what is a lawyer/client phone interview like?

A phone interview is more passive, less committal, and suggests that you may not be the right candidate. If a law firm wants to speak with you before meeting you in person, WATCH OUT. Let’s get something clear right away: The telephone screening is an opportunity but not necessarily a good thing.

Full Answer

What happens in a lawyer-client interview?

But the lawyer-client interview is the time to learn what worries or most concerns the potential client. This could be the case’s outcome or it could be the cost of legal services.

What do clients really want in an interview?

When asked in interviews, clients will typically reveal their service expectations, satisfaction level and preferences — but also the direction they expect their business to take, including current and future needs. Clients can also provide information on other firms and vendors they use and their level of satisfaction with those relationships.

What questions should a lawyer ask a potential client?

Here are four common questions you should prepare to answer: What should I do next? As a legal professional, potential clients are turning to you for your expertise and guidance. You need to provide clear next steps (for example, when they can expect you to contact them) to give clients confidence in you as a lawyer.

How to prepare for a lawyer interview?

At the pre-interview stage, consider your goals and let them guide your preparations. This means considering what you want to get out of the interview, including learning about the legal issue at hand, establishing a positive client experience, and winning the client.

What questions do lawyers ask clients?

What Questions do Lawyers Ask Their Clients?What is your case about? A lawyer will want to know every single detail of your case. ... What do you hope to accomplish? ... How do you want us to communicate? ... Why did you choose me? ... Are you comfortable with my rates?

What happens during the initial client interview?

The initial client interview should be for asking questions, not for learning basic client details. Before the interview, ask for any relevant information and documents so you can review them in advance.

What type of questions are asked in client interview?

Client Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to AnswerWhat Are Your Prices? ... What's Your Working Process? ... What Happens if We're Not Happy With Your Work? ... What Experience Do You Have? ... Why Do You Think We're a Good Fit? ... What Value Can You Bring to Our Business?

What should I expect in a client round interview?

First and foremost thing is, you will have to look at the requirement and look at what the client needs. They will mention most of the times their need. It is your job to focus and talk in the interview based on their need. You will have to be able to tie in the technical and functional scenarios to the client's need.

What questions should I ask in a first client interview?

Here are nine interview questions you should ask potential clients and why asking them matters:#1: Why did you come in today? ... #2: Have you ever worked with an attorney before? ... #3: Why did you decide to pursue this matter? ... #4: How can I help you? ... #5: Tell me about your case.More items...•

What is the purpose of a client interview?

Whether you are an attorney interviewing a potential client in need of legal help or a human services worker interviewing clients and their family members to assess their needs, the purpose of a client interview is to collect enough information to help solve the client's problem.

How do you introduce yourself in a client interview?

Self-introduction in an interview for experienced candidatesTalk about yourself. Tell the interviewer your full name and where you are from. ... Stress on the professional background. ... Talk about your accomplishments and hobbies. ... Introduce your family. ... Talk about things you want to achieve few years down the line.

How do you ace a client interview?

7 Tips to Pass a Client InterviewMake sure that you have a fast, stable internet connection and a good microphone. ... Research about your client. ... Be honest about EVERYTHING on your resume and portfolio. ... Don't be afraid to highlight your accomplishments and showcase your skills. ... Ask them some questions.More items...•

How do you start a conversation on a phone interview?

Before you hang up, address the interviewer by name.Get prepared for your phone interview. ... Answer the call in a professional manner and introduce yourself. ... Before you hang up, address the interviewer by name. ... Greet the individual who answers the call. ... Ask for the appropriate individual.More items...•

Is client round difficult?

Client interviews are not tough . They are very simple . They will talk about your last experiences , will check your confidence and the comm skills . Mostly the interviews are very technical in nature .

Which of these is a good approach to prepare for a client interview?

10 Tips for Interviewing with the Client Company1) Don't Talk Too Much.2) Pause and Allow for Interruptions.3) Be Aware of Your Audience.4) Be Confident & Smile.5) Don't Pretend to Know More Than You Do.6) Be Positive.7) Know Who's Interviewing You.8) Pay Attention in the Interview.More items...

What do you need to know about the client before the interview?

Before coming in for an interview, make sure you do thorough research about your client. Learn about their business, key figures and competition. Get to know their key stakeholders (LinkedIn can be helpful for this). Let them know that you have studied them.

Can you please name a Supreme Court case that impacts your practice of law on a daily basis?

The purpose of this question is not necessarily to test the substance of the answer but more the fact that the candidate has an answer. This is indicative of the fact that they are informed and see the larger picture. So much of what a lawyer does relies on having strong background knowledge of the law.

Can you give an example of where you have chosen to involve yourself in the broader legal community?

Lawyers that network and do the “extra-curricular” activities are generally better informed about recent developments than other attorneys. In addition, networking helps a lawyer build a reputation in the legal sector. Attorneys who have better connections with other attorneys benefit from getting referrals of business from those other attorneys.

How do you handle a disagreement with a superior over a legal matter?

Disagreements happen in the practice of law. Two attorneys can reach different opinions about an issue and both can be correct. It is even more difficult when one of the attorneys works for the other. Part of being a successful lawyer is learning how to make one’s voice heard without being overbearing.

