#4 UiTM Law Interview Tips

        Got shortlisted for Bachelor in Law Interview but you are not a law student? You are a diploma student from a completely different field, or you are a matriks or stpm student. And honestly, what to expect from this interview?

        Fret not, I was once in a same situation; confused and clueless. Most of the law interview tips were written by a law student, that has a law background, and studied legal terms, and has law lecturers that were, probably, once the interviewer themselves. 

        But I was not a law student, I studied Diploma in Public Administration and throughout my 3 years of studying, there are only 3 law subjects and the topics were quite general and basic. And during my final year I applied Bachelor in Law for UPU, and somehow got shortlisted, I was thankful and anxious honestly.

        

       If you are reading this, it is probably because you got shortlisted too and I would like to congratulate you! 

    (Disclaimer: The tips I wrote might vary during your interview session, but what I wrote might be useful and could help you to prepare yourself) 

Bachelor in Law Interview Tips.

Before your interview session, you should:

1. Prepare all the documents needed thoroughly. Do not do this on the last minute!
   - For transcript, you need to get the transcript from HEA which includes all your results from the first semester until your final semester. 
   - Diploma students, if you got this interview through the 'penerapan' program, don't worry if you haven't sit for your final paper and haven't receive the final semester result. If you have 5 semester, just get the transcript with your results from the first semester until the fourth semester. 
   
   
2. If there are law subjects in your course, study them. 
   - Identify landmark cases.
   - Understand basic legal terms.
   - Identify the topics in your subjects. 
   

During your interview session, you should:

1. Come early! 
   
   
2. Have all the documents with you. Be prepared. 
   
   
3. Do not study anything or read law books while waiting for your turn. 

    It is really crucial that you feel at ease and relaxed before your session. So come early, register your name, sit down, listen to the lecturer-in-charge's instructions, do a quick check of all the documents needed. Make sure everything is with you. Hence why it is important for you to come early. Last but not least, don't read any law materials, because this would just make you become nervous and super anxious. Just breath and relax, look professional.

 In the interview room, you should:

1. Do not sit until the interviewer told you so.
   
   
2. Sit straight and always smile :) Do not cross your legs. Sit professionally and comfortably.
   
   
3. Give chances to your friends to speak too.
   
   
4. Manner and being polite at all times.
   
   
5. Be confident when you are speaking. 

    Your choices of words, voice projection, and ideas/opinions are what matter the most. Do not be intimidated by other candidates. If you are different from the other, be proud of it! Don't ever shrink yourself just because other candidates know law terms better than you. How much knowledge you know about the legal system won't really matter, because anyone can do that by studying. But what matter the most is you. Yourself. So speak in that room like you already are a lawyer. Be confident, have fun, smile. 

    However, be informed that if you couldn't answer the interviewer's questions, especially in regards to law questions such as legal terms or legal systems, don't ever hentam or teka-teka. Just be honest that you don't know the answers to that particular question, "pardon my ignorant, but I honestly do not know the answer. I promise I will improve myself". 

Attire.

        They did not explain this part, but wear something polite, appropriate and suitable for the event. As a law students, just wear a blazer with white blouse, and muslim ladies, wear a black scarf. However, if you do not have a blazer, for women, you can wear baju kurung with plain colour. Less of  flowery/print/corak. 

My experience.

        

            I received the interview message on Thursday, and the interview will be held on Saturday which left me less than 48 hours to prepare for the documents and whatnot. I did not get my transcript because my UiTM is in Kedah and Friday is not a working day. However, thank goodness I still kept all my results from the first semester until the fourth semester. But during the interview day, of course the lecturer-in-charge was not happy with my non-existent transcript. But before I was called into the room, the lecturer told me that the results I had printed were a good substitute for the transcript.

        When it was my turn to go into the room, they had grouped us in 3 and there were 3 interviewers, and all of them are law lecturers too. Thankfully, I was grouped with my friend which makes it less anxious.

        The questions that they asked:

• Introduce yourself.
  - Keep it simple. Name, age, current/previous studies, your strength/achievement.
  
  
• Why you chose this university and why you chose law?
  
  
• How do you cope with stress?
  - I told them that I would drink coffee. Due to the smell of the freshly brewed coffee, and when that caffeine hits, it just takes my mind off my work. Then they asked me, "how about if you get stressed again?", I said "I would drink more coffee". And they asked me, "How many coffee a day did you take?", I told them 2. Then they were somewhat relieved and they said that more than 3 cups of coffee per day could lead to death... yikes.
  
  
• Do you prefer working in teams or alone?
  
  
• Why should we choose you?
  - Do not respond with "because it is my dream". They knew it is everyone's dream. This question is actually about what you could offer. You could say that you would participate with the law's activities, or you have had experience in making programs so you would apply that knowledge in bringing the law faculty upwards, etc. 
  
  
• What law subjects did you learn during diploma? And which one is your favorite?
  - Told them that my favorite was Business Law (chose this because this subject was what i learned during my final semester and is basically what I remember the most, rather than the other 2 law subjects because i learned those in semester 3 and 4)
  
  
• What was your favorite topic in Business Law?
  - I said "law of contract"
  
  
• In law of contracts, give one example of when can a minor enter into a contract? And give one example case.
  
  
• Tell me one sources of law.
  - I said "Federal Constitution".
  
  
• Tell me one rights or freedom in the Federal Constitution.
  

    I think that basically it. It felt time passes really quick in that room. And Alhamdulillah, I managed to answer all of their questions smoothly. And also, praise to Allah, few weeks later I passed my interview and is now a law student. 

    I pray whoever is reading this, managed to get through your law interview and passed with flying colours! 

    Remember to speak confidently, sit confidently, look confident! This is your first step in becoming a law graduates and becoming a lawyer that represent people by upholding justice. So you need to convince the interviewer that you got what it takes and you deserve to be there. 

    All the best! Much love xx

by me; somewhere in Cameron Highland