When going for an interview that has to do with the paralegal profession, there are certain common questions that you are bound to encounter. We have in this article about twenty (20) common paralegal interview questions and answers that will get you prepared.
Before going in for a paralegal interview, it is very important that you get prepared adequately to be able to give appropriate answers to paralegal interview questions that will be thrown at you during the interview session.
20 Paralegal interview questions and answers
Below are the paralegal interview questions and their answers. Ensure to study these questions and use the answer structure/pattern to give the best answers as required of you at the interview.
QUESTION 1: What experiences do you have that are directly related to a paralegal?
Answer: Customer service experience, technical experience, office experience.
QUESTION 2: Please describe a time when you had a disagreement with an associate or a partner and how you resolved the disagreement.
Answer 1: Well, one time there was a problem with the customer’s transaction. The customer refuted that I gave the incorrect change. However I already had the money laid out in front of me. So he disputed he gave me a bigger bill. My boss came by and I told him to check the cameras.
Answer 2: One time me and a co-worker disagreed on how we should go about completing a project. We resolved the disagreement by voicing our opinions and coming up with a solution that we both agreed upon.
QUESTION 3: Do you take criticism well? What if its from a senior partner?
Answer 1: Generally, I managed to develop a tough skin with regards to criticisms. I always make it a point not to let these affect me too deeply or too personally, and instead take them as an opportunity to make myself better, to correct my mistakes, and generally to make myself better. I will also do the same if ever a senior partner criticizes me for my work. I will bear in mind that these criticisms are not a direct attack on myself; after all, the senior partner is just thinking about the best interest of the organization. So if he/she deems my work to be substandard, then will just view this as a motivation to do better next time and to ensure that I am able to uphold the standards of the organization.
Answer 2: I always take criticism as an opportunity to improve myself. I would say criticism from a senior partner could only help me do my job better.
Answer 3: I will always show respect to the partner and listen completely to what is upsetting him and respond in an honest and open manner and explain that I correct the issue immediately, won’t allow this to happen again if it is something that was my fault, if not, I will politely give him/her my side and respectfully ask how he would like me to handle this issue.
QUESTION 4: Tell me about a complex legal issue you had to analyze and solve before.
Answer 1: When I was doing the maritime insurance law course,…..
Answer 2: A man was being sentenced for life for weed which he claimed wasn’t his so we had to meet with his friends and figure out the whole situation.
QUESTION 5: Paralegals are a vital piece of any legal team working on a trial or transaction. Please describe how you see your role in such a team.
Answer 1: My role is to assist the attorney.
Answer 2: I am very organized and very helpful.
Answer 3: I will work to the end to make sure that my boss is happy with the work I complete. I see my role as someone who is very important and someone who the other people need.
Answer 4: I see myself making trial notebooks and preparing the attorney so that they’re organized.
Answer 5: My role in the team would be to assist the attorney in anyway. Also being able to carry my weight and responsibilities that are given to me.
QUESTION 6: How would you describe your work ethic?
Answer: My work ethic is such that follows the laid down rules and modus operandi of…
QUESTION 7: Describe how you carry out your day to day activities.
Answer: I organize my files with top priority to bottom and time it accordingly.
QUESTION 8: What qualifies you to be a paralegal?
Answer: I have a BA degree with one year of law-related work experience verified by a practicing attorney and holds a paralegal certification
QUESTION 9: How would you handle a working partner who wasn’t doing their fair share of the work?
Answer: I will tell them how they need to do more and do their part.
QUESTION 10: How do you manage your time?
Answers: I plan ahead and set time limits for tasks at hand.
I manage my time by delegating what is most important. I organize my day based on doing very important things in the morning and slightly less urgent things in the afternoon.
I prioritize my tasks in the order of importance or deadlines and complete them throughout the day.
Prioritize what needs to be done and create goals.
I manage my time by setting goals and prioritizing.
I make a list based on needs and time to complete and prioritize based on that.
I like to schedule things and doing things in order.
Question 11: When did you first become interested in law? Did you ever think you would try a career in it?
Answer: I really became interested in law after taking my first course in law in college. My interests really shifted from law enforcement to the law field so I think I could see myself having a career in law.
QUESTION 12: What was your most challenging assignment at your last position?
Answer: My most challenging assignment at my last position was….
QUESTION 13: Please describe some of the techniques you utilize to maintain good organization.
Answer 1: I plan ahead, keep a daily task calendar and set reminder systems using software to ensure that I am aware of all priorities.
Answer 2: Maintain a list of what needs to be done, brain storming ways to.
Answer 3: Make plans and stick to them. Always complete a small task as soon as I think of it.
QUESTION 14: What area of law appeals to you?
Answer: Well, I had experience studying…..
QUESTION 15: What hours do you expect to work as a paralegal?
Answers: Standard firm hours and overtime when needed.
I expect to work full time as a paralegal, including overtime into the evening if need be.
At least 40 hours a week.
I expect to work as many hours as my boss needs me to.
I expect most days will be a full 8 hour shift. I am very willing to do overtime in order to complete a task.
QUESTION 16: How do you take initiative at work?
Answers: By making myself available to step in and do whatever is needed in order to meet company goals.
By doing more then is expected of me, sharing my ideas, and asking questions so I can be more knowledgeable about the job.
I will develop a weekly meeting for all the department heads to get together so that everyone knows what was going on.
QUESTION 17: What do you foresee as the toughest challenges you will face if hired?
Answer: Probably long hours away from home.
QUESTION 18: What are your long term goals as a paralegal?
Answer: I hope to own my own paralegal firm/business.
QUESTION 19: What college courses did you favor the most?
Answer: Answer this question with your own discretion.
QUESTION 20: Are you interested in attending law school in the future?
Answer: Yes, I would like to attend law school in a few years.
CONCLUSION
Please note that this article was written to give you a guide as regards 20 common paralegal interview questions and answers with the aim of helping you know how to answer Paralegal interview questions properly.
