Oxford law interview questions

Where can I find past interview questions to aid my preparation?

There is no bank of questions.

You can watch mock interviews among Dr Matt Williams of Jesus College's youtube videos.

You might be asked about a statute, and/or about a judgment in a case. You might be given a set of facts and asked to say what the legal result of those facts should be. You might be presented with a societal problem and asked to devise a legal rule to deal with the problem. You might be asked all sorts of things about law and public policy.

Expect to have to think on your feet.

Reply 2

Anonymous #2

Matt Williams is excellent, and there’s also a range of mock interviews published by the Law Faculty. It may also be worth refreshing on your personal statement, as it’s entirely possible that they will ask you about any reading you mentioned.

Reply 3

Stiffy Byng

Original post by Anonymous

This is merely anecdotal, but I would say "possible but unlikely". I've asked six people who currently teach law at three colleges in Oxford whether they ask about personal statements at interviews and they all say that they don't. My daughter was not asked about her personal statement during the two interviews which she had last year. I've asked my junior colleagues in chambers who read law at Oxford if they were asked about their statements and they have all said that they weren't, as does a friend in another chambers who left Oxford with a law degree four years ago.

The focus is on academic potential.

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

Original post by Stiffy Byng

There is no bank of questions.
You can watch mock interviews among Dr Matt Williams of Jesus College's youtube videos.
You might be asked about a statute, and/or about a judgment in a case. You might be given a set of facts and asked to say what the legal result of those facts should be. You might be presented with a societal problem and asked to devise a legal rule to deal with the problem. You might be asked all sorts of things about law and public policy.
Expect to have to think on your feet.

I really appreciate your activity on this site, and helping us applicants out with our seemingly incessant questions! What would you say is the best way to prepare for interview?

Reply 5

Stiffy Byng

Original post by Anonymous

I really appreciate your activity on this site, and helping us applicants out with our seemingly incessant questions! What would you say is the best way to prepare for interview?

Watch all of those videos on the Matt Williams feed. Engage in courteous debate with your peers, your teachers, and/or members of your family. If you know anyone who is a practising lawyer, or who is an Oxford graduate (young or old) or is a current Oxford undergraduate, in any subject, talk to that person.

Talk once, listen twice. Then talk again.

Read, read, read, read, read. Read everything and anything. Also: read.

PS: Did I mention reading?

(edited 3 weeks ago)

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

Original post by Stiffy Byng

Watch all of those videos on the Matt Williams feed. Engage in courteous debate with your peers, your teachers, and/or members of your family. If you know anyone who is a practising lawyer, or who is an Oxford graduate (young or old) or is a current Oxford undergraduate, in any subject, talk to that person.
Talk once, listen twice. Then talk again.
Read, read, read, read, read. Read everything and anything. Also: read.
PS: Did I mention reading?

Reading what though