So you’ve done the hard work of securing an informational interview. Now what?  Well the first thing you need to do is make sure that you treat it like a job interview. Show up professionally dressed, and treat everyone you encounter with courtesy.  But before you show up, you need to formulate some questions for your interviewee. Below are a few questions attorneys should ask during an informational interview depending on their career stage.

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in this type of practice?
2. What type of skills and characteristics are essential for attorneys in this particular field of law?
3. Why did you choose this particular practice?
4. What important trends and changes do you see happening in this field in the near future and not so near future?
5. What is it that you like most/least about this particular legal practice? This is not necessarily a question about their particular employment; but about their career choice.
6. Why did you choose to work at this particular firm?
7. What personal characteristics do you think are important for someone who wants to work at this firm?
8. What personal characteristics do you think would not be a good fit for this firm?
9. How would you describe this firm’s corporate culture?