Big Sis Briefing: How to Nail Your Clerkship Interview

Written By Mel Storey

Okay, Career Big Sis here. You’ve read my advice, you’re going in eyes wide open and you have a coveted Law Firm Clerkship Interview. You’ve entered the hunger games arena, let’s make sure the odds are in your favour.

What They're Really Looking For

Before we dive into tactics, let's get clear on what matters here. Clerkship interviews aren't about being the loudest or the smartest in the room. They're assessing three key things:

  1. Safe in front of clients: Can we trust you to represent our firm professionally?

  2. Trusted by partners: Will you be reliable, discreet and competent?

  3. Enjoyable to work with: Would the team want to spend long hours with you?

Everything else flows from these fundamentals.

Your 2-Week Interview Timeline

2 Weeks Before

  • Research the firm: recent deals, practice areas, culture, news mentions

  • Research your interviewers: LinkedIn profiles, recent articles, practice areas

  • Review the job description and firm's graduate program details

  • Start thinking about your "why this firm" story - you will be asked

1 Week Before

  • Practice common interview questions (but don't script word-for-word)

  • Prepare your question bank for different audiences

  • Plan your outfit and test-run the commute if you can

  • Prepare your small talk topics

Night Before

  • Review your research notes

  • Lay out your outfit completely

  • Set multiple alarms

  • Get a good night's sleep and lots of water (seriously - tired eyes show)

Day Of

  • Light breakfast, arrive 10-15 minutes early downstairs in the lobby

  • Final phone check: silent mode on

  • Quick mirror check, breath mint, shoulders back and head high!

Before You Step Into the Room

  • Know the basics: Who are your interviewers? What's the firm known for? Any recent deals in the news? (Use the Interview Preparation Worksheet below to map this out.)

  • Research the people: If you know names, look them up on LinkedIn. It's about familiarity and not stalking. They expect it. ask ChatGPT to pull together a brief for you using the following prompt:

    ”I have an interview for clerkship at [law firm] next week and in the interview will be one of the Partners [insert name] and I'm going to drop her LinkedIn profile below. Can you find everything that you can find out about her that is publicly available and then pull together a brief on their interests, likes, dislikes, anything that might be helpful and then formulate some questions that might work to show shared interest and understanding of their practice area and anything else that will help me make a favourable first impression.”

  • Practice but don't script: Have answers for common questions ready, but don't rehearse word-for-word. Sound polished but not robotic.

  • Small talk counts: You'll often start with a few minutes of casual chat. Practice that too.

What to Bring

  • Leather compendium or professional folder

  • 3-4 extra copies of your CV

  • Nice pen (not chewed biro)

  • Breath mints

  • Phone on silent

  • Small pack of tissues

  • Business cards if you have them (old school but classy af) - I use moo.com for mine)

Outfit Guidelines

  • Conservative, well-fitted, professional

  • Comfortable shoes you can walk confidently in

  • Nothing new that might malfunction or feel uncomfortable

  • Neutral colors, minimal jewelry

  • If in doubt, slightly overdressed beats underdressed

In the Interview

  • Respect everyone: Reception, HR, junior lawyers and the partner. HR is influential. Reception is asked for impressions. Everyone matters.

  • Include the whole panel: Don't just lock eyes with the partner. Make HR feel part of the conversation.

  • Show curiosity: Even if the partner is in a practice area you don't want, show genuine interest. Ask about trends, projects or what excites them. Enthusiasm is universal.

  • Body language: Eye contact, measured pace, listen fully, no filler words. (See the Professional Etiquette Checklist below)

Handling Difficult Moments

If you don't know something: "That's not an area I'm familiar with yet but I'd be interested to learn more about how it works."

If you stumble: Brief pause, compose yourself, continue. Don't apologise excessively or draw more attention to it.

If there's awkward silence: Have 2-3 thoughtful questions ready as circuit breakers.

Red Flags to Avoid

  • Speaking negatively about previous employers/experiences/uni

  • Asking about salary/benefits in first interview

  • Being too familiar too quickly ("Hey guys!" is not appropriate)

  • Phone buzzing or visible during interview

  • Excessive filler words ("um," "like," "you know")

  • Interrupting or finishing their sentences

Your Question Bank by Audience

For Partners

  • "What trends are you seeing in [practice area] that excite you?"

  • "What makes someone successful here long-term?"

  • "What's the most interesting project you've worked on recently?"

  • "How has the practice evolved since you joined?"

For HR

  • "What does success look like for clerks in their first week of the program?"

  • "How do you support career development and training?"

  • "What's the culture like day-to-day?"

  • "How do clerks typically transition to graduate roles here?"

For Junior Lawyers

  • "What's been your experience working here?"

  • "Any advice for someone just starting out?"

  • "What surprised you most about the role?"

  • "How do you balance the workload and learning curve?"

Cocktail Evenings & Social Events

Make no mistake about it, these are auditions for how you'll represent the firm socially and with clients.

  • Drink strategy: One drink maximum, or none. Don't risk a slip. "I'm driving" or "I have an early start tomorrow" work perfectly if questioned (I wouldn’t expect you to be though).

  • Conversation flow: Don't dominate conversations. Listen, invite others in and show class and grace.

  • Quality over quantity: Three good conversations beat ten rushed ones.

