20 Jones Day Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviewing at Jones Day, there are a few things you can expect. First, the interview process is highly competitive. Jones Day receives thousands of applications for their open positions, so the interview process is designed to weed out those who are not a good fit for the firm. Second, the interview process is very structured. You will be asked a series of questions, both in person and on the phone, that are designed to assess your skills and qualifications. Finally, the interview process is very challenging. Jones Day is looking for the best and the brightest, so they will push you to your limits.

If you are lucky enough to land an interview at Jones Day, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions. Some of these questions will be general, such as “Why do you want to work at Jones Day?” or “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” However, you will also be asked a number of specific questions about your qualifications and experience. Here are a few examples of the types of questions you may be asked in a Jones Day interview:

– Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult client or customer. – Tell me about a time when you had to manage a complex project.

Jones Day Interview Process

The interview process at Jones Day can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For summer intern and associate positions, you can expect to have multiple interviews with partners, associates, and HR representatives. The interviews will focus on your experience, motivation for pursuing a career in law, and your fit for the firm. For more entry-level positions, such as legal secretary or assistant, the interview process may be more casual, with an emphasis on your skills and qualifications.

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to prepare for it. When answering this question, you should be honest about your strengths and weaknesses while also focusing on the positive aspects of each.

Example: “I am an excellent communicator who can work well with others. I have strong research skills and attention to detail, which makes me a valuable asset to any team. My weakness is that sometimes I get so focused on my work that I forget to take breaks. This has led to some minor health issues in the past, but I’ve learned to balance my work and rest more effectively.”

2. Why do you want to work at Jones Day?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your interest in their company. When preparing for this interview, make sure you research the firm and understand what they do. This will help you answer this question with confidence.

Example: “I want to work at Jones Day because I am passionate about international law. Your firm has an excellent reputation in this field, and I would love to be part of that team. I have always been interested in foreign affairs, so working here would allow me to use my skills to help others.”

3. Do you have any experience in corporate law?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have the skills and experience needed for this role. If you do, share an example of how you helped a client with their corporate law needs.

Example: “I worked as a legal assistant at a small firm where I assisted in all aspects of the business’s operations. One day, one of our clients called us because they were having issues with their contract. We reviewed the contract and found that it was missing some important information. I contacted the other party and asked them to send over the additional information. They did so, and we sent the updated contract back to our client.”

4. If a client asks for advice that is outside of your jurisdiction, how would you handle the situation?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to think critically. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of how you handled a similar situation in the past.

Example: “In my previous role as a legal assistant at a small law firm, I had a client who asked me for advice on what they should do about their child’s drug addiction. While I was able to offer some general advice based on my own experiences with family counseling, I knew that there were many factors involved in this case that would require more expertise than I could provide. So, I referred the client to another lawyer in our office who specialized in drug addiction cases.”

5. Define fiduciary duty.

This question is a behavioral one that tests your knowledge of the law. It also shows how you apply what you know to real-world situations. When answering this question, define fiduciary duty and then give an example of when you’ve had to fulfill it in your previous role.

Example: “Fiduciary duty is a legal obligation where I must act in my client’s best interest. In my last position as a financial advisor, I had a client who was looking for ways to invest their money. I recommended several options based on their risk tolerance and investment goals. They chose one of my recommendations, which ended up losing them money. I explained why they lost money and offered to help them find another option.”

6. Can you give an example of when you had to provide leadership in a difficult situation?

This question is a great way to show your ability to lead and motivate others in stressful situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you had to provide leadership and how you did so effectively.

Example: “In my last position as an associate attorney at a small law firm, I was tasked with managing the team of paralegals and interns. One day, one of our interns didn’t show up for work. After calling them several times, we still hadn’t heard from them. We were short-staffed that day, so I decided to go into the office early to help out. While there, I found the intern passed out on their desk. They were sick, but they also weren’t prepared to miss work. I called the hospital and arranged for someone else to cover their shift while they recovered.”

7. Give me an example of when you worked on a team project and what was your role?

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and how you can work with others. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your communication skills and ability to collaborate with others.

Example: “In my last position as an associate attorney at a small law firm, I was tasked with working on a case that involved multiple parties. My role in the project was to gather information from each party and compile all of the facts into one document for our legal team to review. After reviewing the documents, we determined that there were several issues that needed to be addressed before moving forward with the case.”

8. Is there anything about our firm that concerns you or that you think we could improve on?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your personality and how you would fit into their company culture. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to mention something that you admire or respect about the firm and then provide an honest answer about any concerns you have.

Example: “I am very impressed with Jones Day’s commitment to pro bono work. I think it’s important for law firms to give back to the community in meaningful ways, and I’m excited to join a team of lawyers who are dedicated to making a difference. However, I do think there could be some improvements made when it comes to diversity within the firm. I know that Jones Day has been working on improving its hiring practices, but I hope we can continue to make strides in this area.”

9. How competitive are you?

This question can help interviewers determine how you handle competition. They may ask this to see if you’re willing to work hard and compete for a promotion or other opportunities within the company. When answering, it’s important to show that you’re motivated by challenges and enjoy competing with others.

