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 5754185attorney9.91attorney or counsel or lawyer2.47legal1.95lawyer1.79associate attorney1.45273981766723000.00107919.56255000.00YEARLY7957492025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05lawyer does relies on having strong background knowledge of the law. A strong applicant will have legal principles on the tip of their tongue. What to look for in an answer:

• Background knowledge of legal principles
• Ability to quickly cite legal precedent
• Skills in applying the law to daily job duties

Lawyers that network and do the “extra-curricular” activities are generally better informed about recent developments than other attorneys. In addition, networking helps a 5754185attorney9.91attorney or counsel or lawyer2.47legal1.95lawyer1.79associate attorney1.45273981766723000.00107919.56255000.00YEARLY7957492025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05lawyer 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. When an attorney has a leadership position in a legal organization, they command more respect in their profession. What to look for in an answer:

• A roster of organizations to which they belong
• Leadership positions in the legal community
• A desire to become active legally

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 5754185attorney9.91attorney or counsel or lawyer2.47legal1.95lawyer1.79associate attorney1.45273981766723000.00107919.56255000.00YEARLY7957492025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05lawyer is learning how to make one’s voice heard without being overbearing. You will want to see how the candidate handles conflict, especially with someone for whom they work. What to look for in an answer:

• Ability to articulate conflict-handling strategies
• Knowledge of choosing when to agree to disagree
• Evidence that they can articulate a position

You should get a sense of how the 5754185attorney9.91attorney or counsel or lawyer2.47legal1.95lawyer1.79associate attorney1.45273981766723000.00107919.56255000.00YEARLY7957492025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05lawyer 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 5754185attorney9.91attorney or counsel or lawyer2.47legal1.95lawyer1.79associate attorney1.45273981766723000.00107919.56255000.00YEARLY7957492025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05lawyer will experience failure at some point. The key question is whether the lawyer can deal with it and bounce back in the future. What to look for in an answer:

• Resilience to deal with failure
• A commitment to improving abilities
• Self-confidence to know that a mistake is not defining

Every lawyer has strengths and weaknesses. Some attorneys do things better than others. This question will test what a lawyer believes that they are good at and what interests them. If they indicate that they dislike a critical basic area of the job, it can help you determine where they would be a good fit in your company. At the same time, the candidate could have a passion for a skill that the company needs. What to look for in an answer:

• Passion for different areas of the law
• Ability to engage in all job-related activities
• Evidence of diligence and motivation

Depending on the type of law they practice, lawyers may have to work on cases that evoke emotions like those in family cases or criminal trials. This question allows an interviewer to gauge a candidate's ability to maintain their mental health when working on particularly difficult cases.

A candidate's answer should emphasize:

• Ability to separate work from personal time
• Previous case experience
• Self-awareness

Here is an example of a quality candidate answer: