Comments on: ‘What questions should I ask at the end of a TC interview?’ https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/ Legal news, insider insight and careers advice Tue, 27 May 2025 10:51:47 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 By: Newbie https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215774 Tue, 27 May 2025 10:51:47 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215774 I once asked about the clients they’re working with and how it aligns with their B-Corp value and they said; good question!

Other than that, I usually ask how they got into law, what do they enjoy most about working in the firm and what piece of advice would they give trainees. Why ask these?

People enjoy talking about themselves and it gives you an insight to the firm culture.

]]> By: N Tervue https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215594 Sun, 25 May 2025 15:54:03 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215594 As an interviewer there is one answer – don’t ask anything. Either you sound like you are spewing something from TikTok or that you searched the website just to find a question to ask. Offering questions at the end is just a formal courtesy.

]]> By: Top answer https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215446 Fri, 23 May 2025 18:54:32 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215446 “Where are the toilets? I really need a dump after that interview!”

]]> By: Magic Circle Associate https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215423 Fri, 23 May 2025 15:01:53 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215423 I think you can really over-engineer this to the point it becomes quite insincere. In my interview, I just asked my interviewers what their favourite/most interesting matters had been – ultimately, they are happy to talk about themselves for a little bit, and if nothing else is hopefully interesting to hear the answer to.

]]> By: Sage https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215387 Fri, 23 May 2025 11:38:12 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215387 Try to find something negative about the firm – such as a recent fall in PEP, low retention rate, some kind of scandal etc – and really grill the partners on this. It will mark you out as tough.

[Don’t do this]

]]> By: - https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215386 Fri, 23 May 2025 11:35:17 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215386 Just say I don’t have any questions

]]> By: old timer https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215383 Fri, 23 May 2025 11:08:42 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215383 you shouldn’t ask personal questions of the “do you ever see your kids / how many weekends have you worked recently” flavour, but it’s fine to ask interviewers to tell you about a particular project / case they have worked on in their career that has ben particularly challenging / interesting and why. So it’s targeted at them but remains a professional question.

also good to show interest in the firm and where they think it’s going (if not covered in the spiel they have given you already – needs to be a Q that can’t just found out by going on the website) – obviously be judicious about pitching it to the firm’s target area / specialisms – I wouldn’t ask a Magic Circle interviewer when their firm plans to start doing criminal defence / family law.

avoid Qs about work-life balance / hours and / or wfh – if you’re interviewing it’s presumed you have some knowledge of the commitment needed for a career in a top law firm, and if they ask you that question re how you’d feel about it it’s good to see it as a chance to learn quickly early on in your career (saying you want to leave at 5 every day is not your best bet)

]]> By: anon https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215380 Fri, 23 May 2025 09:55:38 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215380 ‘What separates a good trainee from a great trainee?’

‘What is one thing you would change about the firm?’

‘What is the most challenging aspect of the role?’

‘What is something you wish you knew when you were in my position, about to embark on a legal career?’

If appropriate, why did the interviewer move from X firm to the current firm?

If appropriate, how did the interviewer’s secondment experience develop them personally/professionally?

]]> By: Helô https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215378 Fri, 23 May 2025 09:54:15 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215378 Hello!

I would suggest asking at least one question in 3 areas:
1. specific to the lawyers;
2. about the firm;
3. about [something that is important to you, for instance career progression].

Think of what you would like to know that you could not get on the website.

Some examples are:
Specific to the lawyers
(Do a quick research into the lawyers before the interview)
– What is it like working in [mention the practice areas in which the 2 lawyers work]?

About the firm
– What about the firm makes you wake up excited to go to work every day?

About career progression
– How has the firm supported your career progression to date?
– What does a trainee solicitor need to do to be retained as an associate at the end of their TC?

I hope it’s helpful!

P.S. You can also watch Idin Sabahipour’s video: Ask these 5 questions at the end of your law interview

https://youtu.be/OexP7eDkk4w?si=wvVrL2lgJtKiSIak

It personally helped me!
Wish you all the best in your interview!

]]> By: Anonymous https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215375 Fri, 23 May 2025 09:33:48 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215375 The most common questions asked as a solicitor are “what time is lunch?” And “will the slides be sent after the meeting?” So those might be worth asking.

]]> By: Rindilin https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-the-end-of-a-tc-interview/#comment-1215369 Fri, 23 May 2025 09:17:41 +0000 https://www.legalcheek.com/?p=220543#comment-1215369 Here are some suggestions:

What qualities do you notice in trainees who go on to thrive at the firm long-term?

Looking back, what would you say has kept you at this firm, especially when opportunities to move might have arisen?

What’s one lesson you learned early in your legal career that you still carry with you today?

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