Application Process
How To Answer Situational Judgment Questions
A practical framework for handling “what would you do if…” questions with professionalism.
EO Careers Team
If you’re preparing for law firm applications or interviews, this guide forms part of our wider Application Process hub, where we break down each stage from written applications to assessment centres.
Situational judgment questions are designed to test something different from competency or motivational questions.
They are not about what you have done in the past. They are about how you would think and act in a professional legal environment.
Many strong candidates struggle with these questions because they treat them like hypothetical puzzles. Law firms are not looking for clever answers. They are looking for sound judgment.
What are situational judgment questions?
Situational questions present you with a realistic workplace scenario and ask how you would respond.
Common examples include:
You receive conflicting deadlines from two supervisors — what do you do?
You notice an error shortly before a document is sent — how do you handle it?
You’re asked to take on urgent work but you’re already at capacity — what’s your response?
A client asks for an update you don’t yet have — what do you say?
These scenarios mirror situations trainees face daily.
What law firms are actually assessing
When assessing situational answers, firms are not testing technical knowledge.
They are assessing:
judgment and prioritisation
communication style
professionalism and integrity
awareness of hierarchy
ability to manage pressure without panic
Crucially, firms are looking for balanced decision-making, not extreme responses.
The structure that works:
Strong situational answers usually follow this logic:
Acknowledge the situation
Show that you understand the problem and why it matters.
Explain your priorities
Identify what needs attention first and why.
Describe your actions
Explain what you would do, who you would speak to, and how you would communicate.
Demonstrate judgment
Show awareness of supervision, escalation, and professionalism.
This structure keeps answers clear and reassuring.
Example: competing deadlines
Question: You are given work by two supervisors with the same deadline. What do you do?
Answer: “I would first review both tasks to understand their scope, urgency, and any external deadlines. If it’s clear that completing both on time may be difficult, I would communicate early with both supervisors, explaining my current workload and asking how they would like me to prioritise. This ensures transparency, avoids last-minute issues, and allows expectations to be managed appropriately.”
Example: spotting an error
Question: You notice an error shortly before a document is due to be sent to a client. What do you do?
Answer: “I would immediately flag the issue to the supervising lawyer, clearly explaining the nature of the error and its potential impact. If possible, I would also suggest a solution. Accuracy is critical, so raising concerns early is more important than worrying about how the mistake reflects on me.”
Common mistakes candidates make
Situational questions often go wrong when candidates:
try to solve everything alone
avoid escalation entirely
prioritise speed over accuracy
give rigid or unrealistic answers
Law firms do not expect trainees to act independently without supervision. They expect them to ask the right questions.
Handling pressure-based scenarios
Many situational questions are pressure tests.
The key is to show that you:
stay composed
communicate clearly
know when to seek guidance
A calm, structured answer scores better than an overly confident one.
Ethical and client-facing situations
When questions involve ethics or client interaction:
prioritise integrity over convenience
follow firm procedures
escalate concerns appropriately
avoid giving advice beyond your authority
Firms are assessing trustworthiness as much as competence.
Want access to real situational questions?
If you want to practise using real situational judgment questions used by leading law firms alongside motivational, competency, commercial, and ethical questions you can access our full 80 Interview Questions Law Firms Actually Ask resource in the Resources section.
