Questions to Ask and Interviewer/Employer

  • What are the objectives of this firm/organization?
  • What type of work would I be doing for your firm at the beginning?
  • Does the firm have an official hours requirement or expectation?
  • How many years, on the average, does it take to become a partner?
  • What flexibility is there within this firm to allow transfer between one specialized department to another? (Asked of a large firm)
  • (If the firm has an area of emphasis) What percentage of your attorneys are in each specialized field?
  • Are these attorneys available for consultation?
  • (Of a governmental agency) How does this agency deal with other related government entities?
  • Do you have a formal training program? Would you describe it?
  • After what period of time do you estimate that I will be doing (memoranda, briefs, interviewing clients, handling my own caseload, handling litigation)?
  • How much case involvement will I have?
  • How soon and to what extent would I be expected to supplement client intake?
  • What kind of outside activities do the lawyers participate in? (County Bar, clubs, athletics).
  • Would new members of your firm be expected to engage in community activities? To what extent?
  • Why do you enjoy/not enjoy your particular occupation or area of the law?
  • What do you personally feel the firm's strengths and weaknesses are?
  • What is the firm's policy on pro bono services?