Law School Interview Guide: Which Schools Interview and How to Prepare

Most law schools do not interview at all — they admit from the written file. A handful, mostly at the very top of the rankings, treat the interview as a real evaluative step. If you are invited, that invitation is a signal of genuine interest from the school, and how you handle it can move a borderline case. This guide covers which schools interview and what they are looking for.

Which schools interview

Interview practices vary by year and by school, and some schools use interviews primarily for borderline or special-category applicants rather than the whole pool. Historically interview-heavy or interview-selective schools have included Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, and several others that use interviews to assess fit, communication, and maturity. Always confirm the current policy on each school's admissions page, because practices change.

This table describes general patterns, not a fixed list. Verify each school's current practice before drawing conclusions.

What they are actually assessing

An admissions interview is not a test of legal knowledge. Committees are checking a short list of things that do not show up in a transcript: can you speak clearly and think on your feet, do you come across as mature and self-aware, does your stated interest in law hold up in conversation, and would a faculty member or classmate want you in the room. The bar is not brilliance; it is composure and authenticity.

Format: virtual vs in-person

Most interviews today are conducted over video, which changes the prep slightly. Test your camera, lighting, and background before the call; a distracted setting undercuts the composure you are trying to show. In-person interviews, where they happen, add a handshake and a walk to the room — small things, but they reward the same basics: arrive early, dress cleanly, and treat every moment as part of the evaluation. The substance is identical either way: a real conversation about your file and your reasons for law school.

Questions to expect

• Why law, and why now? The single most common question — have a real answer, not a slogan.
• Why this school? Specific programs, clinics, regions, or faculty that genuinely fit you.
• Walk me through your background. A concise narrative, not a resume reading.
• A current legal or policy question — they want to see you reason, not recite a position.
• What you would contribute to the class — concrete, not generic.

How to prepare

1. Know your application cold — anything you wrote can come up, so be ready to expand on it.
2. Prepare two or three specific reasons for that school, tied to real offerings.
3. Do one or two low-stakes practice conversations, then stop; over-rehearsing backfires.
4. Dress cleanly and log in early for virtual interviews; treat the format seriously.
5. Have one or two thoughtful questions ready — asking nothing reads as disinterest.

Following up

A brief thank-you note within a day or two is appropriate and expected at interview schools. Keep it short: thank the interviewer, reference one specific thing you discussed, and restate interest if genuine. Do not send gifts, do not send multiple notes, and do not use the note to re-argue your case. The note is a courtesy, not a second application. And remember that an interview is one input among many — your LSAT, GPA, and written file still set the frame, which is why knowing your admissions odds beforehand helps you read the interview in context.