New! No-hassle virtual interviewing free on Indeed

There's no software to download or meeting links for you to manage. Here's how it works.

Step 1

Post your job

Reach the world's largest pool of job seekers when you post on Indeed. As candidates apply, you can connect with them on the platform.

Step 2

Schedule a conversation

Our virtual interview experience is the default when you schedule time with your candidate.

Step 3

Connect with your candidate

When the candidate accepts your interview invite, you'll both get an email with a link to your video conference. Open the link to test your connection, and get started. It's that easy.

Get started

Legal Secretary Interview Questions

Post a Job
Are you a job seeker? Find jobs
  1. As a legal secretary, what kind of experience do you have communicating with attorneys and judges? See answer
  2. What kind of legal transcription experience did you gain through your previous employer? See answer
  3. What computer-related skills do you possess that are beneficial to a law firm? See answer
  4. At your previous place of employment, can you name some specific tasks that you handled for the attorneys? See answer
  5. Can you provide an example of a case that needed a quick turnaround and your role in helping out? See answer
  6. Tell me about a time you adapted to a change in an urgent case. See answer
  7. An attorney at another firm starts asking questions about a big case you’re working on. What do you do in this situation?
  8. Tell me about computer technologies you use most often as a legal secretary.
  9. Protecting confidential data is important to us. Describe a filing system you would use for this purpose.
  10. Tell me about your strategy to avoid errors when proofreading legal documents and correspondence?
  11. When working with legal professionals on urgent deadlines, conflicts can occur. Tell me about your approach to resolving a conflict with a coworker.
  12. Recommend a behavioral change that could make confidential data at a law firm more secure.
  13. Tell me about how you manage your time as a legal secretary.
  14. Describe a project in which you had to multitask a lot. Explain how you handled it.
  15. In your previous job, describe some tasks you handled for judges.
  16. Tell me about what motivates you as a legal secretary.
  17. What hard skills can we help you to develop?
Show more questions Show fewer questions

6 Legal Secretary Interview Questions and Answers

Q:

As a legal secretary, what kind of experience do you have communicating with attorneys and judges?

A:

Legal secretaries need to have strong verbal and nonverbal communication skills, as they speak to clients, law enforcement, attorneys and judges on a daily basis. You’ll want a legal secretary who conveys messages between your attorneys and others in a positive and professional manner. The candidate should have experience creating email and print communications in a professional tone. The individual will need to represent your law firm appropriately when speaking to others. What to look for in an answer.

  • Experience working with key stakeholders
  • Strong communication skills
  • Ability to present law firm in a positive manner

Example:

“I communicated with clients, judges, attorneys and law enforcement on behalf of the attorneys at my previous firm in person, on the phone and through emails on a daily basis.

Q:

What kind of legal transcription experience did you gain through your previous employer?

A:

Legal secretaries transcribe case details and report using dictation software. They transcribe the data accurately and create printed copies for the clients’ files. You’ll want a candidate who checks transcription files retrieved from email and company software. The applicant should follow instructions explained in the recordings and documents as directed by attorneys and partners. The potential hire should also be familiar with legal terminology and use it correctly. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience with legal transcription
  • Understanding of how to generate case notes and reports using dictation software
  • Knowledgeable about legal terminology

Example:

“I developed legal transcription skills through my past experience as a legal secretary, and I transcribed case notes and dictated reports for the attorneys.”

Q:

What computer-related skills do you possess that are beneficial to a law firm?

A:

Legal secretaries perform clerical duties in a law firm setting. They have experience using popular software platforms and know how to create documents and spreadsheets. A good candidate should be comfortable sending faxes and emails and printing out documents for case files. The applicant needs to have computer experience and not require additional training. A potential hire should also have experience updating and maintaining client case files for attorneys. What to look for in an answer:

  • Excellent computer skills
  • Experience using Microsoft software
  • Familiarity with performing clerical duties for attorneys

Example:

“I have experience using Microsoft Office suite software and an expert proficiency level. I managed spreadsheets, word processing duties and created documents from dictation software for the attorneys at my previous firm.

Q:

At your previous place of employment, can you name some specific tasks that you handled for the attorneys?

A:

A legal secretary multitasks and is organized and detail-oriented. Legal secretaries often complete expense reports for attorneys, set up travel arrangements and manage billing requirements for the firm. A good candidate will be proficient at scheduling court dates and meetings with clients as directed by the attorneys. They should also be able to contact clients, confirm appointments and complete tasks correctly and without errors. The potential hire will be able to work well in a fast-paced environment. What to look for in an answer:

  • Detail-oriented and organized
  • Multitasks and thrives in a fast-paced work environment
  • Experience with managing expenses, billing, scheduling and travel arrangements

Example:

“At my previous law firm, I managed expenses for all three attorneys, created invoices for clients, set up meetings and court dates, and made travel arrangements as needed.

Q:

Can you provide an example of a case that needed a quick turnaround and your role in helping out?

A:

A legal secretary follows instructions well and doesn’t make mistakes. He or she adapts to an ever-changing work environment and is prepared when sudden changes are made. You’ll want an applicant who adapts to the current circumstances immediately and manages all office requirements. In a legal setting, your potential hire will need to provide details about cases quickly and help attorneys find information as needed. A legal secretary should also act as a liaison between the law firm and the court frequently. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience following verbal and nonverbal instructions
  • Completes tasks on short notice
  • Adapts well to an evolving work environment

Example:

“At my previous firm, we had a hit-and-run case that needed to go to court within a week. I did a lot of overtime helping the attorneys research the site of the accident.

Q:

Tell me about a time you adapted to a change in an urgent case.

A:

A legal secretary has to adapt to meet rapidly changing requirements. An employer can use this question to find out if a candidate is flexible and has relevant industry experience. A competent legal secretary candidate would demonstrate adaptability to workplace changes and experience-based skills in problem-solving.

An answer should emphasize:

  • Ability to adapt quickly to changes
  • On-the-job experience
  • Strong problem-solving skills

An example answer to this question could look like this:

Example:

"I was providing administrative support to attorneys in a case that was due in court the next day. While printing some new documents needed for the case file, the printer stopped working. Rescheduling my research work, which had a nonurgent deadline, I called the repair technician and used the printer in another department to print the first batch of documents while coordinating the repair via phone."

Post a Job
Are you a job seeker? Find jobs
Ready to get started? Post a Job

Explore Interview Questions by Title

A-C D-H I-L M-P Q-S T-Z
No search results found

    *Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your career or legal advisor, and none of the information provided herein guarantees a job offer.