If
you’re applying as an associate, you may be judged just as much by the
questions you ask during the interview as the answers you give. Below are a few
of the most important questions an attorney should ask when interviewing for an
associate position:
- Can you tell me about you
most important cases? The purpose
of this question is to give the interviewer an opportunity to talk about
which cases interest them the most.
It also will gives you insight in what types of cases are given
priority at the firm.
- How were the cases staffed?
And how involved were associates in the cases? The answer to this question will give
you an inside look at how much hands on experience you will get as a new
associate. If the cases were staffed by a large number of attorneys as
opposed to two or three, then associates probably didn’t get much client
contact.
- Are partners assigned to
only one associate or several? How
many associates are assigned to each partner? The answer to this question will let you
know how much “personal” time you can expect from a partner. If you need
to share him/her with many other associates there may be a smaller chance
of developing a close relationship.