Interviewing at a prestigious law firm like Wilson Elser can be an intimidating experience. With competition fierce and expectations high, you need to be thoroughly prepared to stand out from the crowd. As someone who has gone through the process, I want to share my insights to help you crush your Wilson Elser interview.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover
- An overview of Wilson Elser and their hiring process
- The most common interview questions asked and how to ace your answers
- Tips to prepare for interview scenarios like case studies or panel interviews
- Advice from actual Wilson Elser employees on their interview experiences
Arm yourself with the strategies in this guide. and you’ll walk into that interview ready to impress the socks off your interviewers!
About Wilson Elser
Founded in 1978, Wilson Elser is a leading national law firm specializing in litigation and client counseling. With over 800 attorneys across 37 offices in the US, they handle high-stakes cases in various areas like medical malpractice defense, product liability, and commercial litigation.
Wilson Elser has a reputation for taking an innovative approach to legal services and empowering their people through robust training programs. They look for candidates who align with their core values of integrity, effectiveness, teamwork, caring, and commitment.
Wilson Elser’s Hiring Process
The typical Wilson Elser interview process consists of:
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Initial phone/video screening: A 30-45 minute preliminary interview focused on your resume, background, and interest in the firm.
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In-person interviews: 1-3 rounds of face-to-face interviews with attorneys, partners, and office managers. Each interview is 30-60 minutes.
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Case study: Some practice groups may include a hypothetical case study for assessing analytical skills.
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Panel interview: Candidates may face a panel of 2-3 interviewers at once.
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Reference & background checks: Wilson Elser conducts extensive checks before extending an offer.
From initial contact to offer, the process usually spans 2-6 weeks. Preparation is key as the competition is intense for spots at this reputable firm.
12 Common Wilson Elser Interview Questions
Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked Wilson Elser interview questions along with tips to nail your answers:
1. “Why do you want to work at Wilson Elser?”
This question gauges your genuine interest in the firm. The interviewer wants to know what makes Wilson Elser stand out to you.
Tips:
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Research the firm thoroughly before your interview.
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Highlight specific practice areas, values, or initiatives that align with your goals.
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Convey your passion for the firm’s approach and mention attorneys you admire.
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Discuss how Wilson Elser can provide opportunities to develop your legal skills.
Example: “I’m extremely impressed by Wilson Elser’s commitment to professional development through robust training programs. As someone passionate about litigation, I feel Wilson Elser’s strong reputation in this space aligns perfectly with my interests. I’m especially drawn to your national eDiscovery practice as I believe my background in this area coupled with Wilson Elser’s expertise can help me take my career to the next level.”
2. “Walk me through your resume. Why did you choose to pursue opportunities at X firm or organization?”
This resume walkthrough aims to understand your career choices and assess your thought process. Demonstrate that each step was a strategic decision.
Tips:
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Be ready to discuss 2-3 key experiences/jobs in detail.
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For each experience, explain your rationale for joining and what you accomplished.
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Tie it back to how it equipped you with skills for this role.
Example: “After law school, I joined Anderson & Mills LLP because I was eager to gain trial experience early in my career. Working on their litigation team provided invaluable first-hand experience with discovery processes, motion practice, and other aspects of trial preparation. Within 2 years there, I second-chaired my first jury trial, surpassing my goals. To build on that foundation, I later moved to Goldman & Ward where I could handle more complex commercial litigation cases. Their strong corporate client base exposed me to high-value disputes related to business contracts and mergers & acquisitions. Overall, my diverse litigation experiences at these firms refined my client counseling, negotiation, and analytical skills so I can better serve clients here at Wilson Elser.”
3. “Tell me about a time you provided excellent client service. What was the situation and outcome?”
Client service is paramount for law firms, so expect behavioral questions assessing your commitment in this area. Showcase specific examples of going above-and-beyond for a client.
Tips:
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Pick a strong example that highlights your client management skills.
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Discuss the context, the actions you took, and the result achieved.
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Quantify your impact on client satisfaction whenever possible.