Example: “I’m very competitive, which is why I love my current position at Jones Day. My law firm has an annual case challenge where we compete against each other to win prizes. Last year, our team won first place in the state. It was so much fun working together as a team to solve cases and win.”

10. Are you comfortable working long hours?

This question is a common one in law firms. It’s important to be honest about your willingness to work long hours when you’re interviewing for a position at a firm like Jones Day. If you are not comfortable with working long hours, it’s best to let the interviewer know that you can do so if necessary.

Example: “I am willing to work long hours as needed. I understand that sometimes this is part of the job and will do my best to meet any demands placed on me by my superiors.”

11. When did you first know that you wanted to be a lawyer?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s motivations and goals. It can also help you understand how long they’ve been practicing law, which can be helpful if you’re looking for someone with experience.

Example: “Ever since I was young, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in law. My parents were both lawyers, so it was something we talked about often at home. When I got older, I decided to go to law school because I wanted to make a difference in my community. I chose Jones Day because of its reputation as one of the best firms in the country.”

12. Which practice area are you most interested in and why?

This question is a great way to determine if the law firm you are interviewing with has practice areas that align with your interests. It also allows you to show the interviewer what excites you about practicing law.

Example: “I am most interested in family law because I have always been passionate about helping families stay together and providing support for those who need it most. In my previous role, I worked on several cases involving child custody disputes, divorce proceedings and other family law matters. I found that I really enjoyed working with clients who were going through difficult times but had hope for the future.”

13. Describe a time where you showed initiative.

This question is a great way to show your ability to take initiative and be proactive. It’s important for law firms to have employees who can think outside the box and come up with new ideas.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that our clients were having trouble finding us online. We had a website but it wasn’t very user-friendly or mobile friendly. So, I started researching other websites in our industry and found one that was highly rated. I contacted the company and asked if we could use their site as an example of what ours should look like. They agreed, so I worked with our IT department to make some changes to our website.”

14. Tell us about a time you faced adversity.

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to overcome challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about the situation and how you overcame adversity.

Example: “When I was in law school, I had an internship at a small firm where I worked on cases that were very challenging. One day, my mentor called me into his office and told me he didn’t think I would make it as a lawyer because of my performance. He said I wasn’t working hard enough and that I should consider finding another career path. I was devastated by his words but decided to prove him wrong. I studied harder than ever before and performed well on all of my exams. After graduation, I got a job offer from Jones Day.”

15. What type of environment do you work best in?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you would be a good fit for their law firm. They may want to know that you are comfortable with the type of environment they have, such as whether it is fast-paced or more relaxed. You should answer honestly and try to describe what your ideal work environment looks like.

Example: “I thrive in an environment where I am constantly learning new things. At my last job, we had weekly meetings where we discussed our clients’ progress and any changes to our projects. This helped me learn how to adapt to different situations and gave me the opportunity to share my ideas with others.”

16. How would you describe yourself using three words?

This question is a way for the interviewer to get to know you better. They want to see if your personality matches their firm’s culture and values. When answering this question, be honest about yourself and how you would fit in with the company.

Example: “I am ambitious, hardworking and empathetic. I have always been someone who strives to achieve my goals. I also care deeply about others and try to help them when I can. These three traits are what led me to pursue a career in law.”

17. In what ways can you improve on being more collaborative with others?

This question can help interviewers understand how you work with others and your ability to collaborate. Collaboration is an important skill for attorneys, as they often need to work together on cases and communicate effectively with clients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you worked well with others or helped someone else improve their collaboration skills.

Example: “I believe that I am already quite collaborative in my approach to working with others. However, if there was one thing I could do better, I would say that I sometimes have trouble asking for help from others. In the past, I’ve had colleagues who were more than willing to help me out, but I didn’t always ask them for assistance. Now, I try to make sure I’m not only aware of what everyone else is doing but also reach out to them when I need help.”

18. What has been your biggest challenge so far as a legal professional?

This question is designed to give the interviewer insight into your problem-solving skills and how you’ve overcome challenges in the past. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to highlight a challenge that you overcame with determination and perseverance.

Example: “My biggest challenge as a legal professional was when I first started my career. I had just graduated from law school and was working at a small firm where I didn’t have much experience. This led me to feel overwhelmed at times, but I learned to ask questions and seek advice from more experienced colleagues. As time went on, I became more confident in my abilities and gained valuable knowledge.”

19. Has there ever been a time when someone asked you to do something unethical in the workplace, how did you handle it?

This question is an opportunity to show your integrity and commitment to upholding ethical standards. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you refused to compromise your values or how you handled the situation in a way that maintained your ethics while still meeting the needs of your employer.

Example: “I have been asked to do something unethical before at work, but I always refuse. In my previous role as a marketing manager, one of my coworkers asked me to create fake reviews for our company’s products. I told him that I would not do this because it was against the law and could get us into legal trouble. He said he understood and never asked me again.”

20. Have you received any awards or honors for academic excellence?

This question is an opportunity to highlight your achievements and accomplishments. It’s important to be honest about any awards or honors you’ve received, but it’s also a good idea to mention other academic achievements that may not have been recognized.

Example: “I was recently awarded the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence at my law school graduation. I graduated with a GPA of 3.9 out of 4.0, which was the highest in my class. I also won the award for Best Oral Argumentation during my second year of law school.”