Answering motivational questions

Either in an interview or on an application, it’s common to be asked a range of “why” questions.

These could be:

• Why are you interested in our firm?

• Why do you want to be a solicitor?

• Why do you want a career in law?

• Why do you want a career at a City firm?

The key thing to think about when tackling these questions is to think about your story and demonstrate your interest. The “why” question is not a competency question - the recruiter here isn’t particularly interested in your skills and why you’d be a competent solicitor or why you’d be able to work in a City firm. Instead, they’re interested in what has driven you to pursue a career in law and what is it about being a solicitor that really attracts you.

It’s therefore really important to think of a narrative, which not only explains your interest in the firm/being a solicitor/law/working at a City firm but also backs it up.

This is why it’s really important to attend open days, insight events and law conferences OR complete virtual internships/informal legal work experience because they provide a tangible demonstration of your interests in law and the career.