Interview Speed Prep · the final round · B1+ Business English · 60-min crash prep
Everything else is bank — return to it tonight after the call, or tomorrow. The lesson stays open.
These are the questions every conversation opens with. Don't memorise an answer — just say each one out loud in your own words. The line underneath is a sample structure — replace every blank with your own detail.
By now you should feel looser. The hard stuff comes next, but you are warmed up.
Your real fear is not the questions — it's the moment you don't catch a word or can't find one in English. These phrases buy you 2-3 seconds and keep your composure. They are the most professional thing you can say.
Don't memorise the phrases. Recognise the situation — the right phrase will come.
Six questions a European director typically asks a Russian-law in-house counsel — paired with the basic legal vocabulary you'll likely need for each. Read · say the chips out loud · think how YOUR answer would start.
The single most useful skill for your role: turning Russian-law concepts into plain English the director can act on. Six ready-to-use frames — tap to hear.
Director: Tell me a little about yourself.
You: Thank you. I'm a lawyer specialising in Russian law. I have around ___ years of professional experience. In my current role, I mainly handle ___ and advise clients or colleagues on ___. What attracts me to this opportunity is the chance to use my legal expertise in an international business environment.
Director: Why our company? What attracts you?
You: What attracts me is the opportunity to work in an international environment while applying my expertise in Russian law. I'm also interested in understanding how the local legal team works with European management and other international stakeholders. The position seems to combine legal expertise, business judgement and international communication — a combination I find particularly attractive.
Director: How do you work with a manager who is based in another country?
You: I believe successful international cooperation depends on clear communication, realistic deadlines and regular updates. I usually try to explain the context, identify the main risk and suggest a practical next step. I'm also comfortable asking clarifying questions when expectations are not completely clear.
Director: Tell me about a difficult professional situation and how you handled it.
You (STAR): A good example was when we faced a sudden change that affected an ongoing matter. The Situation was that we were in the middle of advising the client. My Task was to assess the impact and recommend the right next step. The Action I took was to map the legal risks against the business priorities and prepare a memo with two or three clear options. The Result was that the client made an informed decision quickly, and the working relationship became stronger because we had been honest about the trade-offs.
Director: What is one area you are actively working to improve?
You: One area I am actively developing is concise communication in English. Because legal issues can be complex, I want to explain them clearly without unnecessary detail. I have been practising this deliberately, and I already feel more confident structuring my answers and focusing on the key point.
Director: Tell me about a difficult negotiation.
You: A good example was a settlement negotiation last spring. Situation — a long-running contract dispute was about to go to court. Task — find a settlement before the hearing, because litigation would damage a key client relationship. Action — I prepared a structured offer in three layers (what we would concede, what we would not, what we needed in writing) and I led two rounds of meetings with the other side. Result — we settled within a week, the client kept the relationship, and we billed two-thirds less than a full trial would have cost.
You (about the role): "If you imagine someone doing brilliantly in this role twelve months from now, what would they have delivered?"
Why it works: shows you think in outcomes, not in tasks. Senior frame.
You (about the team): "How does the international team typically work with Russian counsel — closely, as advisors, or more independently?"
Why it works: shows you've thought about the cross-border dynamic and you care about fit, not just the title.
You (about the director, classy closer): "What do you personally enjoy most about leading this team from where you sit?"
Why it works: humanises the conversation, lets the director talk about themselves — interviewers leave happy when they get to share.
Each spin gives you a question + a one-line strategy ("watch for…"). Don't try to give the perfect answer — just keep speaking, use the rescue phrases when you stumble.
Task: Pick one of the Top 5 questions. Answer as if the director just asked you. Aim for 60-90 seconds. The system listens for four things:
Tap Start and speak. You'll see four checkmarks turn green as you cover each point. Re-record as many times as you want. Nothing leaves your browser.
You have your one-minute introduction, two specific reasons for the company, one STAR-shaped story, and two strong back-questions. Before bed: read your stories aloud once, then sleep. Tomorrow, breathe slowly, use the templates as scaffolding — not as a script — and remember that this is a conversation, not an exam.
Sit straight, take a breath. Press Start. The director will ask you five questions in sequence. After each, you have 60-90 seconds to answer. Don't think about perfect English — think about structure, examples, and presence. The AI Coach in Block 8 above already records and grades — open it in a second tab if you want the live feedback.
Pro tip: do this twice. First run — focus on structure. Second run — focus on calm voice and pauses.
Send this to your recruiter within 24 hours of the interview, asking them to forward it to the director. Or directly to the director if you have their email. Keep it short. Keep it specific. One concrete reference to your conversation = senior signal.