Interview Skills Mini Clinic Handouts - Screening Interview Materials

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

Materials for law-firm screening interviews, combining a candidate evaluation form and interview preparation tools. The form guides assessors through rating callback recommendations and evaluating competencies such as initial impressions, education and intellectual capacity, analytical and writing abilities, relevant work experience, extracurricular leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, drive and focus, personality and maturity, interest in the firm, practice-area preferences, and additional concerns. Supporting sections list employer research resources and a structured interview agenda worksheet with selling points, evidence, and weakness-handling strategies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Screening Interview Candidate Evaluation Form

Callback recommendation levels

Competency checklist with comments/examples

Employer Research Resources

A. to K. research sources

Interview Agenda Building Worksheet

Step I: Develop your agenda “selling points”

Step II: Give examples to back claims

Step III: Address weaknesses

Practice guidance

Screening Interview Candidate Evaluation Form Law Firm: Law School/Year of Graduation: Candidate Name: Date: An outstanding applicant, I strongly recommend callback A very good applicant, I recommend callback A good applicant, but I do not recommend callback A mediocre or below average applicant, I do not recommend callback | Competency: | Comments/Examples: | | --- | --- | | Initial Impressions
Professional appearance, punctuality, confidence, verbal expression | | | Education/Intellectual Capacity
Academic record (undergraduate, graduate and law school), breadth and depth of education, relevant business, finance or law-related courses | | | Analytical Abilities/Writing Skills
Logical thinking, advanced problem solving skills Strong research and writing skills, journal participation | | | Work Experience
Relevance of experience to law firm, skills transferable to law firm environment, ability to discuss matters of substance
Demonstration of judgment, record of responsibility, diligence, initiative, and success in all types of jobs | | | Extracurricular Activities
Evidence of leadership skills, skills transferable to law firm, diverse interests, high energy level and discipline Time management and organizational abilities | | | Communication / Interpersonal Skills
Communicates clearly and effectively Ability to interact with clients Ability to establish effective and cooperative relationships (attorneys, clients, support staff) Strong listening skills, tact, diplomacy | | | Drive & Focus
Hard working, motivated, energetic, demonstrated leadership ability | | | Personality, Maturity & Poise
Personable, likable, courteous, confident, well adjusted, at ease, polished, knowledge of acceptable social behavior
Articulates aspects of background that reflect values Describes experiences that demonstrate maturity | | | Interest in Firm
Ability to articulate goals, relevance of background and goals to firm’s practice Evidence of firm research | | | Practice Area Interests | | | Others Comments/Concerns | | EMPLOYER RESEARCH RESOURCES A. Employer’s website (at the very least!) B. Firm’s NALP Directory profi[le](le www.nalpdirectory.com)[ ](le www.nalpdirectory.com)[www.nalpdirectory.com](le www.nalpdirectory.com) C. Vault Guides (Top 100/200, Pro Bono, Diversity; available for free download from the CSM homepage) [D. AmLaw Surveys](D. AmLaw Surveys www.law.com)[ ](D. AmLaw Surveys www.law.com)[www.law.com](D. AmLaw Surveys www.law.com) (Corporate Scorecard, Summer Associate Surveys, Global 100, etc.) E. EIW Practice Area and Employer Research Guide 2015 (to help evaluate firmsand practice areas; available in the CSM Career Resources Library) F. Lexis/ Nexis or Westlaw research (to find recent news articles; particularly fora call back interview) G. Chambers and [Partners Guides](Partners Guides www.chambersandpartners.com)[ ](Partners Guides www.chambersandpartners.com)[www.chambersandpartners.com](Partners Guides www.chambersandpartners.com) (provides rankings of global law firms and lawyers in a variety of practice areas) H. Chambers Associate: The Student’s Guide to Law Firms (free copies today or at OCS Library) I. New York Law Journal [articles](articles www.law.com/jsp/nylj/index.jsp)[ ](articles www.law.com/jsp/nylj/index.jsp)[www.law.com/jsp/nylj/index.jsp](articles www.law.com/jsp/nylj/index.jsp) (sign up for the Daily Buzz email blasts) J. Summer Employer Evaluations of firms (instructions for accessing critiques are available on the CSM homepage) K. Alumni, current students or your network of contacts working at the employers. You can mention that you have spoken to these people during the interview . NYU SCHOOL OF LAW OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES INTERVIEW AGENDA BUILDING WORKSHEET Step I. Develop Your Agenda “Selling Points”: Use the space below to list your four selling points/strengths that would be of interest to a private sector lega

FAQs

How are callback recommendations determined in the screening interview materials?

The evaluation form provides four recommendation levels: strongly recommend callback, recommend callback, good applicant but not recommended for callback, and mediocre or below average with no callback recommendation.

Which competencies are assessed in the candidate evaluation form?

The form assesses initial impressions, education and intellectual capacity, analytical abilities and writing skills, work experience relevance, extracurricular activities and leadership evidence, communication and interpersonal skills, drive and focus, personality and maturity, interest in the firm, practice area interests, and other concerns.

How should a candidate prepare their interview agenda for selling points and evidence?

The worksheet directs candidates to develop four selling points (Step I), then provide concrete examples and anecdotes for each (Step II) to support strengths already reflected in the resume, using the provided space to structure responses.

What does Step III of the interview agenda worksheet ask candidates to do?

Step III asks candidates to list possible issues or weaknesses of concern and provide a proactive strategy for handling each issue, including relevant example scenarios like grade concerns, resume gaps, or presentation habits.

Sep 25, 2026

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