Preparing for Your Law Firm Video Interview: Key Steps for Success

May 27, 2023

Written By Charlotte Cheshire

In an age of hybrid working after the Covid-19 pandemic, it is unsurprising that interviews are increasingly conducted online. There are significant advantages to this. You do not have to bear the costs of or take time out for, travelling to a firm, and you can sit in an environment that is more familiar to you. Of course, there are disadvantages. There can be connectivity issues, talking to a screen can be disconcerting, and only some have a home environment in which they can occupy a quiet space or feel comfortable. However, there are some things that you can do to help you ace the video interview.

Familiarise Yourself with the Format

Will the interview be live or pre-recorded? This will be detailed in your invitation email, but be sure to know precisely how the interview will be conducted.

Live Interviews

This is the format that most similarly mirrors a face-to-face interview. Using a platform like Skype or Zoom, you'll be able to communicate with the interviewer (or panel of interviewers) in real time over a video link. Build a connection with the interviewer by approaching the conversation as you would at the employer's office.

Pre-recorded Interviews

Since you won't be chatting with a live person, this is a considerably less intimate experience. You'll see written or pre-recorded questions before being required to record your response on camera, frequently within a set amount of time. This benefits employers with a large pool of candidates because they can easily view your recording at a convenient time.

Although it might feel strange if you aren't used to recording yourself, you can schedule the interview any time until a predetermined deadline. This means you’ll have more time and control over practice interviews. Make use of this opportunity and ensure you treat practice interviews like the real thing. You may feel more comfortable doing a practice interview and then going straight into the actual one. In contrast, you may prefer doing the practice, leaving it a day or two and then completing the real interview.

Prepare like it’s in-person

Even when your interview is taking place via Teams (or another platform), it is still an actual interview. You still need to get ready like you would if you were going into the office, except for making travel arrangements to get to the interview. This includes researching the organisation and the position, preparing responses to frequently asked interview questions, and thinking of follow-up inquiries to ask the interviewer.

Go beyond a firm's website. Look at their LinkedIn and any opinion pieces written by people who work there in areas you are particularly interested in. Aim to have two/three matters or deals that the firm has worked on at the forefront of your mind, as well as any key clients that you would value working with.

Talking of values, firms often have several. Familiarise yourself with them and drop in where your previous experiences show you align with their values and how you think their value system would help you navigate a training contract or legal role. Being passionate and informed about the position and firm is just as important to your interviewer as it would be if you were physically opposite them at a desk, so be prepared to demonstrate why they should choose you.

Dress to impress

Dress the same as you would for an in-person interview. First impressions count. A smart blouse or shirt (and perhaps blazer) will strike the right tone. When picking your outfit, ensure you know what is in the frame, although remember you might need to stand up if an emergency happens. In terms of the background, keep it plain and distraction-free. Ensure you are dressed, ready and in your filming location early, with the aim of being 100% ready at least five minutes before the interview start time. This will ensure that if any difficulties arise, you have some time to solve them.

How you say things is just as important as what you say

When taking part in practice interviews, try to notice your voice's pace, pitch and tone. If you practise with a friend or family member, ask them to listen to it too. By building awareness around how you sound, speaking clearly and confidently at a natural pace will be second nature by the time the real thing comes around. Talk clearly, not too fast and remain calm, yet personable.

Since a video interview relies less on body language for communication, you also want your speech to convey your feelings about what you're saying. For instance, when discussing the topics you're interested in, make sure you sound enthusiastic.

Positive body language

It is best to refrain from slouching, excessive movement, and face-touching. Instead, employers will want to see that you maintain eye contact, smile, pay attention, and show an interest in what they are asking or remarks they are making.

During pre-recorded interviews, try to picture yourself in an in-person interview. While positive body language can be difficult to accomplish here, remember things like good posture, smiling, looking at the camera, and sounding confident and enthusiastic.

Ultimately, the purpose of an interview is to show that you are the right person to give the job to. Nobody knows your achievements and skills better than you do! Remember to be yourself, project confidence even if you don't feel it and remember that, in some ways, this is a two-way interview. Is this the right firm for you? You can always learn a lot whether you get the position or not. If you don’t get the role, reflect on what you think went wrong, and write a thank you note to the firm saying thank you the opportunity and for feedback.

Selection & Assessment