Interview Tips: Navigating The Ottawa 2L Summer Recruit

As a law student going through the legal recruitment process, whether in Ottawa or elsewhere, it's normal to feel overwhelmed and stressed. It is a competitive process that doesn't necessarily reflect the success you may have had in law school or other areas of life.

The OCI and in-firm interviews, in particular, are perhaps the most dreaded experiences for prospective summer students. You don't know what to expect, are given little guidance and are unsure about how to prepare. Much of the advice is also anecdotal. It is typically provided by a friend or a lawyer who has gone through the process themselves. Whether that person succeeded or failed, they likely weren't given clear and honest feedback about why. This makes for a less-than-ideal sample-size to draw conclusions from.