The Mock Interview Program has been a mainstay in student development at Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) for 15 years, designed to help first-year law students (1Ls) prepare for the challenges of hiring season with simulated job interviews.
An initiative of the Career Services Office, these interviews are conducted by invited alumni and other professionals who are carefully paired with students based on shared interests and résumé review. Students receive professional interview questions, as well as personalized constructive feedback and the opportunity to ask follow-up questions themselves. After these one-on-one sessions, students and their interviewers were invited to attend a cocktail hour to debrief, socialize, and continue to network.
Following Mock Interview Day, we asked two 1Ls, Zachary “Dirt” Martin JD’28 and Chelsea Tillinghast JD’28, about their experiences with their interviewers.
How would you describe your mock interview experience overall?
“The mock interview was an incredible experience. The interview was a low stakes introduction to one of the most stressful parts of pursuing a career in law. Lowering the barrier to get started has helped me to build my confidence and approach job applications with ease!” – Zachary “Dirt” Martin JD’28
How did the feedback you received shape your understanding of your professional strengths?
“The feedback that I received was entirely positive. I would have eagerly received feedback on where I could improve—because I know there must be many places where I can. The feedback that I did receive has imputed that my professional experience prior to law school is a strength, my GPA does matter, and emphasizing my emotional regulation under pressure is a good thing to highlight for most firms.” – Chelsea Tillinghast JD’28
Do you feel you made a valuable connection with your interviewer? What kinds of things did you discuss in your interview?
“For my part, I felt like I did. We discussed a broad range of topics including how to make outside work and life experience applicable to a career in law, work/life balance, and the tools necessary to sustain a career in a field that has an incredibly high rate of burnout.” – ZDM
In conversations with your interviewer, is there something you learned about the transition from law school to practice that you hadn’t previously considered?
“One question I got that I wasn’t prepared for, but really liked was: ‘what does your ideal job look like?’ I was able to ask the mock interviewers about their experience through their transition, but I expect most journeys are highly specific to the individual. That which isn’t specific is well covered by Career Services.” – CT
What feedback stuck with you the most? How will it change how you prepare for real interviews in the future?
“The feedback that life experience is and can be valuable, but that making sure to frame it as it applies to law more consciously is necessary. In the future, I will convey this in a more concrete and succinct way to help show I do have what it takes!” – ZDM
What did you find most valuable about the mock interview experience?
“The most valuable part of the mock interview experience was the mandatory emphasis on preparing my interview statements. The semester workload is busy, and the quietest wheel gets no attention. It would have been easy to keep interview prep at the bottom of my to-do list until I actually had an interview. By going through the mock interview process, I did much of the reflection that I needed to do—and then I could tailor my individual research for my actual interviews. The mock interview program also helped me to practice my research approach. I was definitely more prepared for my actual interviews, less nervous, and more confident.” – CT
Now that you’ve been through the process, what advice would you give to future 1Ls who are preparing for their mock interviews?
“Prepare with the same diligence that you do for class. The grades you receive related to class preparation are likely similar to the feedback you’ll receive from the interview process if you apply the same rigor.” – CT
“Work to find a point of genuine connection with your interviewer. This lets them know you are not only a qualified professional, but that you are also a good person. We put a lot of hours in law. You want to spend that with good people when you can. Also, have fun! This is a great opportunity to see how you can shine!” – ZDM