Before we get into the types of questions you could ask, it’s crucial to think about why you want to ask certain questions, what you want to achieve and how you want to come across.
Remember, you have been answering questions during the whole interview, now that the ball is in your court, you should make the most of it.
Find a way to show off your expertise
Depending on the type of interview you have had, asking the right questions may be a good way to demonstrate your expertise in a certain field of law. For instance, if you specialise in family law and you are applying for a role in another family law firm, you could ask them about how they are adapting to the new divorce law changes. It is a perfect opportunity to spark up a conversation surrounding your area of speciality, giving you the chance to talk about your experience in more detail.
Don’t repeat yourself
Asking questions that have already been answered or covering ground that has already been discussed is a bad move. You don’t want to come across as a poor listener or that you’re not fully engaged.
On the other hand, if you want to ask for more detail on topics that have already been spoken about, the trick is to frame the question in a way that acknowledges that you may be repeating a previous conversation, but you wanted more information for clarification. For example: “I know this has already been discussed but…”
Be aware of your audience
Remember that you may be interviewed by people who have different roles in the firm such as HR or people from other departments. When asking questions, try to be clear and don’t assume that everyone understands complex legal jargon. Trying to be clever won’t stand you in good stead in these scenarios.
Don’t think of questions for the sake of it
Your questions need to be well thought out and relevant. If you cannot think of a very specific question, have a thoughtful general question in mind. The ideal situation is to research the law firm well enough to be able to come up with a question that makes you seem genuinely interested in that firm specifically.
