Paralegal Interview Success: Strategies and Sample Questions

It’s no secret that the key to most things in life—including job interviews—is preparation. When it comes to paralegal job interviews, some things are common knowledge, like dressing professionally. But have you ever thought about briskly walking up a flight of stairs prior to your interview? There’s a reason you should (and we cover it below).

Though creating advantages for yourself is important for any type of job interview, this article will focus on interviewing tips and tricks for paralegal or legal assistant positions.

Read on to learn about interviewing strategies that are exclusive to the legal profession.

Six Strategies to Ace Your Paralegal Interview

1. Project Confidence

Whether you are giving a presentation or meeting a first date, confidence is key. Being confident during an interview lets an employer know that you’ll be confident in the workplace too. Confidence is a game-changer in the workplace, helping individuals tackle challenges, make decisions, and communicate effectively. Ultimately, this fosters personal growth and overall success within the organization.

Employment experts Career Sidekick and U.S. News & World Report, offer advice on how to project confidence.

• Show enthusiasm and professionalism. First and foremost, hiring managers look at who will be a good fit for their team, and demonstrating a positive attitude is essential.
• Dress appropriately for the legal setting. Select clothing that is professional and fits well.
• Use strong body language. Think about taking up space with your body (versus trying to make your body smaller, which conveys weakness). And your parent was right—sit up straight.
• Maintain steady contact. Eye contact shows that you are engaged in the conversation. Make eye contact with interviewers both while you are talking, and while you are listening.
• Speak clearly and at a steady pace. This gives you time to answer interview questions thoughtfully. In addition, confident people aren’t afraid to take their time.
• Turn off your cell phone. You want to be present during the meeting.
• If your interview is in person, consider your scent – strong scents can be off-putting.

2. Study Common Paralegal Interview Questions

Though paralegal interview questions may vary depending on the specific area of law the firm practices, there are several standard questions you can prepare for in advance. Here are a few of the more frequently asked questions in the paralegal profession, compiled from The Balance Careers and My Perfect Resume:

10 Common Paralegal Interview Questions

1. What made you decide to become a paralegal?
2. Do you intend to apply to law school?
3. Tell me about any experience you have in dealing with sensitive and confidential information.
4. Do you have experience in the paralegal field? If so, tell me about it.
5. What steps do you take to stay up-to-date your specific area of law?
6. How has your education prepared you to work as a paralegal?
7. Do you prefer working independently or as part of a team?
8. How do you deal with stressful situations?
9. How do you ensure the accuracy of your work?
10. Tell me about a time when you had to interact with a difficult client.

3. Treat an Interview as a Conversation

The best interviews don’t feel like interviews, but instead like compelling conversations. Remember that it’s just as important for you to learn about the company as it is for the company to learn about you.

Extensively research the company or firm that is hiring. It will give you a sense of whether it’s a place that aligns with your goals and values, and it will also allow you to ask more thoughtful questions at the end of the interview. Here are a few interview questions that you should consider asking:

• What are the firm’s values?
• What does success look like in this position, and how do you measure it?
• Who will I be working with directly?
• What do you consider the most challenging part of this position?
• Are there opportunities for professional development? If so, what are they?

4. Make the Day’s Logistics Seamless

All the interview preparation in the world won’t help you if you can’t find the office building. Here are a few things you can do in advance to make interview day less stressful.

• Confirm the interview details, including location and time.
• Plan your route to the interview in advance, and leave extra time in case of delays.
• Bring work samples, legal documents along with clean copies of your resume.
• Touch base with your references before the interview to make sure that they are available, and to give them notice that they might be contacted. Be prepared to provide a list at the interview.
• Get the interviewer’s contact information during the interview (or soon after) so that you can send thank you notes and follow up with any questions. Timing is critical—email may be best. Be professional, as your email reflects your writing and communication style.

5. Get Your Adrenaline Out Before the Interview

It’s natural to be nervous before an interview, and that means that your adrenaline will be pumping. A Forbes article on interviewing suggests walking briskly around the block or quickly walking up and down a flight of stairs (being careful not to mess up your appearance) in order to take your focus out of your mind and onto your body. Since stress management is important for those working in the legal industry, learning tricks to manage your adrenaline and stress levels can be important for self-care in your future role.

6. Review Your Paralegal Materials

A U.S. News & World Report article states that it’s not just about talking the talk—it’s about walking the walk. According to the article, candidates who seem to be ‘all talk’ are one of the biggest concerns for hiring managers. Candidates who can prove that they have the necessary legal research skills to do the job are going to go further in the interview process.

Review a list of common paralegal skills prior to your interview, including legal research skills, attention to detail, case law knowledge, and paralegal software proficiency. Think of how these skills can be specifically applied to the legal profession field. Find examples of ways that you are proficient in these skills, and be ready to discuss this during the interview.

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