An interviewer asks this question to gain an understanding of your motivations and goals, so the best way to answer is by discussing your origin story and how law captures your interest.
Writing articles for law journals may be challenging, but it provides an invaluable opportunity to showcase your research abilities and tenacity – not to mention being referenced by scholars or even the Supreme Court!
1. To get to know you
At an interview, one of the best ways to make an impressionful first impression is by coming prepared with questions for the interviewer. Doing your research shows interest and dedication – but if you need assistance formulating questions for an interviewer or aren’t sure which types are relevant, consider hiring a law school admissions consultant who can work with you on developing solid answers.
Some schools conduct group interviews, which can be more challenging to prepare for than one-on-one interviews. Their purpose is to observe your interactions with peers and how well you would perform in class; your interviewer wants to see that you are engaged, intellectually curious and committed to building your resume via internships and clinics – this information will help them decide whether or not to offer you admission into their law school.
2. To see if you’re a good fit for the school
Admissions committee members often inquire about applicants’ personal interests during interviews for law school applications. Boozang recommends reading news updates and participating in extracurricular activities during this phase to have more interesting topics to talk about when asked personal questions by interviewers.
She emphasizes the fact that interviewers are interested in understanding how an applicant will contribute to the law school community. One effective strategy for doing this is providing an in-depth description of your career goals and how you plan to accomplish them, but don’t be intimidated into underselling yourself-admissions committees love ambitious candidates!
Though interview questions will differ depending on your school and format of choice (recorded interviews, one-on-one interviews or group interviews), being ready for what questions will come your way is key to making an impressionful impression and showcasing your strengths effectively.
3. To find out if you’re a good fit for the school’s culture
As law schools process thousands of applications annually, interviews become ever more critical in understanding an applicant’s motivations to become a lawyer and why they chose their school – something an application cannot capture entirely. If they believe only numbers or prestige matters are driving your interest, the admissions committee might reject you outright.
An interview question such as, “If you could have dinner with any living or dead individual, who would it be and why?” enables you to showcase another passion outside of law, demonstrating to admissions committee that law is more than a source of revenue for you.
No matter the format of your interview–be it recorded, one-on-one, or panelist–it is paramount that you demonstrate genuine enthusiasm and knowledge about the school you are interviewing at. That will set yourself apart from applicants with similar raw numbers and convince the interviewer to accept you over someone else.
4. To find out if you’re a good fit for the school’s mission
If the interviewer feels you will fit seamlessly with the school, convincing their admissions committee will be easier and they may feel you will work well with other students in their program.
Interviewers want to see that you understand and value their school’s mission and vision, so when answering any questions related to law schools try connecting your experience or aspirations with their values.
Interviewers may ask about your interest in the curriculum and experiential learning opportunities available at their school, so it is essential that you respond honestly when answering these queries without providing information that can easily be found online.
Interviewers will likely inquire about your involvement with extracurricular activities, community service, and any other experiences which have had an effect on who you are today. When answering these questions, make sure to provide specific examples without oversharing or bragging. Instead use your answers as evidence that demonstrate you as passionate and driven candidate.
