Tips for litigation paralegal interviews.

Do you have any tips to help prepare for an upcoming litigation paralegal interview?

Are there common interview questions that come up again and again?

Host said: Do you have any tips to help prepare for an upcoming litigation paralegal interview?

Are there common interview questions that come up again and again?

I have run into the following common interview questions:

Tell me about yourself?
What classes did you take in school?
What is your worst quality?
Do you know how to e-file?

Some common questions I would ask as a prospective employee:

1. What are their billable hours requirements? (Have them break it down yearly, monthly, and daily - so you're very clear on this) Do they have a bonus system tied to exceeding those quotas?
2. What kind of Time Keeping system do they use - manual v. electronic? Who will input your time?
3. Do they use case or practice management software - which one?
4. Do the paralegals have secretarial/clerical help?
5. Will you be in a paralegal 'pool' or assigned to a (or several) specific attorney?
6. Do they have electronic document management procedures - what are they?
7. What percentage of your time will be spent drafting/responding to discovery v. legal research and drafting motions/memoranda of law?
8. Do they have an orientation/training for you to get oriented to the firm and way of doing things?
9. Do they have a Paralegal Manager in addition to the Firm Administrator? If not, does the Firm Administrator have a legal background? How knowledgeable is the Firm Admin. about the paralegal profession and relevant issues?
10. Do they have a formal system in place for paralegal development and/or education?
11. Will they pay or reimburse for CLE courses, advanced certification, or even additional paralegal college credit courses? What are the requirements for this?
12. Do they encourage and/or pay for membership and participation in the local paralegal association?
13. Ask about the attorneys you may be working for; how organized are they, are they micro-managers, or more apt to allow you a degree of independence in managing your work load?
14. How flexible are they? Will they allow you to remote in and work from home if you need to stay home w/sick kids, etc.?
15. Get detailed info on their insurance benefits.

Jane Do Girl in Milton, Florida said: Some common questions I would ask as a prospective employee:

1. What are their billable hours requirements? (Have them break it down yearly, monthly, and daily - so you're very clear on this) Do they have a bonus system tied to exceeding those quotas? .

Good Comment Jane Do Girl: I was a Paralegal for 10 years. (about 3 in Miami, FL- really liked the Miami weather) Anyway, when I interviewed for a Paralegal job, in Philadelphia, I found out it was a billable hour job. [Basically, I do not accepted these jobs because I do not want the hours] I asked about the billable hours - when I had the interview with the 2 [obnoxious] female paralegals. They were a piece of work. ALL they would say was the number of hours. repeadedly. In essence, would not answer the question. THat was a turn-off and at that point I did not want the job - but I continued with the interview with the attorneys. Bottom line. Never gave me the information I was seeking. By then, I was no longer interestd in this job, no matter what the pay. If they cannot or will not give me necessary information on the billable hours questions or any information except the number of hours - when I look back- that was a huge RED Flag. There was no way I would get roped into that- the paralegals were so funny- going on and on about how the attorneys treated them like professionals. I laugh, while they work their backsides off with all the billable hours. VERY good question to ask - if billable hours are the job. I have only had 9-5 or 9-6 jobs.

Jane Do Girl in Milton, Florida said: Some common questions I would ask as a prospective employee:

1. What are their billable hours requirements? (Have them break it down yearly, monthly, and daily - so you're very clear on this) Do they have a bonus system tied to exceeding those quotas?
2. What kind of Time Keeping system do they use - manual v. electronic? Who will input your time?
3. Do they use case or practice management software - which one?
4. Do the paralegals have secretarial/clerical help?
5. Will you be in a paralegal 'pool' or assigned to a (or several) specific attorney?
6. Do they have electronic document management procedures - what are they?
7. What percentage of your time will be spent drafting/responding to discovery v. legal research and drafting motions/memoranda of law?
8. Do they have an orientation/training for you to get oriented to the firm and way of doing things?
9. Do they have a Paralegal Manager in addition to the Firm Administrator? If not, does the Firm Administrator have a legal background? How knowledgeable is the Firm Admin. about the paralegal profession and relevant issues?
10. Do they have a formal system in place for paralegal development and/or education?
11. Will they pay or reimburse for CLE courses, advanced certification, or even additional paralegal college credit courses? What are the requirements for this?
12. Do they encourage and/or pay for membership and participation in the local paralegal association?
13. Ask about the attorneys you may be working for; how organized are they, are they micro-managers, or more apt to allow you a degree of independence in managing your work load?
14. How flexible are they? Will they allow you to remote in and work from home if you need to stay home w/sick kids, etc.?
15. Get detailed info on their insurance benefits.

These are all excellent questions. Thanks for posting them.

