How to Ace Your Law School Interview

Once you’ve submitted your application to Maryland Carey Law, you may be invited to interview with an admissions counselor, a faculty member, or even one of our alumni. The purpose of the interview is to learn more about you and if we are a good fit for each other. Your interview could be as short as 20 minutes, so be prepared to make the most of that time. Here are some tips:

Do your research.

Before your interview, take time to revisit our website and remember why you applied in the first place. What do we offer that will help you achieve your personal and professional goals? Be specific. For example, you might like our clinical program, but all schools offer clinics. What do you like about ours? If you were excited when you learned that, unlike many schools, all of our full-time, day program students get the opportunity to participate in a clinic, talk about that. Was there a certain clinic you had your eye on? Tell us why.

Review your documents.

You should know the documents you submitted with your application inside out. Your interviewer may ask about your work experience, a leadership position you held, or a story from your personal statement. If you had to remove key details from any of those documents for the sake of brevity, this is your opportunity to elaborate. Don’t forget to highlight key accomplishments and have an explanation for how those achievements helped you on your path to law school.

Know your elevator pitch.

Why you? Why Maryland Carey Law? Why now? If you only have a minute with your interviewer could you answer these three questions? The key is to be persuasive and succinct. With more time, everything you say should reinforce your pitch.

Prepare your questions.

We may be the ones initiating this interview, but it’s also your chance to learn more about the Maryland Carey Law experience. Avoid asking questions that are already answered on our website and focus on things that are important to your decision-making process. For example, if you want to work in Washington, DC when you graduate, you might ask how Maryland Carey Law can help you get there. Prepare at least two questions that will help you understand who we are and what we offer that’s relevant to you.

Practice your delivery.

Ask a trusted friend or colleague to practice with you, especially if you haven’t done many interviews before. If you are preparing for an oral argument in law school, you will practice your delivery many times and incorporate feedback from your peers and professors. Get comfortable with this process. Take note of where you get off track and the key points you don’t want to miss.

Relax.

If you are excited about attending Maryland Carey Law, then just relax and let your enthusiasm shine through.