Sample Questions To Ask An Interviewer

Remember that different kinds of questions are appropriate during different phases of an interview. Asking about partnership track at a screening interview is probably not appropriate! If you have questions about what to ask, stop by the Career Services Office and talk with a staff member. Some examples of good questions include:

On what basis will the hiring decision be made?

What does your firm look for in a candidate?

How are decisions made regarding work assignments?

What is the attorney/summer clerk evaluation process?

On what basis would a summer associate be made a permanent offer?

To whom will I report?

How would you describe the "personality" of this organization?

In what area(s) would you like to see the firm improve?

What is your associate retention rate?

What percentage of your business is from your largest client(s)?

How many of your last summer associates were made permanent offers?

In what ways do you anticipate your business growing?

What are your expectations regarding associates bringing business to the firm?

How would you describe your supervisory style?

How will I know that I am doing a good job?

What kinds of outside activities are attorneys expected to participate in on behalf of the firm?

When will I begin to have client contact?

What kinds of activities are "billable"? Recruitment? Bar associations? Do these count in the billable total? Are there limits on this kind of billing? Is pro bono work counted in the billable hours target? To what extent?

What is the target number of billable hours? What is the actual average? Are there any associates who have an unusually high number of billable hours (thus throwing off the average)?

After the initial minimum salary, are increases standard for all associates or is there an "award" system? If there is such a system, on what basis is the "award" made, and by whom?

What is the overall atmosphere of the firm? What are the firm activities? Do most people attend?

What are the selling points of the city? As a place to live? As a place to work?

If the firm has new areas of practice, how did those areas get started?

What is special about this firm? What are the advantages to working for a firm this size?

What reason have associates and support personnel had for leaving?

Describe the summer program, organized social events, how many 1Ls and 2Ls, official rotation. How are projects assigned, are the interests of the summer associate taken into account, is the summer program run by one person or more, is there anyone you could call to get a candid opinion of the summer experience?

What activities are firm members involved in that are not law related? Young associates?

How does the organization evaluate itself?

For what reasons were summer clerks not extended offers?

Why did you (the interviewer) choose this employer? The city? This practice area?

Ask a young associate who participated in the summer program how many people he/she met over the summer. What percentage of the firm? Ask a more senior member of the firm how many of the summer associates he/she met over the summer. (How many names does he or she remember?) How did he/she meet them? Why does he remember them?