, there are other forms of clerkship assessments, such as group assessments, assessment centres and networking events, but for brevity and focus, we will just be focusing on the most common face-to-face interview format in this article.

Mei: For context, my approach to the clerkship application process was very much “put your eggs in as many baskets as possible”, so I applied to as many firms as I could. While I got quite a few clerkship interviews as a result, the downside of that strategy was I was already feeling exhausted when clerkship interviews started (as I had spent so much energy on the applications). I was quite shy and doubted my abilities (as I did not have any paralegal experiences, unlike many of my peers). Yet through repetition and meeting so many people through the process, I found the clerkship interviewing process a great opportunity to develop my confidence and own my story (and hopefully, our tips will help you do that, too!).

Jimmy: Given the competitiveness of the clerkship application process, I also took a “scattergun” approach of applying to as many firms as I could. I got a few clerkship interviews but, unfortunately, did not ultimately get a clerkship offer. I remember receiving some constructive feedback at the end of the process that I came off as nervous and rambling at times. However, I was able to use what I learnt from the clerkship application process when applying for graduate roles in the following year (and was fortunate enough to receive a graduate offer from a law firm) and even for subsequent roles as an experienced lawyer.

What are the key types of interview questions you need to prepare for?

Regardless of whether you are anxiously waiting for your first interview (or getting into your groove with various interviews), here are the top five kinds of questions you need to prepare for:

  1. The introductory “tell us about yourself” question
Often the opening question to all interviews and the one question you should nail. It is your elevator pitch; no more than one to two minutes. Your answer should provide a snapshot of your current studies, your employment/extracurriculars, your professional interests and your future aspirations in commercial law and hobbies/interests.

  1. The motivational “why” and personal “what is your greatest…” kind of questions
Motivational questions are your “why” to working for the specific firm you are interviewing for or working in commercial law. Personal questions require an element of self-reflection, whether it is where you see yourself in five to 10 years or what your greatest strengths or weaknesses are.

  1. The “tell me about a time” behavioural and situational questions
An effective approach to answering behavioural questions is using the STAR structure (situation, task, action, and result). Remember to state the “result” for the situation which you have referred to. Reflect on your academic, work, and extracurricular experiences (focusing more on the latter two) and think about experiences where you demonstrated desirable traits, i.e., conflict resolution, working in a team, making a difficult decision or taking initiative. Situational questions involve putting you in hypothetical scenarios where you are getting tested on your problem solving, analytical and logical reasoning skills.

  1. The conversational “getting to know you” questions
In some interviews, the interviewers are simply interested in “getting to know you” and will not be guided by any set questions. They may ask you follow-up questions about your hobbies/interests or ask “outside-the-box” questions to test your improvisation skills, for example, “teach me something in two minutes”.

  1. Turning the tables: end of interview questions
You will often get a chance to ask the interviewer questions at the end of the interview. It is another opportunity to both better understand the firm and show you have done the preparation, i.e., research on the interviewers and the firm. Prepare three to four questions (you might have a few more to ask based on the interview); whether it is about pro bono/secondment opportunities, your interviewers’ experiences at the firm, or the firm’s commitment/support for junior lawyers, this is your time to get your questions answered.

Our top 5 clerkship interview tips

  1. First impressions matter.
Dress and look the part. Deliver a strong and confident answer to the opening question of “tell us about yourself”. Smile throughout the interview. Make eye contact with your interviewers.

  1. Don’t ramble and overprepare.
Know your résumé back to front, be ready to articulate your experiences, what makes you stand out, and how you can be a great fit. Research the firm, practice areas, and people and demonstrate your knowledge where appropriate. Don’t ramble on with your answers (try to answer in a structured way), and keep it succinct. Don’t over-prepare (if you feel exhausted before an interview, it is a good sign you have overdone it), as you can risk sounding robotic in the interview (memorising answers), and it makes it harder for your personality to shine through.

  1. Don’t compare for the wrong reasons.
In this anxiety-inducing period, it is all too easy to compare yourself to your fellow peers, whether someone is getting more interviews, or getting interviews at firms that you wish you got. If these conversations leave you feeling defeated/more anxious, step away from them as soon as you can, as it does not help with your preparation or focus (and did we mention you can’t change the past?).

  1. Your goal should be to convince the interviewers that “you can put me in front of clients”.
Law firms are in the business of serving clients. This means that partners are looking for candidates who show the potential to become trusted advisers in the future. Demonstrating confidence in your interviews is the best way to do this (as confidence breeds trust, whether it is your supervising partner’s trust, your colleagues’ trust, or your clients’ trust in the future). Be confident without being arrogant.

  1. Be gracious and thankful.
It is not the “be all and end all”. We both know of plenty of people in our respective networks that have thrived without getting a clerkship. Be gracious to everyone you meet in the process, and write a thank you email after every interview. Thank people for their time and insights. And perhaps reflect on the process when it is all over – you might be surprised at just how much you have learnt about yourself and the skills you have developed in the process.

Mei Gong is a private practice lawyer passionate about supporting aspiring and current junior lawyers to be their best selves, including through LinkedIn and her website, meigong.au. She is a 2023 Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 winner, in the competition, trade and regulation category.

Jimmy Ngo is an in-house lawyer who is passionate about mentoring law students and junior lawyers. He currently runs a blog at auslegalcareersadvance.blogspot.com, where he writes about tackling the career-related challenges commonly faced by law students.

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