After supporting countless candidates through interview prep and debriefs across Legal Ops and Innovation, I’ve noticed something, the best interviews don’t feel like interviews at all. They feel like two problem-solvers figuring out how to make legal work better, faster and smarter.
Here’s what separates great interviews from forgettable ones…
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀:
• 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 - “We automated NDAs and cut turnaround by 40%” lands far better than “I used HighQ.”
• 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘁𝘀 - Legal Ops and Innovation sit at the crossroads of people, process and tech. Demonstrate your cross-functional mindset
• 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 - Culture of change? Appetite for adoption? Show you’re strategic, not just technical.
• 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 - The most memorable candidates combine curiosity with confidence - they make you want to work with them.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
• 𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱 - Legal Ops and Innovation often overlap but the focus (delivery vs. solution design vs. process) differs. Be specific about what you need.
• 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 > 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀𝗲𝘁 - Curiosity, commercial awareness and resilience go a long way.
• 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 - Top talent in this space wants to build something meaningful, not just 'support BAU'.
• 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 - Legal Ops and Innovation talent is in high demand and they can spot indecision a mile away.
At its best, an interview should feel like a strategy session between future teammates not a box-ticking exercise.
We’re all friends around here so let’s pay it forward. What’s the one interview tip you’d share with someone interviewing in this space at the moment?
If your work in Legal Ops or Innovation, read this before your next interview...
23 Oct, 20251 MinuteAfter supporting countless candidates through interview prep and debriefs across Legal Ops a...
