Hiya
@aspiringlawstudent123
This is definitely a tricky question, and has actually come up for me during interviews. It's also not just hypothetical - it's something that's come up a lot during discussions of professional ethics in my SQE course as well. The reality is that your moral/ethical/political/social views won’t always align with your clients’ (or your employer's for that matter). Part of being a professional is knowing where your own boundaries are. In your answer, you may want to really highlight 2-3 of the following themes or points:
- Show an awareness of professional limits. You may want to ensure that it's absolutely clear that you wouldn't do anything unlawful or anything that could jeopardise your ability to practise. You can also mention this by reference to the SRA Code of Conduct, which is clear on professional/ethical obligations.
- Being a lawyer isn’t the same as endorsing a client. Moreover, if working only for clients you personally support is important to you, your options are limited (you may need to go freelance or find a company that aligns with your values).
- Law firm branding and reputation matter. Very often, the scenarios in which the question comes up will test your ability to weight the reputational risks associated with both advising the client, as well as refusing to do so. If I were ever asked to work on something ethically questionable, my biggest concern would be whether it could seriously damage the firm’s reputation. But in reality, the firm would have already made that judgment before taking on the work.
Beyond that, I think your answer will depend on whether they’re asking about your personal stance or what the firm should do. Again, depending on the scenario, you'll want to consider what ethical/regulatory obligations bind the firm.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions! Good luck!