Why did you leave your last job? - How to Answer This Question in Legal Interviews

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While searching for a job, the most common question asked is 'why did you leave your last job?'. Most people fumble while answering this question for fear of losing credibility or because they might come out as disloyal to their previous company. The most common mistake made is criticizing the previous company or its management which raise concern about temperament and discretion.

In a legal interview, this question is more about your sound judgment, professionalism and career growth than past employer. Interviewers mostly assess whether you can assess difficult experiences with maturity.

The correct approach is to remain honest but strategic. Do not bad mouth your former company, its colleagues or management, instead frame your answer around growth, learning and going for long term growth.

A strong response shows professional growth and development. You can explain that your previous role provided exposure to drafting, research, review or litigation support but along a passage of time you realized that you wanted more responsibility. This answer shows ambition to grow in your career without devaluing your prior experience.

If resigning from previous company is due to limited advancement or organizational restructuring, this should be stated calmly. Put more emphasis on what you learnt and how it has helped you prepare for the role you are interviewing for. Law firms understand that not all positions offer long-term growth.

In case of work-life balance which is quite common in the legal sector, you have to carefully phrase your answer. You can say that you are looking for sustained performance, alignment with team expectations or where you can consistently deliver high-quality work.

In conclusion, link your answer to the prospective role. Explain how the prospective role better matches with your skills, interests and career prospects. This shifts the answer from why you left to why you are the right fit now. The correct answer is the one which is composed, forward-looking and rooted in professionalism which every legal employer values.

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