Animate
Your guide to virtual interviewing with Chapman Tripp
Congratulations on being invited for an interview! We saw something special in your application and felt that your experiences and values would be a great match with Chapman Tripp.
We’re really looking forward to meeting you
The information on this page is specifically designed for interviewees and is to help you prepare for your interview and put you at ease. We like to be upfront and transparent about our interview process as we think the more you know, the more relaxed you’ll be on the day.
Interview tips
Job interviews can be nerve-racking – we’ve all been there! It is one thing to write about yourself in your CV, but quite another to meet people you don’t really know and talk about yourself in person…Here are some of our top tips for interviewing.
RESEARCH
WHY LAW?
YOUR CV
PRACTICE
STATE OF MIND
- Read our firm’s website and graduate recruitment website – learn more about our clients, our partners and the team you are interviewing for
- Find out more about our values, recent news and awards
- Speak to former summer/winter clerks – quiz them on their experiences, ask for interview tips
- Speak to university career advisors – for interview advice and more information on how to prepare
- Read up about general commercial/legal news – make sure you would feel confident if we asked for your opinion on this.
- Why do you want to work in a law firm? What motivates you to want to join a commercial law firm?
- Why do you want to be a law clerk?
- Why would you like to work at Chapman Tripp? What makes us stand out compared to other law firms?
- What sets you apart from others we might be interviewing? What are your key skills? What are your unique selling points (USPs)?
- Know your CV inside out! Anything on your CV is up for discussion
- Think about the experiences and achievements you want to talk to us about – make sure you have plenty of examples to share.
- Whatever your reasoning, try and clearly articulate your thoughts when you meet us. Rehearse by asking someone to run through some practice questions and give you feedback
- It’s a fine balance though – try not to over-rehearse, as an answer that’s too scripted can sound less genuine.
Have a think about what helps you feel your best. Perhaps a bit of exercise, mindfulness exercises, or a cup of tea at least 20 minutes before your interview could be a good idea to help ease any nerves and give you a clearer state of mind.
Tips for interviewing virtually
PROFESSIONALISM
YOUR ENVIRONMENT
TEST YOUR TECHNOLOGY
- Be every bit as professional and personable as you would be for a face-to-face interview by dressing appropriately and turning off your phone and other potential distractions
- When we’re meeting someone in person, we naturally consider our body language. However, over video it’s much easier to get distracted. Maintaining eye contact, sitting up straight, smiling, and nodding are just a few ways to convey we are listening and engaged
- Choose a clean, quiet, and well-lit space for interviews
- Remove anything from the space that is distracting
- If you live with others, it could be a good idea to let them know when you’re interview is taking place so they aren’t too loud…or walk in half-way through!
- When you receive our calendar invite with your confirmed interview details, you simply need to click on the MS Teams link on the day (this will open in your browser), select ‘continue on this browser’, ensure your video and microphone is on and select ‘join now’
- If during the interview, there are technology issues, we’ll conduct the interview via phone
Prior to your interview: - Test your connection
- Turn off notifications from other apps
- Ensure your camera and audio is working
- You may want to do a test recording on your phone/laptop to get comfortable with video
The interview itself
Introduction
You will sit down with two partners and a member of our People & Culture team. They will introduce themselves and outline the structure of the interview. We want you to perform at your best, so we will put you at ease and help you speak about your positives. This first interview will be around 20-30 minutes long.
Our questions
They are designed to gain a good understanding of your experiences and your interest in law. It’s a chance for us to get to know you better, and for you to get to know us. We might ask you to chat to us about:
- your time at law school
- interest in law
- considerations in choosing a law firm
- life/work experiences – “you”
- your personality
- what motivates you to succeed
- your commercial awareness.
Your answers
Think about the skills you can bring to Chapman Tripp and what experiences you’ve had so far that will make you a great lawyer. Make sure you’re prepared to talk through some examples to back up your answers.
Be yourself
A fresh and original response always rings true and gives us a valuable insight into who you are and what makes you tick.
You can ask questions too
This is a great opportunity to find out what it’s like to work at Chapman Tripp. It’s a two-way process and you want to make sure we’re the firm for you. The type of questions you ask can often set you apart from other applicants by demonstrating your motivation and drive. If you think of any questions later, don’t hesitate to get in contact with any of your interviewers.