Getting a job as an associate in a family law practice is tough. The firms tend to be small, and openings are rare. If, however, you’re committed to practicing family law and prefer to start off with a firm, there are things you can do that will improve your odds of landing the ideal position.

Last year, I interviewed some leading practitioners and sought their advice on how you should approach the interview process. These practitioners represent a range of practices with differing needs and requirements. Even with their diversity, however, some common themes emerged.

Listen to these audio interviews, and you’ll gain some insight that will help you with your interviews at law firms seeking to bring on new lawyers. Click on the names to listen to the recordings.

Randy Kessler is the Chair of the American Bar Association Family Law Section and founder of Kessler, Schwarz & Solomiany, PC in Atlanta.

Anita M. Ventrelli is the former Chair of the ABA Family Law Section and a partner of Schiller, DuCanto and Fleck in Chicago.

Miles Mason is the founder of Miles Mason Family Law Group in Memphis.

Lisa Gelman is the founder of Gelman & Associates in Toronto.

Each of these practitioners has interviewed and hired associates for years. Each approaches the hiring process in a unique way, and all of them look for different things in the answers to the questions they ask. Listening to these interviews will better prepare you for when you walk into the room than you might have been otherwise. With the help of these excellent and experienced family law practitioners, you’ll vastly improve your chances of getting the offer you’re seeking.