INTRODUCTION
The legal aspects of corporate culture are now more relevant than ever before in India, as the country is on its way to becoming one of the biggest markets in the world. Due to the market’s expansion, there are many more laws and businesses must safeguard those laws.
A corporate lawyer is a critical component in the functioning of such a system since they specialize in the legislation about companies, organizations, and businesses.
As recently as a decade ago, law schools were the default option for most people who wanted to become lawyers as a prerequisite for a career in government or politics. Increasingly, students who wish to specialize in corporate law or litigation have made law a career of choice with the opening of national law schools across the country.
Corporate law has also exploded in popularity following the globalization of the economy and its rapid growth as a good career path for both in-house counsel and law firms.
Despite the fact that the corporate legal industry is one of the fastest-growing in terms of recruitment, job/internship interviews are still a harrowing experience no matter how skilled you are. Interviews, especially, legal interviews can be a tough spot, and therefore, need preparation.
At a corporate law job/internship interview, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions, including general inquiries about your career, questions about the firm and its practice, tests of your skills and competencies, and questions designed to gauge your ability to handle the unexpected.
Therefore, it is important to know the basics and the process so that you can prepare for your corporate law interview, and in pursuance of this, the article highlights certain important elements you need to take care of before/for preparing for a corporate law interview.
KNOW THE BASICS!
1. KNOW ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYER:
Before attending an interview, you should try to learn as much as possible about the employers of a company or firm you’re considering. The following tips can help:
- Research the recent deals, disputes, and lawsuits they have been involved in.
- Examine the website, blogs, background, brochures, mission statement, and plans of the organization.
- Become familiar with important people in the company on social media, particularly Twitter and LinkedIn, as they are probably going to share things related to their work. It will help you crack your interview if you get some insider tips or ideas from this.
- Is there anything they are concerned about from a legal perspective and whether they are dealing with any ongoing legal issues?
- You should be aware of the competitors of the firm, the company, developments in the industry and cases that have been widely reported in the field in which the firm specializes.
- Do your research on the interviewer before you appear, if you know who will interview you.
2. HIGHLIGHTING THE CURRICULUM VITAE:
It is important that candidates maximize the opportunity to sell themselves through their CV to their potential employers.
For senior candidates with lots of experience, you should include a few career success stories in your CV. The objective of this is not only to showcase your work experience and qualifications but also to help build your brand so hiring managers know you are a person they want to hire.
3. KNOWLEDGE OF WORK:
CVs should be kept to a minimum.
Putting down every matter you’ve worked on, no matter how high profile, won’t help you stand out. Ensure that you only talk about the works you had a significant role in, the ones you are willing to go into detail about. Recruiters won’t be interested in matters you only took notes on or have significantly less impact.
It is important to summarize each of your previous roles, even if you only mention them briefly on your CV. As soon as you have described these responsibilities, you should ask the hiring manager if they want more details. The objective here is that, even if they are unlikely to take you up on this, it will show that you are well prepared and articulate.
4. APPEARANCE MATTERS:
First impressions are very important when you are interviewing for corporate law or any legal job. If you are unsure whether the company has a dress-down policy, you should still ask your recruiter ahead of time or opt for business attire if you are unsure.
Ensure to remain levelheaded at all times. You should not be intimidated if a senior partner in a law firm interviews you. They were once in your shoes once too.
5. SOFT SKILLS:
To succeed in the interview, candidates need to possess both hard skills and soft skills in the right balance. Legal candidates must demonstrate their ability to deal with different stakeholders these days, not just their technical skills.
The importance of this is particularly pertinent to in-house counsel. A successful legal counsel will not only have to demonstrate legal acumen but also be able to collaborate seamlessly with multiple teams within the company to guide the business.
QUESTIONS TO EXPECT!
1. WHY DO YOU WANT TO PRACTICE CORPORATE LAW/WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THIS FIELD OF LAW?
In answering this question, it is important to remember that the words ‘corporate’ and ‘law’ are equally important. After spending so much time in the classroom, it can be challenging to leap into the practice of law. To be commercially aware, you need to present yourself as someone who understands the drive for continuous improvement in the marketplace.
It is the responsibility of a corporate lawyer to anticipate any issues that may affect their client. A corporate lawyer acts as a trusted advisor, an accountant, or a management consultant with all the commercial elements. To become a trusted advisor, you need to demonstrate problem-solving ability, academic strength, and a track record of succeeding in fast-paced environments.
