Last updated
Every interview ends with "What questions do you have for us?", and on Days 2 and 3 of in-firm week, your questions may fill half the conversation. Good questions show you understand the work and help you decide where you actually want to be. These suggestions draw on lawyers and students who have been through the Canadian recruit.
How much time to plan for
An on-campus interview lasts no more than 20 minutes under the Law Society's procedures, so you may get time for only two or three questions. In-firm interviews run longer, and later rounds are conversational. Lawyers advise preparing as if about half of a Day 2 interview will be your questions (Canadian Law Forum).
About the work
- How is work assigned to summer students: through a formal system, or by lawyers reaching out directly?
- What does a typical week look like for a student in your group?
- Can you tell me about a recent file or deal where a student made a real contribution?
- Do students go to court, attend closings, or sit in on client meetings?
- How are files staffed? Do students work directly with partners?
About growth and feedback
- What separates a good student from a great one here?
- How and when do students get feedback?
- What mistakes do new students tend to make?
- How does the firm decide on articling and associate hireback?
- Do associates specialize early, or stay generalists for a few years?
About the person you are talking to
These often lead to the best conversations, because people enjoy talking about their own work.
- What drew you to this firm, and what has kept you here?
- Why did you choose your practice area?
- What are you working on right now that you find interesting?
- What do you wish you had known as a student?
Questions to avoid
| Avoid | Why | Try instead |
|---|---|---|
| What is the bonus structure? | Reads as presumptuous in an interview, especially with a partner | Ask current students informally, or wait until you have an offer |
| What is the culture like? | Too vague to produce a useful answer | How do people in your group work together on a busy file? |
| Anything the website answers | Shows you did not prepare | Ask a follow-up on something specific you read |
| How many hours do people really work? | Lawyers on student forums flag this as one to skip even in casual settings | What does a busy week look like, and how does the group handle it? |
| Is there anything in my application you want me to clarify? | Can come across as fishing for reassurance | Ask about the work instead |
Make them specific
Our firm profiles end with questions built from how each Seven Sisters firm describes its own program, a good starting point for specific questions.
A generic question asked of everyone sounds like a script. Before each interview, look up the lawyers you will meet and the firm's recent matters, then tailor one or two questions. Our guide to researching a firm before in-firms shows a quick routine:
"I read about the firm's role in the recent infrastructure financing. How are students involved on a deal like that?"
"You mentioned the secondment program at the OCI. Do students ever get a chance to see in-house work?"
Keep notes
After each interview, write down what you asked and what you learned. The answers help you write specific thank-you emails, decide where to give your first choice, and avoid asking the same lawyer the same question twice. For the rest of in-firm week, see our guides to in-firm interviews and etiquette.
Free tools
Planning your next move?
Sources and scope
This is general career information, not legal, financial, or tax advice, and not an official statement of any rule. Dates, rules, and pay change, so confirm them with the original source, the Law Society, or the employer before you rely on them.
Related
- Toronto 2L in-firm interviewsHow in-firm week works, what firms assess, and how to prepare.
- In-firm week etiquetteReceptions, dinners, thank-you emails, and signalling your first choice.
- First choice in the recruitHow and when to tell a firm it is your first choice.
- Canadian legal resume formatLength, section order, fonts, and file formats for Canadian legal applications.