Green Flags to Look for During Interviews
When you’re prepping for an interview, it’s easy to forget it’s a two-sided process, but here’s the truth: you’re interviewing them too.
Especially in the legal market — where you could assume that each firm is fairly similar when the reality is that firm culture can vary wildly— asking the right questions can help you secure a role somewhere you can see yourself long-term.
Here are the green flags you want to see when you’re interviewing for a legal role.
They Talk About Development, Not Just Expectations
If your interviewer shares how they’ll support your learning — not just what’s expected of you — that’s a good thing!
Look for:
- Mentions of structured feedback, regular 1:1s, or internal training
- Clear examples of junior lawyers progressing internally
- Support for qualifications (e.g. SQE, STEP)
They’re Honest About the Challenges
We often speak to lawyers looking for a role fairly quickly after joining because the reality of the role / firm is very different to what is portrayed during an interview. Good firms won’t need pretend everything’s perfect. They’ll talk openly about the busy periods, tricky clients, or the transition period of joining the team — and crucially, how they support people through it.
Look for:
- “We’re working on improving X.”
- “Last year was tough, but here’s what we changed.”
- “We encourage people to flag if they’re overutilized.”
Your Interviewers Don’t All Look or Sound the Same
If your interviewers include a diverse mix of people (across race, gender, accents, background, ability, etc.), it says something about the firm’s hiring priorities and is a good window into the reality of the firm.
Look for;
- Interviewers are from a range of PQE levels and departments
- You meet people from different social or educational backgrounds
- There’s visible LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, or ethnic minority inclusion
If you’re unsure about approaching this topic during an interview, speak to you recruiter about what they know about their approach and adoption of the above. In legal they can be a lot of fan-fare around diversity so it’s important to try and understand what it’s really like.
They Respect Your Time
If the interview feels well-organised and human — that’s a good sign of how they operate day to day. Often the firms we find that run a slick recruitment process are the firms that people love working for – it shows they value people.
Look for:
- Clear and timely communication from HR or the hiring partner
- They don’t rush or cut corners in interviews
- They actually read your CV (shocking how many don’t)
They Talk About Work-Life Balance Like It’s Real
We have been seeing a push from some firms back to more ‘traditional’ working patterns of the pre-Covid era however, all firms know work-life balance and/or flexibility is a big driver for lawyers when looking for a new job so often will sell on this basis so it’s important to be mindful if it feels authentic.
Look for:
- Policies around hybrid working, flexible hours, or protected time off
- Diversity in the leadership teams
- Non-billable work (mentoring, pro bono, DEI) being recognised
It’s easy to get swept up in an exciting interview process but it’s always important to be mindful of the above to make sure it’s the right long-term home for you. If you’d like advice about how to approach an interview to ensure you’re getting the right information, we’d be happy to help.
Contact: amy@barkerlegalrecruitment.com