Example: “I once had a pro bono client who was launching a small business but could not afford legal fees. To provide excellent service despite the lack of payment, I offered to educate her on key legal considerations for startups. This included an overview of business entity structures, contracts, tax and employment law implications, and protecting intellectual property. I went through each concept patiently until she had a firm grasp. This gave her the knowledge to move forward in making informed decisions. She was extremely grateful for this service, which to me was incredibly rewarding.”
4. “How do you handle a situation when a client is dissatisfied with your work?”
Expect scenarios testing your service recovery and conflict resolution skills. Show maturity even when faced with criticism.
Tips:
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Demonstrate humility, active listening, and empathy when addressing client concerns.
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Focus on understanding the client’s perspective before responding.
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Outline how you would remedy the situation to restore client confidence.
Example: “If a client expressed dissatisfaction with my work, my first step would be to listen attentively to understand their concerns without getting defensive. I would express regret for their negative experience, then seek to identify the root cause of the issue and any ways I may have fallen short. My next step would be to apologize for the mistake and provide ideas to rectify the situation, such as redoing the work or offering a discount on fees. Throughout this process, I would maintain transparency, validate their feelings, and work diligently to get back in their good graces by overdelivering on their needs moving forward.”
5. “How do you handle working under pressure or tight deadlines?”
Lawyers frequently deal with high-pressure situations, so displaying calm under stress is essential. Use real examples to showcase your work ethic.
Tips:
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Share an example of successfully delivering under pressure.
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Discuss your time management, focus, and organizational skills.
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Convey that you remain solution-focused rather than panicking.
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Mention any stress management techniques you use to work efficiently.
Example: “Working under tight deadlines is very familiar to me as that is often the nature of the law firm environment. For example, just last month, I had to respond to an unexpected motion in one of my cases that required extensive research and drafting within a 2-day deadline. To handle this pressure, I immediately created a timeline of the tasks needed to complete the motion response. I also proactively informed all stakeholders of the urgency so they could provide any necessary support. By blocking off all distractions and focusing solely on the critical motion, I delivered a thoroughly researched and well-written response that helped achieve a successful result for our client, despite the tight turnaround.”
6. “Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn?”
Don’t shy away from failure stories. Interviewers want to see that you can acknowledge mistakes and discuss the lessons learned.
Tips:
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Pick a minor failure example from early in your career.
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Take ownership but avoid excessive self-criticism.
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Emphasize the learning and growth that resulted from the experience.
Example: “Early in my career, I was tasked with completing a client’s trademark registration application. In my enthusiasm to get it submitted, I overlooked a small technicality regarding specimens that resulted in the application being rejected initially. I had assumed the process was straightforward and failed to thoroughly review the requirements ahead of time. When I received the rejection notice, I immediately went back, pinpointed my error, and got the application successfully re-submitted. This taught me valuable lessons regarding attention to detail and not taking shortcuts, even in routine tasks. Most importantly, it instilled in me the habit of proactively identifying potential pitfalls ahead of time to perform work efficiently and accurately the first time around.”
7. “How would you handle a situation where you are given assignments from multiple partners at once?”
Lawyers often juggle priorities from multiple partners. Outline your approach to multitasking effectively.
Tips:
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Discuss strategies like organizing requests, setting communication expectations, and seeking clarity from partners.
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Emphasize collaboration with fellow associates and teamwork.
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High
Prosecution Interviews: District Attorney Offices
- Interview Process: Most district attorney offices have a two-step hiring process. The first step is usually a screening interview, and the second step is usually an interview with a panel of lawyers. In a panel interview, questions will often be made up of hypotheticals about real-life criminal law and moral issues. Some offices also want you to give an opening/closing statement or do some other kind of practice test during this round. Most offices will also do a third interview with the person who makes the final decision or the District Attorney.
- Why do you want to be a prosecutor? Why do you want to work here? Why not [a different office]? What is one skill you have that makes you stand out as an ADA candidate compared to others? What do you think will be your biggest strength and weakness in your first year as an ADA? What have you seen in court that you want to copy or avoid? A lot of your experience has been helping people from the same socioeconomic background as many of the people we prosecute. What problems do you think this will cause you? How do you plan your day?
