Formats vary by school
- Live interview with an admissions officer or alum
- On-demand recorded video platform with timed prompts
- Optional interview offered but not required
- No interview component at all
Schools that interview, and how
Northwestern Pritzker describes the longest-standing admissions interview program of any law school. Its interview is optional: applicants opt in on the application, then record answers to questions filmed by members of the Northwestern community on an online video platform, with a set amount of time for each answer.
Harvard Law School works the other way. It states that every applicant who is eventually admitted must complete an interview, but only some applicants are invited to one. Invitations come from the admissions office starting in November, and the interview runs about 15 minutes on Zoom.
Georgetown Law offers alumni interviews through its Alumni Admissions Interview Program for some applicants. Check the school's own admissions page each cycle, because a school can change from optional to invitation-only or drop interviews entirely.
How to prepare without sounding rehearsed
Practice out loud, not just in your head, on questions like why this school, why law, and a specific challenge you've handled — but practice the content, not a memorized script, since a word-for-word delivery reads as stiff on a recorded platform in particular.
Prepare two or three genuine questions to ask if the format allows it. A candidate who asks nothing signals disengagement more than a candidate who asks an imperfect question.
What LSAC's guidance says about interviews
LSAC's member schools' Statement of Good Admission and Financial Aid Practices lists interviews among the factors a school's written admission policy may describe. The others include the academic record, LSAT score, letters of recommendation, written statements and English proficiency tests. It says schools should state their admission policies, processes and deadlines clearly and apply them consistently to all applicants.
The statement also says an application should state clearly what information is being sought and that schools should seek only information that helps assess candidacy. LSAC does not prescribe a format for interviews. The school's own admissions page is the only reliable source for whether you will have one and in what form. Practice out loud.
Honesty and accuracy in every conversation
LSAC's steps page says ethical conduct is expected and required in all of your interactions with LSAC and law schools. Misconduct and irregularities in the admission process can have serious consequences. The statement adds that applicants have a continual obligation to provide accurate, current and complete information.
In practice, an interview answer about your record, your grades or your reasons for applying must match what your application already says. An update such as a new grade or job is worth volunteering only if it is true and current. Answer honestly.
Common questions
Do all law schools interview applicants?+
No. Most do not require an interview, but a growing number do, so check each school's admissions page for whether it interviews and in what format.
Is the interview listed as an admission factor by LSAC?+
LSAC's member schools' statement lists interviews among the factors a written admission policy may describe as affecting a decision, along with the academic record and LSAT score.
Should a school apply its interview policy the same way to everyone?+
LSAC's statement says schools should state their admission policies and processes clearly and apply them consistently to all applicants.
What is an on-demand video interview?+
A format where a platform shows a written prompt, gives a short preparation window and records a timed response, usually with no do-overs, unlike a live conversation.
How should I prepare for a law school interview?+
Practice out loud on questions such as why this school, why law and a challenge you handled, but practice the content and not a memorized script.
Should I ask questions at the end of a live interview?+
Yes if the format allows it. Prepare two or three genuine questions, since asking nothing signals disengagement more than an imperfect question.
Do I have to be accurate in an admissions interview?+
Yes. LSAC says ethical conduct is expected in every interaction with LSAC and law schools and applicants must provide accurate, current and complete information.
Does LSAC set the interview format for law schools?+
No. LSAC's guidelines are voluntary and do not prescribe a format, so each school decides whether to interview and how.
What to do next
- 1
Confirm the exact interview format and timing directly with the admissions office.
- 2
Practice answers out loud, several times, without writing a script to memorize.
- 3
Prepare specific, genuine questions to ask if the format is live.
- 4
Treat an on-demand platform's timer as real — rehearse under the same time pressure.