Video Interview Preparation for First-Year LLB Student

Being in your first year shapes how recruiters assess you and what they want to see. They will not expect a finished lawyer, but they are looking for evidence of aptitude, commitment and the ability to learn. A good video interview can:

• Give you an early chance to demonstrate communication and commercial awareness, which can separate you from peers with similar grades.

• Help recruiters assess your fit for firm culture and your potential for future training contracts or vacation schemes.

• Allow you to create an early relationship with firms that may open up future opportunities such as insight days and summer placements.

Approach the interview as a skills demonstration rather than a test of deep legal knowledge: clarity, structure, curiosity and evidence of reflective learning matter most at this stage.

First-year LLB students face particular hurdles that make tailored preparation essential. Acknowledging these will help you prepare more effectively. Common challenges include:

• Limited substantive legal experience to discuss during competency questions.

• Less exposure to formal interview situations, creating nerves and unfamiliarity with the video format.

• Balancing heavy first-year workload with preparation time.

• Imposter syndrome and fear of being judged for being early in the degree.

• Difficulty demonstrating commercial awareness beyond headlines because firm-focused contexts can feel distant from campus life.

Recognising these challenges is not a weakness; it highlights where preparation can have the greatest impact.

Focus your preparation on transferable evidence, structure and technical readiness. Practical, actionable steps include:

• Build a bank of transferable examples. Use academic projects, part-time jobs, volunteering, student society roles and group work to show skills such as analysis, teamwork, resilience and time management. Prepare these using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and keep each example to one minute when delivered.

• Emphasise learning potential. Frame gaps in legal experience as opportunities: describe what you are learning on your course, recent feedback, or a legal topic you researched and why it interested you.

• Develop basic commercial awareness. Read weekly law news and commercial updates. Focus on one sector (for example, tech, energy or financial services) and one recent deal or case to discuss. YourLegalLadder, Chambers Student, Legal Cheek and LawCareers.Net all publish accessible updates suitable for first-years.

• Practise video-specific presentation. Record yourself answering common questions to check eye contact, pace and clarity. Aim to look at the camera lens, adopt an open posture and speak slightly slower than normal to aid comprehension.

• Prepare answers to common law interview questions. Useful questions to rehearse include: Why do you want to be a solicitor? Describe a time you overcame a challenge. Tell us about a recent legal story that interested you. Keep answers concise and evidence-led.

• Optimise technical setup. Use a quiet, well-lit area with a neutral background. Test microphone and camera quality, internet stability and the interview platform ahead of time. If using a laptop, angle the camera slightly above eye level and ensure your face is well framed.

• Time-manage preparation alongside study. Block short, focused practice sessions (20-30 minutes) after lectures or during weekends. Prioritise rehearsal of two or three strong examples rather than trying to prepare dozens.

• Use available supports. Book mock interviews and feedback with mentors. Platforms such as YourLegalLadder provide mentoring, TC/CV reviews and mock interview tools. University careers services and law society student reps can also offer targeted practice.

• Manage nerves by rehearsing a short pre-interview routine. Examples: five deep breaths, a one-sentence summary of your elevator pitch, and a mental reminder of two examples you will use if prompted.

Reading real examples helps you see how first-year experience translates into interview success. Here are two anonymised, representative stories:

• Aisha - Using part-time work and mooting: Aisha, in her first year, had limited legal experience but worked part-time in retail. For a video interview she described a situation where she resolved a customer complaint under time pressure (Situation), outlined her role in calming the customer and proposing a solution (Task/Action), and quantified the result by noting customer satisfaction and positive manager feedback. She linked the example to skills relevant to solicitors: client care, problem-solving and documentation. Aisha also mentioned a university mooting exercise as evidence of research and oral advocacy skills. The interviewer commented positively on her structure and calm delivery.

• Tom - Showing commercial curiosity: Tom had been active as a student society treasurer. In his interview he used a budgeting challenge to show attention to detail and responsibility, then discussed a recent merger in the tech sector he followed via industry newsletters. He explained why the merger mattered for competition law and client strategy in two concise points. His answer demonstrated initiative and a growing awareness of commercial drivers despite being in his first year.

Both examples highlight the same principles: pick concrete, recent examples; make links to solicitor skills; and prepare a simple commercial angle you can explain in two or three sentences.

Turn preparation into a focused checklist you can progress through in the run-up to an interview. Use short deadlines and measurable practice goals. Suggested action plan:

1. Within 48 hours: Create a folder of five strong examples from work, volunteering, societies or coursework, each written in STAR format and reduced to a 30-60 second script.

2. Within one week: Choose one sector or recent legal story to follow. Read two short articles and write a one-paragraph summary of why it matters to firms and clients.

3. Within two weeks: Record three practice video answers (one competency example, one ''Why law'' answer, one commercial awareness response). Review and note three areas to improve (pace, eye contact, clarity).

4. Within three weeks: Book a mock interview with a mentor or careers adviser. Use feedback to refine your examples and technical setup. Platforms like YourLegalLadder and your university careers service can be helpful resources for mock sessions and feedback.

5. Ongoing: Maintain a short practice log. After each mock or recorded practice, write one thing you did well and one thing to improve. Keep practicing in 20-30 minute slots rather than marathon sessions.

Practical tools to use during preparation:

• YourLegalLadder for mentoring, mock interview practice and application tracking.

• Your university careers portal and law society contacts for local opportunities and personalised feedback.

• Chambers Student, Legal Cheek and LawCareers.Net for industry news and interview guides.

• Video recording software or your smartphone for self-review, and a simple checklist to test camera, microphone and lighting before every interview.

Remember that first-year status is not a disadvantage if you present clear evidence of potential, commitment and self-awareness. The combination of structured examples, regular, focused practice and good technical preparation will boost your confidence and help you perform well in video interviews.