WHAT THEY ACTUALLY ASK YOU DURING INTERVIEWS

Assalamualaikum and hi guys,

So Liyana Natasha here.

I will be sharing my very limited experience of attending interviews for chambering, legal associate position and even for government interviews (I will break into few posts). 

Psst... I will share the interview tips in my other post as well but for now let's focus on the experiences!

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CHAMBERING / PUPILLAGE

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For your information, I have attended several interviews for pupillage. I can say it was more than 10, maybe almost 20 because I was/and still am so picky with the kind of workplace I was going to spend especially for 9 months ! (giteww, memilih)

People would perhaps get shock by the amount of interviews I have attended for pupillage, it was not because I was rejected, but I was so indecisive back then lol (Sejenis tidak pernah puas). As a matter of fact, I have received several offers as well. Well its just math, the more you attend interview, the more offer you get.

I intended to complete my pupillage at a small/medium firm, hence, I got no experience of interviewing at a big firm except for Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill and Azmi & Associates.

In my experience, some interviews require you to sit for some test or questionnaire and some went straight to the interview.

Written Test/ Questionnaire

From my experience in 2018, these were some of the firms :-

LHAG - the firm will email you a question (yes, it is a law question) before the interview and you need to bring your well written answer during the interview.

Ram Reza - there will be a set of question upon arrival before you will be called for the interview. This is more like critical thinking question.

Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak - draft cause papers/ some letters.

Azmi & Associates - essay. English essay that Dato' will eventually mark your essay in front of you hahaha, so you better do well!

Interview

Well, to sum it up these were the kind of questions that they usually ask :-

1. Introduce yourself

2. What is your strength?

3. What is your weakness?

4. Why did you apply for this firm?

5. What is your interest (Eg. Conveyancing? Construction? Property?)

6. Why should we hire you?

7. Can you sustain the pressure of doing _______?

8. Is allowance your biggest factor of choosing the firm (some of them did ask)?

9. Who is the partner in this firm (Especially big firms will ask this)?

10. What does this firm practice?

11. Who do you intend to work with? 12. What is your aim?

13. What do you think this firm will contribute to you after 9 months?

14. What can you contribute to the firm?

15. Do you have any question?

Personally, I would advice for you to try narrow down firm(s) that is practising in the field that you are trying to venture and experience. For example, you wanted to be exposed in litigation, hence, find a firm that can provide you with that option or else, you will be stressing for 9 months and it will definitely affect your mental health but at least you learn, but again, is it worth it? haaa...

So, before deciding to accept which offer, take into account:-

1.The allowance (unless you have other financial support);

2. A firm that can retain you (if you plan to stay);

3. The distance from your home;

4. The work environment (you actually can ask your seniors or google them up or just trust your guts!);

5. The accessibility; and

6. The amount of lawyer in that firm (Especially if it is a small firm, so you can expect how much workload)

As for me, I have completed my pupillage at Othman Hashim & Co (a medium sized law firm) practising in general litigation together with Azham and Izani. The three of us were being called to the bar on July 2019 ---

Azham's long call day

CP sisters' long call day

Well, since I have completed my pupillage, I definitely have attended several interviews for Legal Associate position that I will share with you in my next post!

Till then :)

s