- Hypothetical Questions: During an interview for the job of district attorney, hypothetical questions will be asked to see how loyal a candidate is to the community. Here is a list of possible questions that the district attorney’s office might ask. It has been asked of you to handle another ADA’s hearing about the search and seizure of a pound of cocaine. Based on the case notes you have, the police officer who arrested the defendant saw that the defendant was driving badly and pulled over the defendant’s car. The defendant said he didn’t have his license and registration when the officer asked for them. The officer arrested the defendant and searched the car. One pound of cocaine was found in the trunk’s gym bag. What questions do you want to ask the officer before you think about how to argue in front of the judge that the cocaine should be admitted? Do you think the search was legal? Build your case. When you are assigned a case that goes against your morals, how would you handle it? What would you do if your boss told you to file a case but you didn’t have proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty? Can you think of a case where you were sure beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime had been committed but still chose not to file? You are the ADA on the case and offer the defendant a plea of five years in prison. The defendant rejects it and wants to go to trial. The night before the trial, you get a call telling you that your only witness has died of a heart attack. The defendant’s lawyer comes up to you in court and says they’ll take the deal. You tell the judge that the case has to be thrown out. In the DA’s complaint office, a police officer and a victim want to charge someone with armed robbery. What would you do? The thief held a gun to the head of an 80-year-old white man at 3 AM with no witnesses. He sees a police officer after the theft and waves him down. After driving around for a minute, the victim tells the officer that the thief is standing in front of a store with three other men. The thief is caught with no weapons, money, or ID on him. His three friends ran away, so you don’t know anything about them. Are you going to charge armed robbery? You are about to start a trial for gun possession. After being pulled over for running a red light, the subject was arrested. The police officer who arrested the defendant told the grand jury that as soon as he got close to the defendant’s car, he saw the gun lying on the passenger seat. Police officer tells you he needs to talk to you at 9 a.m. on the day of the trial. He says that the arrest happened the way he said it would in front of the grand jury, except that he arrived after the gun had been taken away. It was the end of her shift when she saw the car run a red light and found the gun. She asked this officer to take over the case. What do you do when a police officer with an arrest warrant comes to your office? She told you that she heard about a theft on her police radio. Three men pushed an old woman down and stole her purse during the theft. As the police officer drove to the crime scene, she saw two men running down the sidewalk. One man was holding something bulky under his coat. She ordered them to stop. When she searched them, the man with the big coat had a purse hidden under it, so she charged both of them with theft. You are in charge of a robbery case. Would you write up the case? You’ve talked to the victim more than once about what happened the night of the theft. Every time you talk to her, she tells you the same facts. She gives you specifics about the theft, like where it happened, when it happened, and a description of the person who did it. There are no inconsistencies. There is a strong feeling in your gut that you don’t believe her, but you’re not sure why. You don’t believe her, and you can’t explain why. Why do you do? .
Prosecution Interviews: U.S. Attorney Offices
- General Information U. S. Each law firm has its own way of interviewing applicants, but a lot of them use similar methods. Along with the kinds of questions described above, here are some examples of questions that are often asked of Assistant U. S. Attorney (AUSA) candidates across the country. To find out more about hiring an AUSA, please make an appointment with an OPIA adviser.
- Leaving a Law Firm: What kinds of cases did you work on at the firm? Have you ever argued in court? Why do you think you’d be good at this job, since you haven’t had much trial or courtroom experience? What kind of experience do you have that would prepare you to appear in federal court as an AUSA? How much of your time do you spend doing volunteer work? What do you like most about your job? Tell me about an interesting case you’ve worked on. What makes you want to leave the law firm? You’ve been working on complicated cases there, but here you’d start by working on simple cases like slip-and-fall cases in civil law or illegal re-entry cases in criminal law. How would you deal with that transition? .
- Why are you applying to a USAO now? Why not sooner or later? Why do you want to be an AUSA in this district? What do you think would be the hardest part of being an AUSA? Is getting trial experience one of the reasons you want to be an AUSA? Have you talked to any current or former AUSAs about what the job is like? Why are you interested in criminal law? What kinds of crimes get you most excited?
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