How to hire lawyers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations. • Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents. • Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases. • Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit. • Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case. • Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses. • Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts. • Represent clients in court or before government agencies. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Doctoral or professional degree] • Strong speaking, active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing and active learning skills • Working knowledge of law and government, English Language and customer and personal service • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $76.76 an hour ($159,670 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for lawyers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What lawyers do
- Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
- Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
- Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for lawyers
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +4.7% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 28,700 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay lawyers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Wyoming | $100,130 |
| Arkansas | $98,880 |
| Mississippi | $91,690 |
See lawyers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Judicial Law Clerks
- Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
- Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
- Compliance Officers
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary
- Labor Relations Specialists
- Financial Specialists, All Other
- Chief Executives
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.