Test taken: National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: 24 hours
Length of interviews: 1 hour each max
Online interview: No

I was completely surprised by how much I genuinely enjoyed my interviews. The tutors started off with a question about my personal statement, and then gradually began to see how much I’d understood from the case I read in the 30 minutes before the interview. We discussed the issues that were raised in the case, and about a particular phrase or word used, how would I define it, and how would a particular change to the facts of the case produce a different outcome. I really loved being pushed in this way, because I’d never experienced anything like it before. The offices where I had my interviews were completely relaxing (one tutor even had stuffed toys all over their sofa!) and afterwards I just remember thinking how fun the whole experience was. I loved talking through a problem with the tutors, and showing them what steps I was going through to reach my conclusions.

I mostly prepared for my interview by memorising my personal statement - every book, case, achievement or event I’d written about. I mentally prepared to answer questions about them, in case the interviewers asked a question related to them and I wanted to start off really well. I also knew mentioning something in my personal statement and then being unable to answer questions on it would look really bad…other than that, I couldn’t do anything else, since law interviews are usually based on a reading of an unseen case done.

Practice papers, writing essays on controversial issues/typical debate topics.

I spent so much time worrying about what I was going to wear to my interviews! I expected the tutors to be stuffy and formal and was really scared that I’d be judged or discounted for what I wore. By my standards, not ripped jeans and converse at the interviews was “smart casual”, but the people next to me wearing three piece suits obviously had a different idea! I was so scared I was standing out for the wrong reasons and wasted so much energy feeling self conscious. The tutors were so down to Earth and genuinely interested in what I had to say that I immediately realised what I was wearing wouldn’t make a difference - they just wanted to see who I was, how I approached problems, and was I someone they wanted to teach! My biggest tip is to make sure you’re comfortable - comfortable in what you’re wearing, sure, but also in talking about what you’re passionate about, and in explaining your thought process. If you’re comfortable, you’ll come across in a much more confident and authentic way, and be able to show your tutors what kind of a student you are!