  • The graceful exit: From the partner who's cornering you for 20 minutes: "It's been so interesting talking with you. I'd love to meet some of the other team members as well."

Safe Conversation Starters

  • "What's something interesting happening in your team right now?"

  • "What projects have been exciting you recently?"

  • "Any fun weekend plans?"

  • "How long have you been with the firm?"

  • "What drew you to [practice area]?"

Topics to Avoid

  • Politics or controversial current events

  • Personal problems or complaints

  • Gossip about other firms or people

  • Anything you wouldn't say to a client

  • Salary, hours or benefits

Social Event Scenarios

The 20-minute monopoliser: "This has been fascinating. I'd love to continue this conversation but I should circulate a bit more. Would you mind if I connected with you on LinkedIn? We can grab a coffee sometime."

When you don't drink: No big explanation needed. "I'll have a sparkling water, thanks" or "I'm driving tonight."

Group conversations: Ask inclusive questions, give others space to contribute, don't be the show.

Good manners, poise and polish matter as much as your transcript.

Day-Of Success Checklist

□ Phone on silent (and stays in bag/pocket)
□ Extra CVs in bag
□ Questions prepared for each interviewer type
□ Breath mints handy
□ Confident posture - shoulders back, eye contact ready
□ Route planned with buffer time
□ Light breakfast eaten
□ Professional smile practiced

After the Interview

Immediate Follow-up (Same Day)

  • Thank-you emails: Send within 8 hours. Keep it brief, specific and professional.

  • Thank-you email template:

    Subject: Thank you - [Your Name] Interview

    Dear [Interviewer Name],

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today about the clerkship program at [Firm Name]. Our conversation about [specific topic discussed] was particularly insightful and it reinforced my interest in contributing to [specific team/practice area].
    I'm very excited about the opportunity to learn from such an accomplished team and contribute to [mention something specific about the firm].
    Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Kind regards

[Your Name]

24-48 Hours Later

  • LinkedIn connections: Send personalised requests referencing your conversation

  • Handwritten notes: If you've got neat handwriting and good stationery, this makes you memorable (but only if your handwriting is genuinely neat)

Follow-up Timeline

  • Week 1: Send thank you notes, connect on LinkedIn

  • Week 2-3: If they gave you a timeline, respect it

  • After their timeline: One polite follow-up email asking for an update

Handling Rejection Gracefully

  • Thank them for the opportunity

  • Ask for feedback if appropriate

  • Maintain the relationship - the legal world is small

  • Keep their contact details - you might cross paths again

  • Reflect: Note what went well and what you'd improve for next time. (Use the Reflection section in the Interview Preparation Worksheet below.)

Enhanced FAQ

Q: What if I'm interviewed by a partner from a practice I don't really care about?
A: Show enthusiasm and find common ground. You don't have to fake passion for tax law, but you can be curious and respectful. Ask about trends, challenges or what they find rewarding.

Q: Should I ask HR a question?
A: Absolutely. They influence the outcome significantly. Ask about training, development, day-to-day culture or clerkship rotations.

Q: When does the interview really start?
A: The second you step out of the lift. Reception staff, security and other employees - they'll all be asked for their impressions of you.

Q: Do I need to network with everyone at cocktail evenings?
A: No. Focus on having meaningful conversations with fewer people rather than rushing around the room.

Q: Is it okay to practice interview answers with a friend?
A: Absolutely. It helps you polish your delivery without sounding over-rehearsed. Record yourself if you can bear it.

Q: Should I connect with interviewers on LinkedIn immediately?
A: Wait 24 hours, then send personalised connection requests referencing your conversation. Don't be generic.

Q: What if I'm running late?
A: Call immediately. Apologise briefly, give realistic arrival time, don't over-explain. Better to be honest than mysteriously absent.

Q: How do I handle group interviews?A: Address the person who asked the question initially, but make eye contact with others during your answer. Don't let one person dominate your attention.

Q: What if they ask about my grades and they're not great?
A: Be honest but brief. Focus on what you learned from the experience and how you've grown. Don't dwell on it.

Q: Should I mention other firms I'm interviewing with?
A: Only if directly asked. Keep it general: "Yes, I'm speaking with a few firms to find the best fit."

Q: What if I get emotional or nervous?
A: Take a breath, pause if you need to. It's human. "Sorry, I'm quite passionate about this opportunity as you can see" can cover most moments.

Extra Big Sis Tools

  • Interview Preparation Worksheet: Plan your research, questions and reflections

  • Professional Etiquette Checklist: Step-by-step on polish, presentation and unspoken rules

  • CV & Cover Letter Templates: Make sure your documents match your interview game

  • Career Values Audit: Revisit what matters to you so you can answer "Why this firm?" with honesty

Big Sis Final Reminder: These tools are guides, not scripts. Your story, manners and genuine curiosity are what seal the deal. Trust yourself - you've got this.

Big Sis Reality Check

Remember: They already like your CV or you wouldn't be here! This isn't about proving your worth all over again - it's about showing you're someone they'd want to work with, train and put in front of clients.

You don't need to be perfect. You need to be professional, curious and genuine.

The right firm will see your potential and want to develop it.

Good luck!

Mel

💖

ps If you want more tailored 1:1 support, see here. Your ROI will be next level, I promise.

Mel Storey
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Big Sis Briefing: 12 Weeks Post-Lawyerin’