Don't Even Think About a Training Contract Until You Read This Video Interview Guide

Jan 30, 2024

Written By Georgia Purcell

Video interviews have become a huge part of the application process for training contracts, and thorough preparation can be the difference between getting to the next stage and being rejected. Keep reading to set yourself up for success for your next video interview.

Understanding the training contract interview landscape

In a video interview, you’ll log on to a firm’s online platform. You’ll receive some questions, and will have a couple of minutes to prepare, followed by a couple of minutes to answer the question. The key difference between video interviews and virtual interviews is that there’s no interviewer: your answers are recorded and then sent off to the law firm to review.

Video interviews can seem pretty intimidating: how are you meant to be personable when you can’t see the person watching? You’ll also need to ensure that you have excellent time management skills - your answer will be cut off after the time limit and many firms don’t allow you to re-record. However, with plenty of preparation and knowledge of how to wow the camera, you’ll be on your way to securing a training contract.

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Decoding the assessment centre

Now that you know what to expect, you need to know what points to hit to make sure that you’re giving off the best impression of yourself. From the very outset, they’re assessing your communication skills. They want people who will make eye contact with the camera and speak clearly and confidently.

You’ll also need to make sure you’re answering the questions accurately and concisely. They’re asking you this question for a reason, so don’t skirt around the edges.

Critical thinking is a vital skill for life as a lawyer, and one they’re going to be keeping a keen eye out for! Make sure you’re fully analysing the scenarios given to you and evaluating the impact of all the decisions you’re making.

Strategic preparation for success

Before you start, there are a couple of things you can do to set yourself up. Research the firm: you need to know them inside out and back to front. They want to see why you think you’re a good fit for their firm, and you’re not going to be able to do that if you don’t know who they are! When you’re asked questions, make sure you’re showing how well you know the firm. You want them to understand how much you want to work there, and how detailed your research has been.

Bring in experience you have outside of your career and how these fit with their values: maybe they give their trainees lots of responsibilities and you have experience juggling different tasks.

Technical mastery for virtual brilliance

They always say that you can’t make a second first impression, so set up your interview to give yourself the best start possible. Ensure you’re in a quiet space free from noise and distractions,either blur your background or take down the posters decorating your wall. Make sure your lighting is consistent – don’t film your interview relying on the patchy British sunlight!

It’s worth bearing in mind that quite a few firms will give you the platform to practise with before your actual interview. It’s definitely beneficial to take the time to familiarise yourself with the setup before you begin.

Elevating your professional presence

You want to look and sound professional during your interviews – as if you could slip right into their office and look at home. There are a couple of simple ways to look like you’ve got yourself together as soon as you start talking. Firstly, body language: hold yourself confidently, shoulders back, head held high. Just because you’re not there in person doesn’t mean they can’t read your body language. Take care over your words – enunciate and articulate yourself clearly and slowly.

Whilst keeping all this in mind, don’t forget to be yourself! At the end of the day, the firm wants to know who you are and what you bring to their office.

Showcasing legal acumen in interviews

Perhaps the most important thing: the law. How do you show a room of very successful lawyers that you have what it takes?

Start by demonstrating your legal insights. If you don’t have experience in academic law yet, don’t worry! They’re not expecting you to drop case references into your interview. They are, however, expecting to see that you have an awareness of the legal scene and the issues that law firms are facing. Read up on the firm’s website: they will almost certainly have a new section for you to catch up on their latest deals.

In a similar vein, commercial awareness. You’ve got to know about the latest business developments and demonstrate these appropriately in an interview. The best way to do this is to refer to work the firm does and how this relates to business decisions, but make sure you discuss work you’re interested in! It’s easy to be engaging when you’re excited about the work.

Conclusion

Ultimately, in your video interview, you’ve got to be yourself. Prepare thoroughly, show how hard you’ve worked and let your personality shine through. You’ve got this!

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