Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 35 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
6 roles · 35 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Vacation Scheme
Intern Average Positive experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Technical screen Group Group
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral Group
The interview process involved a technical interview, a competency-based interview, and a group task. In the group task, we were divided into two groups of five people each to negotiate a contract. Time management was critical. Both the competency and technical interviews were relatively straightforward.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you demonstrate your knowledge of the firm's practice areas and growth areas?
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Associate
Entry Average Neutral experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I had three interviews. The first two were with associates, and the final one was with partners. The interviews were pretty much the same, asking about my motivation, my experience, and what's new in competition and antitrust law. Everyone I spoke with was really nice. I followed up twice with HR for feedback but never heard back.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- What motivated you to apply to our firm?
- In what ways do you think you can help our firm succeed?
- Can you describe your most difficult assignment to date and how you handled it?
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Vacation Scheme
Intern Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Presentation Recruiter call Group Technical screen Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Group Technical Case
It was a really great experience overall. All the interviewees were genuinely so lovely and friendly, and never tried to catch you out. They wanted to know about you and genuinely wanted you to do your best. The day involved: an intro presentation about the firm, a CV and competency interview with HR and an associate/partner, a Competition group exercise, a Q&A with trainees, and a technical M&A case-study interview. This was my first ever Assessment Day and I had never done a case-study interview before. I got a lot wrong, but the interviewers always tried to point me in the right direction.
Confirmed questions5 questions
- Can you share an instance where you experienced failure?
- What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?
- Discuss a recent topic from the news.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Legal Assistant
Entry Difficult Positive experience No offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Panel
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
Super fast and efficient process, got an interview call less than two weeks after applying. The interview itself was quite long, around 3 hours. Started with the Paralegal manager and then had three more interviews with different paralegal team members. The questions weren't too hard, mostly behavioral and related to the job. The main difficulty was just how long it was, they clearly wanted to see if I could keep my energy and sharp answers up throughout. Everyone I talked to was really nice, thoughtful, and spoke well.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What unique quality do you possess that differentiates you from other applicants and is not mentioned in your resume?
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton interview reports.
“Could you explain the causes of a car accident?”
Read reports →“In English, how can a client finance a deal?”
Read reports →“In Mandarin, what are the pros and cons of the methods of financing a deal that you just mentioned?”
Read reports →“And what is it about Cleary that appeals to you?”
Read reports →“Why this law firm?”
Read report →“What were your thoughts on the SPA agreement?”
Read report →“What are some possible issues in a hypothetical M&A scenario?”
Read report →“Could you discuss a recent development in competition and antitrust law that you find particularly interesting and explain why?”
Read report →“Why are you interested in commercial law?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 35 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton interview reports.