TL;DR – How to Approach Law School Interviews
Law school interviews can feel unpredictable, but they are far more consistent than most applicants realize. In this guide, Director of Law School Admissions Cordel Faulk breaks down what law schools are actually assessing in interviews and how to approach every format with clarity, structure, and confidence.
Law school interviews come in several forms: live conversations, timed video prompts, optional interviews, and in some cases applicant-requested discussions. Even with this variety, the underlying purpose is remarkably consistent. Schools want to see who you are when you are not drafting, editing, or rehearsing. They want to understand how you think in real time and how you communicate when the polish of the written application falls away.
This is an opportunity, not a performance. Applicants who understand that tend to do well.
1. Understand the Type of Interview You Are Walking Into.
Before preparing your answers, make sure you know which interview format the school uses and what skills it emphasizes. A live conversation is structured but human, with an interviewer who hopes to understand your motivations and your potential fit with the community. A pre-recorded interview tests something different. It measures your ability to think on your feet, to organize your thoughts quickly, and to give a warm and focused answer under time pressure.
Optional interviews often serve a particular purpose. Some schools use them to give candidates in the middle of their pool an additional way to distinguish themselves. If your numbers sit well above a school’s medians, these interviews truly are optional. If you are closer to the school’s typical ranges, participating may help. A few schools allow interviews by request, but these policies change over time. Trust what the school states publicly rather than older information you might find online.
2. Recognize That Most Interviews Test the Same Core Themes.
Although schools vary in their approach, the substance of the interview rarely changes. Nearly every interviewer is trying to understand five things:
Why you want to study law
Why you want to attend this particular school
What experiences have prepared you for this next step,
How you think through difficult or nuanced situations, and
What you hope to contribute to the school’s community
Strong applicants answer these questions with specificity and honesty. A compelling answer to "Why law" connects personal experience or intellectual curiosity to your motivation. A well prepared "Why this school" answer shows that you understand the curriculum, the community, and the opportunities the school provides. When asking about your background, interviewers are not looking for a résumé summary. They want to see insight, growth, and direction. Questions about conflict or judgment allow you to show reflection and steadiness. And when they ask about what you will contribute, they are trying to understand how you show up for others.
3. If You Get Stuck, Fall Back on This Structure.
Even thoughtful applicants can lose their footing when speaking in the moment. If you find yourself unsure of where to begin, fall back on a simple three-step approach:
Start with a clean opening sentence. Begin by stating the point you intend to make so the interviewer knows where you are going.
Offer two specific examples or brief illustrations. Choose moments that illuminate your point without drifting into long stories.
End with a forward looking closing line. This final sentence should make clear how the idea or experience shapes the kind of law student or future lawyer you intend to be.
This structure is flexible enough to sound natural and steady enough to help you avoid rambling. It is the easiest way to keep your answers organized when the pressure of the moment starts to build.
4. Focus on Communication, Not Performance.
The strongest interviews feel like grounded conversations. They do not feel theatrical. Interviewers respond well to calm clarity, steady tone, and a touch of warmth. Self awareness will always land better than self importance.
You do not need to sound extraordinary. You need to sound like yourself on a good day. Law schools are not expecting polished public speakers. They are looking for people who can think clearly and communicate responsibly.
5. Interpret Your Résumé Rather Than Recite It.
Because interviewers already have your résumé, they do not need to hear it repeated aloud. What they hope to hear is the meaning behind your experiences. Choose one or two moments that taught you something important or that shaped your interest in the law. Explain what you learned, how it changed your perspective, or why it matters as you prepare for this next step.
Turning your experiences into insight is far more compelling than walking through your accomplishments in order.
6. Understand the Distinct Emphases Different Schools Value.
Every law school values clarity, maturity, and good judgment. Many also have recognizable cultural priorities. Some look closely at leadership and intellectual depth. Others focus on professional experience, teamwork, or public service commitments. Still others place particular weight on humility, curiosity, and interpersonal strength.
You do not need to tailor yourself to match these priorities, but knowing what each school values can help you emphasize the parts of your story that naturally align with that environment.
7. Think and Speak the Way a Good Lawyer Should: Clear, Kind, and Organized.
Lawyers communicate with people who are navigating uncertainty, and interviewers pay attention to how you handle that dynamic. Speak with precision but not rigidity. Show empathy without losing structure. Demonstrate that you think before you answer. This combination of clarity, consideration, and organization is a small but meaningful signal of good judgment.
8. Close With Thoughtful, Genuine Questions.
When the interviewer asks whether you have questions, use this moment wisely. Choose questions that show sincere engagement with the school rather than an interest in admissions strategy. Asking about qualities that help students thrive, or about the ways the school supports students as they explore different paths, leads to a more meaningful exchange. These questions signal that you are already thinking carefully about your place in the community and the work you want to do once you arrive.
A Final Thought
Law school interviews reward presence more than perfection. They reward clarity of purpose, steadiness in tone, and the ability to speak from a grounded understanding of yourself. If you approach the conversation with structure, intention, and honesty, you will sound exactly like what law schools hope to find: a thoughtful future member of the profession who is ready for the work ahead.
What’s Next?
The law school application process is intimidating, confusing, and at times scary. We at What’s Next? law school advising can use our expertise to demystify this process. We want it to be more exciting than it is scary. We can help you find the right fit. It’s out there.
Led by Cordel Faulk, former Chief Admissions Officer at UVA Law, What’s Next? is grounded in deep experience and honest guidance. We’ve helped applicants navigate this journey before — and we’re ready to help you do the same.