Paralegal interview tips: legalcareers.about.com/od/jobsearch/a/legalinterview.htm

A competency-based interviewer will spend about half the interview on your job skills, and about half on your behavioral competencies. He or she will be looking for evidence of how you have acted in real situations in the past. So having your stories ready to go, and discussing them during a conversation between two equals, plays very well for this type of interview.

The Interviewer's Priorities: An employer wants to find out:

Are you an asset or liability? In other words, will you either make money or save money for the company?

Are you a team player? Will you fit into the corporate hierarchy or be like sand in the gears? Can you take and give (if appropriate) orders?

Will you fit into the company culture? They don't want prima donnas

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: A competency-based interviewer . CONT'd.

Your Story Strategy

The best way for an interviewer to get answers to the questions above is for you, the interviewee, to take the initiative. You should have several personal stories that you can tell as examples of your successes, and each story should last between 30 to 90 seconds.You should start by developing your stories around these areas:

Examples of when you either made money or saved money for your current or previous employer.

A crisis in your life or job and how you responded or recovered from it.

A time where you functioned as part of a team and what your contribution was.

A time in your career or job where you had to overcome stress.

A time in your job where you provided successful leadership or a sense of direction.

A failure that occurred in your job and how you overcame it.

Any seminal events that happened during your career to cause you to change direction and how that worked out for you.Actions speak louder than words. Your actions in the past -- relayed in story form -- will tell a company much more than any generic response. Your stories will give the interviewer the tangible examples he or she seeks, and they will convey a very strong sense of your individuality, making you stand out more.

THis is how to impress your perspectve employer.

Asking the right questions can also demonstrate your ability to think strategically, and help you decide if the position is right for you. To that end, Stagg suggests ending the interview with this question: "What are you looking for in a candidate to fill this role?" If the answer turns out to be something that doesn't match your expectations, then you need to speak up.

Many candidates are so intimidated by the interview, they forget that the interviewer has a stake in seeing the candidate succeed. Peter Ackerson describes his attitude going into an interview as one of "hopeful skepticism."

They don't want you to fail; they want you to show them why you will succeed with their company. The sooner they hire you, the sooner the search can end.

So here I am at the Paralegal interview at the Big Firm, in front of the Big Department Partners, and the first statement is [I was being interviewed for corporate law position] I DO NOT SEE ANY CORPORATE EXPERIENCE ON YOUR RESUME. [my experience was litigation]

Here is information on how to handle that situation:

Emphasise other characteristics that are desirable for the role and don't shout about your lack of experience.

If you get an interview, you are in a strong position to justify why they should consider you. - SOMEHOW, you have to impress them with your skills learned, that you can do this job.

This is all excellent advice.

Further to Cindy's story-telling advice, behavioral interviewing, or the S-T-A-R, or Situation (or Task), Action, Result method is in vogue. You know you'll be interviewed that way if you're told and/or the interviewer presents with a sheet of questions and asks you to "tell me about a time when....."

In a S-T-A-R interview, you indeed become a storyteller. Describe a situation or task with which you were confronted, the action you took to deal with the task, and the result. You can use S-T-A-R for any interview. An excellent book to read for preparing for S-T-A-R interviews or any interview, for that matter, is "Landing the Job You Want: How to Have the Best Interview of Your Life" by Byham and Pickett.

Finally, I never found paralegal interviews to be much different from other interviews. Preparation, preparation and preparation are key to any job interview. For paralegal interviews, ask for the names of the interviewer(s). You can learn about these individuals on the firm's website, if any, in Martindale or the West Legal Directory, online on the state attorney licensing database and by just googling their names.

Same goes for the firm. Learn as much as you can about the firm's practice areas and history. Also ask if you'll be tested and don't believe it if you are told no. By preparing thoroughly you'll be familiar with the firm, not feel like a stranger, and feel less nervous during your interview.

Kmm, these are all great tips for interviews.They are not only applicable in the paralegal field but also outside of it.I am seeking salaried work right now outside legal and will use many of your suggestions during my own search.I feel that once somebody "passes" (succeeds)an interview with attorneys, that person can pretty much pass an interview with anyone other kind of employer.Thanks again!!

Grant013 in New York, New York said: I feel that once somebody "passes" (succeeds)an interview with attorneys, that person can pretty much pass an interview with anyone other kind of employer...

Actually, I think aviation interviews are far tougher than law, but that's only my experience. I've had to take written exams, flights and simulator evals. I've undergone technical interviews for aviation.

I never had a technical interview for law or had to take a straight written exam. I did have Word, WP and computer testing. I had to write a brief essay during one interview, and proof and revise a document for another. Otherwise, my legal interviews were essentially straightforward. Again, my experience, only.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said:

Also ask if you'll be tested and don't believe it if you are told no. By preparing thoroughly you'll be familiar with the firm, not feel like a stranger, and feel less nervous during your interview.

DLP- Good information. Martindale-Hubble is on Lawyer.com.

