Effective Applications and Interviews

How to Prepare an Effective Application

 Whether it is preparing your cover letter or a resume, it is critical that you pay attention to detail and to the firm to which you are applying.  Although it may sound like mere common sense, a spelling or typographical error in either of these documents will end your chances of being selected for an interview.  Be sure to proof read your application rigorously and ideally, ask someone else to also review it.  Be sure to address your cover letter to the person responsible for receipt of applications at the firm.  Reviewing the firm’s website should provide this information.

 At Harrison Pensa, we want to get a feel for who you are when we read your application.  With competition as fierce as it is, you need to personalize your application to draw our attention to your personality, in addition to your academic and vocational achievements.  Fit is critical to us and so our task is to try to choose those applicants whom we feel will best relate to our firm.  Review the website so that you can also personalize your application to meet the firm’s profile and needs.

 How to Interview Effectively

 All applicants who are selected for an interview at Harrison Pensa are given the names of those with whom they will be meeting.  Take the time to review the profiles for these lawyers on our website and get to know who they are. 

 In addition, you should ensure that you can speak intelligently about the firm and the practice areas.  Come prepared to ask questions about the firm and the articling and/or summer student programs.  Remember – the best questions are those which demonstrate that you have done your homework and yet hope to learn additional information about various aspects of the firm.

 What Questions Can You Expect To Be Asked?

At Harrison Pensa, we want to learn as much as possible about you and your expectations and goals within the interview time allotted.  Therefore, in addition to questions which may arise as a result of our review of your resume, you can also expect that we will want to explore the following areas: 

1.        What has drawn you to apply to London for an articling/summer student position? 

2.        What has drawn you to apply to Harrison Pensa? 

3.        Where do you see yourself practicing after articling?  In 10 years? 

4.        What areas of law have drawn your interest to date? 

5.        What questions about the firm and/or our programs do you have?