‘What questions should I ask at the end of a TC interview?’

Here are some suggestions:

What qualities do you notice in trainees who go on to thrive at the firm long-term?

Looking back, what would you say has kept you at this firm, especially when opportunities to move might have arisen?

What’s one lesson you learned early in your legal career that you still carry with you today?

Hello!

I would suggest asking at least one question in 3 areas:
1. specific to the lawyers;
2. about the firm;
3. about [something that is important to you, for instance career progression].

Think of what you would like to know that you could not get on the website.

Some examples are:
Specific to the lawyers
(Do a quick research into the lawyers before the interview)
– What is it like working in [mention the practice areas in which the 2 lawyers work]?

About the firm
– What about the firm makes you wake up excited to go to work every day?

About career progression
– How has the firm supported your career progression to date?
– What does a trainee solicitor need to do to be retained as an associate at the end of their TC?

I hope it’s helpful!

P.S. You can also watch Idin Sabahipour’s video: Ask these 5 questions at the end of your law interview

https://youtu.be/OexP7eDkk4w?si=wvVrL2lgJtKiSIak

It personally helped me!
Wish you all the best in your interview!

you shouldn’t ask personal questions of the “do you ever see your kids / how many weekends have you worked recently” flavour, but it’s fine to ask interviewers to tell you about a particular project / case they have worked on in their career that has ben particularly challenging / interesting and why. So it’s targeted at them but remains a professional question.

also good to show interest in the firm and where they think it’s going (if not covered in the spiel they have given you already – needs to be a Q that can’t just found out by going on the website) – obviously be judicious about pitching it to the firm’s target area / specialisms – I wouldn’t ask a Magic Circle interviewer when their firm plans to start doing criminal defence / family law.

avoid Qs about work-life balance / hours and / or wfh – if you’re interviewing it’s presumed you have some knowledge of the commitment needed for a career in a top law firm, and if they ask you that question re how you’d feel about it it’s good to see it as a chance to learn quickly early on in your career (saying you want to leave at 5 every day is not your best bet)

Try to find something negative about the firm – such as a recent fall in PEP, low retention rate, some kind of scandal etc – and really grill the partners on this. It will mark you out as tough.

[Don’t do this]