Can you elaborate on a situation where you were unsuccessful and how you handled it?

You should get a sense of how the lawyer handles adversity because there is quite a bit of it in the legal profession. A good lawyer will learn from failure and make the necessary adjustments so it does not happen again in the future. Every lawyer will experience failure at some point.

What is the goal of a client interview?

The goal is to listen carefully, soliciting as much information as the client has to offer. Client interviews are best conducted face to face, at the client’s location, or on comfortable neutral ground. If an in-person interview isn’t practical, a phone interview can work.

Why is client interview important?

Client interviews are essential to nurturing relationships. Without client interviews, you may not know when a relationship is faltering. Conventional wisdom suggests that where a problem existed but is addressed and recovered from, the relationship is stronger than if no problem had occurred. Client interviews will alert you when ...

How to avoid contradicting client?

Do your best to avoid contradicting the client or excusing any behavior that has created an issue. Listen carefully, ask probing questions, and thank the client for the feedback. Let the client know that any issues raised will be addressed .

Why do you conduct an interview with a client?

You are expected to conduct an interview with a ‘client’ in order to obtain and convey the information required without stepping outside of what you know or can do. The information you obtain should be enough for you to take the next steps without going back to the client for more.

Why do you have to open questions in an interview?

Open questions are good to get the client talking and to get the conversation flowing whereas closed questions get the details out. A good interview technique is to start with open questions and slowly narrow down to closed until you have the information you need.

What to do if client claims he has permission?

If the ‘client’ claims he has permission, explain you will need to check with your supervisor first and that you are under a duty of confidentiality. You may be able to safely provide generic advice about process, e.g. what happens in probate, but don’t give anything specific. Managing client expectations.

Can you control what your client says?

In my opinion, the best way to conquer the nerves and to get everything you need is to have a good handle on what is going to happen. Yes, you can’t control what your client is going to say but it is your interview, so it can be guided in whatever way you wish.

Can you take notes in an interview?

if you have written ‘date of birth’ already, you will only need to write the actual date in the interview.

Is it a good idea to end an interview?

If not, it’s a good way of ending the interview. This structure is easy to follow and should elicit all the information you need. Try not to script yourself; it will be easy to spot if you are rehearsed and you will be lost if something unexpected happens. However, it is worth a bit of advanced planning.

Is advice second to professional conduct?

However, the small amount of advice you will give is second to the professional conduct skills. It is likely to be the first interview with the client (the least amount of background and legal knowledge required), which means there is a lot of professional conduct stuff to be covered.

Pre-interview preparation

Allow plenty of time. Typically a telephone interview will last approximately 30 minutes, but they can go on longer than the allotted time or the interviewer could be running early / late.

Questions to ask

Remember, an interview is also the firm’s chance to prove themselves to you! Your questions should convey your ability, as well as your enthusiasm for the firm and role.

Contact

Please contact Division Head, Jason Horobin at Origin Legal International on+44 (0)1206 233 514 or email jason.horobin@originlegal.co.uk for further advice.

Why do law firms interview you by phone?

Most of the time, when the law firm is interviewing you by phone, the firm has found something about you or your background that indicates a potential lack of commitment and the firm is using the phone screen to ascertain if you will commit and take the job seriously.

What happens if a law firm interviews you by phone?

First, if a law firm is interviewing you by phone, the firm’s guard is up, and the firm is being careful. While it is not always the case, more often than not the firm is “gun shy” and finding reasons why you may not be worth interviewing in person.

What happens if you say one wrong thing in a phone interview?

If you say one wrong thing—or if one thing goes wrong—you will blow a phone interview. More attorneys get rejected through phone interviews than in any other sort of interviews. Third, law firms who are interviewing people by phone may not be just “on the fence” about you, they may be “on the fence” about hiring.

Why is it important to do a phone interview?

A good phone interview can help you move to a better firm and more. Because phone interviews are so incredibly important, you better know what to do. A lot is generally at stake.

Why isn't a law firm spending time with you?

The law firm is not spending any “face-to-face” time with you because the firm does not yet feel you merit it. You are starting at the very bottom and will need to distinguish yourself from the rest of the candidates whose resumes are dumped in the pile of unqualified resumes that are fired at firms daily.

What to do if a law firm is not excited about you?

If the law firm is not very excited about you, the firm will speak with you by phone. Period. Do not pat yourself on the back if you get a phone screen. You need to “step up” and take this extremely seriously because the person doing the phone interview will shoot you down if you are not careful.

What does "ammo" mean in an interview?

The person calling you may be looking for “ammo” about how great a particular candidate is (“you”) that the interviewer can use to persuade his or her partners about the need to bring in a new person. You just do not know. If a law firm is on the fence, you need to get the firm off the fence and in your corner.

What Lawyer-Client Interview Questions Should You Ask Potential Clients?

• While the exact questions you’ll ask should be customized to each potential client’s specific situation, these lawyer-client interview questions are a good starting point:

See more on clio.com

What Answers to Client Questions Should Lawyers Prepare for?

Conducting The Lawyer-Client Interview

Conclusion