Examples can be drawn from your studies, activities (including extracurricular), paid work or volunteering. For example, you might have worked in a sales team, raised money for a charity or an NGO. Now, explain how these activities have been involved in shaping your understanding of how businesses succeed and how you, as a lawyer, bring value to the process.
2. WHY DID YOU APPLY HERE?
While mentioning that you would be honoured to work for one of the corporate team members is not harmful, but, you have to be more specific for the respective roles.
When you qualify, mention the practice you wish to join to stand out from the rest of the candidates. For example, you can specifically work with the insolvency and bankruptcy team or mergers and acquisitions team or corporate advisory team or private equity/venture capital team, etc.
By doing your research, you can demonstrate your commercial awareness and ambition. For example, you can say: ‘I am excited about contributing to the international business that has 10% of your holdings, and I am particularly interested in the company’s new office there.
3. WHAT OTHER FIRMS HAVE YOU APPLIED TO?
The easiest approach to this type of question is to remain honest in your response.
You should mention two or three other firms where you have applied, with a reason why they are all similar, for example, the firms may provide for strong cultural compatibility. By doing so, you demonstrate consistency in your applications and illustrate commitment to your field and determination to build a career in this niche.
You should not be afraid to mention that you had made an application to their competitors, because, if the other interviewing skills impress the recruiter, this may work to your advantage as recruiters are not likely to want a talented candidate to work for their competition.
4. HOW WOULD YOU ENFORCE ANY LAW, IF YOU COULD?
This question can also be asked in the form of ‘which law would you like to see changed and why?’ Such questions also provide an insight into your legal opinions, since such questions test your legislative knowledge. By answering them, you will reveal which law areas you are passionate about.
Make sure your choice is not too controversial. You can choose the latest statute or rule that has been recently amended or in news. The concept of choosing a law or issue that has recently been in the news proves that you have up-to-date legal knowledge. As an alternative, consider enacting the law that directly benefits the respective firm.
5. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CURRENT ISSUES FACING LAW FIRMS?
The most important skill that a candidate can possess, according to legal recruiters, is commercial awareness.
You need to show you have a firm grasp of your industry, its regulations, economics, culture, and social issues, along with the company’s structure and identity.
You can learn more about commercial awareness by watching the news and reading the newspaper every day. To stay up to date with business news, subscribe to legal newsletters and set up notifications on your phone.
PREPARATION
Preparation for an interview should include the following steps:
1. ELIGIBILITY: Ensure to put your qualifications and experiences into consideration. If you want to apply for that job/internship, you should consider asking yourself why the employer should hire you. To convince the interviewer that you are the best candidate for that position, you should consider how that particular role fits into your career plan and what value you can bring to the firm.
2. MOCK INTERVIEWS: Regardless of how well you prepare for the interview, you will likely feel anxious and overwhelmed during the interview. You can prepare for this by participating/conducting a mock interview(s). These activities can help you prepare for interviews and boost your confidence. Consider recording the entire process so you can analyze it later. The most common and best way to practice for a mock interview is in front of the mirror.
3. THE DOCUMENTS: Even if you submit your curriculum vitae (CV) digitally, always keep hard copies of all your documents on hand in case the interviewer needs them. Gather all of your important documents, such as your marks sheets, certificates, and IDs, in one folder. Make sure to keep any documents that HR has requested, such as salary slips (in case of a corporate law job interview), a letter of resignation from your previous employer, or a bank statement, ready as well. The online interviews may or may not require such documents.
4. LINKEDIN PROFILE: Recruiters rely on LinkedIn for 90% of their candidate research and recruitment. With LinkedIn, you can create a personal branding profile, which allows key decision-makers and recruiters to see your profile. In other words, if you type in your name into a search engine such as Google, you will appear in search results, as you have an online personal brand. Therefore, you should treat your LinkedIn profile in the same way as your CV, ensuring that your content is selling you as best you can.
CONCLUSION
One of the important elements to keep in mind during the interview is to be polite. A lot can be learned about you by how you conduct yourself at work. CCTV footage can be used by many companies to evaluate your character. Ensure that you wait patiently in a good posture. Remember to be courteous to all the people you meet, including all the employees, from all levels of management.
A bonus tip is to talk confidently and with firmness to the interviewer. This is something you can practice as soon as you enter the firm. As you interact with the receptionist or any other member of any department of the firm, you should be aware of your body language. Smiling and greeting them properly are important.
YLCC would like to thank Nikunj Arora for his valuable contributions in this article.