Test- written or oral? I did have a written test to take at a Bank for a position in the Trust & Estates department. I knew most of the answeres, I think. I had a lot of it still in my head, but I was not really prepared for a test. They never told me about my test resuts. NOr, did I get the job. I got caught by surprise on the test.

I had an interview for a Bankrupty position at a big firm. At that time, I had bought the Bankruptcy law book for paralegals, and read it, yellow high-lighted it. Anyhoo-at the interview, the Partner did quizz me on terminolgy. I was only half-accced prepared for that. EX- Do you know what a lien is. I gave examples such as a mortgage. BUT I was blurting them out, as my mind went into roller dex warp speed mode. NO- I did not get that job.

I was face-to- face grilled by attorneys for a real estate position. I knew those answeres. Then the "female" got really intensified on lots of specifics on a Title Report. I knew all of them, except one. I was not really prepared to be orally tested that way, but I knew that stuff as it was still fresh in my head from school.

Only times I was tested.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: Actually, I think aviation interviews are far tougher than law, but that's only my experience. I've had to take written exams, flights and simulator evals. I've undergone technical interviews for aviation.

I never had a technical interview for law or had to take a straight written exam. I did have Word, WP and computer testing. I had to write a brief essay during one interview, and proof and revise a document for another. Otherwise, my legal interviews were essentially straightforward. Again, my experience, only.

DId you know about the avaition test beforehand? I never thought to ask if I ws going to be tested. That only happened when I was seeking my first position.

Recruting offices for legal, one time had a written test on all areas of law. I was not prepared for that. Knew most of it. Geez, I would have had to study all my notes from all my classes to be prepared for that one.

Computer test were done at the legal staffing places, etc. And if I applied for a legal secretary positon, I got computer tested, and speed tested. I am not good at speed typing - so that would have been the wrong job for me.

Geez- If they asked me about a stressful time- I would say, Every day - you butterballs are a bunch of pickels. [note codes]

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: DId you know about the avaition test beforehand? I never thought to ask if I ws going to be tested. That only happened when I was seeking my first position.

Recruting offices for legal, one time had a written test on all areas of law. I was not prepared for that. Knew most of it. Geez, I would have had to study all my notes from all my classes to be prepared for that one.

Computer test were done at the legal staffing places, etc. And if I applied for a legal secretary positon, I got computer tested, and speed tested. I am not good at speed typing - so that would have been the wrong job for me.

When interviewing for a Paralegal position- they assume you know the computers. They do of course ask if you know Word, etc - because that is the applicaton they are using at the firm.

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: DId you know about the aviation test beforehand?

I did. They based the exams on FAA pilot and instructor written exams. I knew the material because I was teaching most of it and had taken FAA exams for my ratings, but I studied anyway. The exams were easy - because I had prepared for them.

I also had flights and simulator evals. I would brush up on maneuvers and procedures to prep for the flights, even though I was teaching the maneuvers. I practiced for the sims in my school's simulator lab.

One aviation company, a Fortune 500 outfit, interviewed me over four days. That interview was far more thorough than any airline interview I attended. I was impressed. The company hired me.

Compare with a law firm interview I attended - the one where the recruiter, who had sent me a no-interest letter four weeks earlier, was in such a rush to bring me in. That was the interview where I had to handwrite an essay. She had said "no" when I asked if I would be tested. I didn't appreciate being sandbagged like that and was surprised a big-time firm would do so, but I drafted up something.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said:

One aviation company, a Fortune 500 outfit, interviewed me over four days. That interview was far more thorough than any airline interview I attended. I was impressed. The company hired me.

Compare with a law firm interview I attended - the one where the recruiter, who .... That was the interview where I had to handwrite an essay. She had said "no" when I asked if I would be tested. I didn't appreciate being sandbagged like that and was surprised a big-time firm would do so, but I drafted up something.

Snaps for getting hired at the Fortune 500 outfit.

I think that the people setting up the interview have no clue if there will be any testing.

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: Snaps for getting hired at the Fortune 500 outfit.

The company is a well-known, worldwide and professional flight training organization. My interview belied my actual experience working there to a very disappointing degree - but isn't that true for so many jobs.

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: I think that the people setting up the interview have no clue if there will be any testing.

Perhaps. But, FWIW, I relied in good faith on her word.

At least I was prepared. I wrote about a subject with which I had experience the day before. I was NOT prepared to hand-print my copy; I type (okay, word process) most everything I compose.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: The company is a well-known, worldwide and professional flight training organization. My interview belied my actual experience working there to a very disappointing degree - but isn't that true for so many jobs. Perhaps. But, FWIW, I relied in good faith on her word.

At least I was prepared. I wrote about a subject with which I had experience the day before. I was NOT prepared to hand-print my copy; I type (okay, word process) most everything I compose.

Clarification: with respect to no clue - I reference the legal industry- the people there setting up the interview date have no clue. re: test