Animate
We're really looking forward to meeting you!
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.
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.
The recruitment process
Below you’ll see our recruitment process, so you can be across all the stages and feel prepared.
1. FIRST INTERVIEW
Your interview will be around up to 30 minutes and be conducted online via MS Teams.
You’ll interview with two partners and a member of our People & Culture team.
This interview will aim to get to know more about you, your interest in Chapman Tripp and commercial law, and understand your areas of interest!
You’ll interview with two partners and a member of our People & Culture team.
This interview will aim to get to know more about you, your interest in Chapman Tripp and commercial law, and understand your areas of interest!
2. PRE-INTERVIEW FUNCTION
If you have a successful first interview with us we will invite you to our pre-interview function which takes place prior to the second interviews. This is a great way to come into our offices, meet more of our people, and learn about our teams and culture.
During the pre-interview function, you’ll have an opportunity to hear from recent Clerks who will give you tips & tricks for interviewing and talk about their experiences. You’ll also be involved in ‘team speed networking’, which is a great way to hear from juniors and seniors about each team we have in the office you are interviewing in. After both of these, you’ll be taken on a floor tour, followed by drinks & nibbles with the firm.
Your interviewing panel will also be at the drinks & nibbles – hopefully this helps by putting a face to the name prior to your interview with us!
3. INTERVIEW
Your interview will be around 30-45 minutes and be conducted face-to-face.
You’ll sit down with two partners and a member of our People & Culture team.
This interview will aim to get to know about you some more and will focus more on understanding the skills and experience you can bring.
You’ll sit down with two partners and a member of our People & Culture team.
This interview will aim to get to know about you some more and will focus more on understanding the skills and experience you can bring.
It’s a good idea to arrive 10/15 minutes early so you feel at ease – we will also have some of our recent Clerks and Solicitors meeting you in reception. They are there to help answer any last minute questions and settle any nerves you may have.
4. OFFERS MADE
On 17 May 2023, all offers for summer clerkships will be made. For anyone not receiving an offer, we will also let you know on this date. As this can be disappointing news, we would be happy to provide any feedback we may have on your interview in order to help you in the future so do reach out to us to let us know if there is anything ore we can share with you.
5. POST-OFFER FUNCTION/ ACCEPTANCES DUE
All acceptances for summer clerkships are due no later than midnight on 26 May 2023. We will be holding a post-interview function on the 19 May which is a great opportunity for you to have a chat to our Chapman Trippers if you have any questions and to also meet your potential cohort.
We also encourage you to contact Kriezl Grecia on [email protected], or request to be put in touch with another Chapman Tripper if you have any more questions following our offer and post-offer function.
We understand making the decision to join a large law firm can be a tough one, so make sure you talk to lots of people and ultimately feel sure (and excited!) about your decision.
No question is a silly one, so get in touch with us if you need – we understand this is a busy period, so make sure you’re getting the answers and support you need throughout it all.
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 our teams
- 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 summer clerk? What are you hoping to gain from the experience?
- 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.
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.
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.
Key dates
First interview
- These dates are in the body of your individual emails with a number and contact name to get in touch with!
Pre-interview Function
- Auckland office: 8 May 2023
- Wellington office: 11 May 2023
- Christchurch office: 15 May 2023
Second / in-person interview
- Auckland office: 9 & 10 May 2023
- Wellington office: 12 May 2023
- Christchurch office: 16 May 2023 (note there is only one interview stage for Christchurch and that is the in-person interview on this date)
Offers & Post-offer Function
- Offers for all offices: 17 May 2023
- Post-offer function for all offices: 19 May 2023
Acceptances due
Acceptances due for all offices midnight 26 May 2023