Clifford Chance Associate Interview Questions
& Process

I interviewed with two partners. They didn't seem interested in hiring me from the get-go. They mostly asked me why I wanted to be an associate and didn't have many other questions. They rejected me the next day. It was a total waste of my time.

The interview was with the Partner and Counsel of the team I applied for. The Co-Head of HR also joined via video. After introductions, we discussed common topics: why this field, why Clifford Chance, why a large law firm, ability to work under pressure, and how my current boss would describe me. I asked about training and development opportunities and the importance of a doctorate (answer: not required). Some questions were about my CV's specifics. HR also asked more personal questions: how friends would describe me, my hobbies, and my interests. They also asked about my interest in this specific office location. The conversation was engaging and even had some laughter. It was scheduled for 1 hour but lasted about 1.5 hours, allowing plenty of time for my questions. I had a very positive impression as the interviewers seemed to have thoroughly reviewed my application and were interested in getting to know me personally.

HR was very friendly and organised. I had two interviews. The first was with two partners on the team, and the second was with two partners from a related practice area. Because we were in different places, all the interviews were done over video.