Preparing for Law Interviews

Among LNAT-requiring universities, the University of Oxford is the one most associated with interviews. While most other LNAT universities do not routinely interview for Law, Oxford interviews are a critical part of the admissions process. This lesson focuses primarily on the Oxford Law interview, with brief notes on other universities that may interview in specific circumstances.

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The Oxford Law Interview

Format

Feature	Detail
Number of interviews	Typically 2
Duration	Approximately 20–30 minutes each
Location	At your first-choice college and often at one other college
Interviewers	Usually 2 Law tutors per interview
Material	You may be given a short passage, legal problem, or hypothetical scenario to discuss
Legal knowledge required	None — the interview tests thinking, not knowledge

What the Interview Tests

Oxford Law interviews are designed to assess:

Quality	How It Is Tested
Analytical reasoning	Can you break down a problem into its component parts?
Logical argumentation	Can you construct a coherent argument under pressure?
Engagement with counterarguments	Can you respond thoughtfully when the interviewer challenges your position?
Intellectual flexibility	Can you change your mind when presented with a compelling argument?
Clarity of expression	Can you articulate complex ideas clearly and concisely?
Intellectual curiosity	Do you engage enthusiastically with new ideas and problems?

Key Insight: The interview is essentially a mini-tutorial. The tutors want to see how you would perform as a student in their tutorial system — responding to challenging questions, engaging with feedback, and developing your thinking in real time.

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What Happens During the Interview

Step 1: You May Be Given Material in Advance

Before some interviews, you may be given a short passage to read — typically a legal problem, an ethical scenario, or an extract from a legal text. You will have a few minutes to read and think about it.

Step 2: The Discussion

The interviewer will ask you questions about the material, or pose a hypothetical scenario directly. Typical opening questions include:

• "What do you think about this passage?"
• "How would you resolve this problem?"
• "Is this law fair?"

Step 3: The Challenge

This is the critical part. After you give your initial answer, the interviewer will challenge it. They might:

• Present a counterargument
• Point out a flaw in your reasoning
• Ask you to consider a different perspective
• Push a hypothetical scenario further ("But what if...")

This is not a sign that you are wrong. It is the interview working as intended. The tutors want to see how you respond to intellectual pressure.

Step 4: Development

The best candidates:

• Engage with the challenge — They do not simply repeat their original answer
• Refine their position — They adjust their argument in response to new information
• Maintain composure — They remain calm and thoughtful even when pushed
• Think aloud — They explain their reasoning process, not just their conclusion

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Common Interview Question Types

Type 1: Hypothetical Legal Scenarios

These present a situation and ask you to reason through it.

Example: "A man steals a loaf of bread to feed his starving family. Should he be punished?"

How to approach it:

1. Identify the competing principles (justice, compassion, rule of law, deterrence)
2. Consider different perspectives (the man, the shopkeeper, society)
3. Take a position and explain your reasoning
4. Be prepared for follow-up questions that change the scenario

Type 2: Ethical Dilemmas

These present moral problems without clear right answers.

Example: "Should a doctor be allowed to end a patient's life if the patient requests it?"

How to approach it:

1. Identify the key principles at stake (autonomy, sanctity of life, duty of care)
2. Explore both sides before committing to a position
3. Acknowledge complexity while still reaching a conclusion
4. Use reasoning from first principles rather than appealing to emotion

Type 3: Passage Analysis

You may be given a passage from a legal judgment, academic text, or newspaper article.