Law interviews

Criteria we will use to assess your interview performance:

• Demonstrated interest in, suitability for, and commitment to the subject.
• Evidence of clear thinking and understanding, problem-solving and analytical skills. 
• Standard of spoken English; appropriateness of our course in relation to the applicant's declared interests and aspirations. 
• Non-academic achievement and/or experience, or extracurricular interests, that indicate the likely contribution an applicant will make to the life of the University. 
• Positions of responsibility held. 
• Other relevant skills. 

Preparing for your interview

This year's interviews will be hosted remotely, via the Zoom platform. The formal interview will last approximately 20 minutes, in a Structured Interview Format with two assessors. 

Familiarise yourself with the Zoom platform

You will be able to join the session using your internet browser (we recommend Google Chrome). Alternatively, you may wish to download the software to your desktop and sign up for a free account in order to get to know the system before the interview. There are some helpful tutorials available here. 

Check your internet speed in advance

Do an internet speed test to ensure yours will be at least 1.5Mbps/1.5Mbps (up/down) for high quality video. If you internet speed in your preferred location is lower than advised, your interview may be at risk of disruption, so we would advise choosing a new location such as a quiet room at your school or college. 

We have prepared a template Interviewee support letter (PDF, 89kB) you might like to use to request interview space at your school or college. We suggest logging onto your Zoom invitation a few minutes prior to your interview start time so you can test your audio and video. 

Positioning your camera

Please position yourself so you have a neutral background. Ensure you are well-lit – sitting with a window in front of you is ideal. Try to avoid sitting with a window directly behind you. You may find that using a set of headphones is useful to reduce the amount of background noise and improve your overall sound quality. 

What to wear

Wear something smart, but comfortable. Please avoid patterned clothes as these can make visibility difficult on screen. 

Bringing ID

You must bring photo ID with you to your interview. We will just need to see it when you join the interview to verify that you are the candidate we have invited. If you do not have photo ID, you will not be allowed to take part in the interview. 

Examples of suitable photo ID include (but are not limited to):

• Passport
• Driving licence or provisional driving licence
• College photo card
• NUS photo card.

On the day

Please set up your computer in plenty of time and join the Zoom link at least five minutes before your interview start time. One of your assessors will admit you when they are ready to begin. 

The interview will start with some internet connection and sound checks, followed by your ID check. 

Please make sure you have set up in a quiet room, and have informed anyone you live with not to disturb you during the interview. This includes anyone using streaming services or other activities that could impede your internet connection.

Once the interview has finished, the assessors will let you know, and the call will be ended promptly. No feedback will be given at this stage. 

If there are any problems with the connection during the interview, you will not be penalised. We will make every effort to get back in contact with you to continue the interview. If we cannot overcome these problems at the time, the interview may need to be rescheduled to a later date. 

After the interview

We aim to contact you with the outcome of your interview within two weeks. In some cases, this decision may take a little longer. We will endeavour to update you as soon as we can via email. 

Please note that while you will likely hear from us within this time period, it is unlikely we will offer you a place on the course until after all of our interviews are completed, therefore you may be placed on hold for several months before you hear our final decision. Please be reassured that we will get in touch with you with a decision as soon as we can; this process simply makes sure all applicants are considered fairly. 

Extra time for interviews

Sufficient time is built into our interview design so that extra time is not required. 

Support for disability

If you have a disability, we trust you have taken it into consideration before you apply and that you firmly believe you will be able to perform all of the tasks and responsibilities the course requires. 

To discuss your disability in advance, you can email admissions-law@bristol.ac.uk. 

For advice on studying with a disability, contact our Disability Services team on +44 (0)117 331 0444 or disability-services@bristol.ac.uk.