Sample Job Interview Questions for Legal Assistant, Paralegal, Solicitor and Lawyer Jobs
By Annette Lewis
This article contains a sample of the types of interview questions you will encounter in the Legal Sector and for positions such as: Legal Secretary, Legal Executive, Legal Assistant, Paralegal, Solicitor and Lawyers in both a corporate and a private practice environment.
Most interviews in this sector will follow a standard structure which includes, The Introduction, followed by Setting the Scene, then Exploration, Selling and finally Closure.
The Exploration Stage is all about the questions and these will vary depending on the employer, the level of job you are applying for, the amount of experience you have, the recommended recruiting policy and the personal preference of the interviewer.
You will find that many employers are now using Competency Based Interviewing techniques when recruiting for Legal jobs. You should expect both Competency Based and Behavioural Questions exploring key skills such as:
- Detailed understanding of the law and legal procedure
- Excellent Client Facing Skills
- Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive information
- Attention to Detail
- Ability to analyse large volumes of information
- Interest in the law and an ability to follow procedures
Qualified Solicitors, Lawyers and Senior Law Professionals should expect questions exploring:
- Your ability to manage a team
- Skills with developing and building relationships
- An ability to develop and maintain fee generating streams
- Political and commercial awareness
Sample Interview Questions For IT Interviews
Here is a sample of interview questions for a variety of Legal roles. How would you answer?
Interview Question 2: 'Working within this Banking Paralegal role you will need to have excellent technical knowledge and be up to date with all procedural law and guidelines. So, tell me what is your understanding of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003?'
Interview Question 3: 'Talk me through a complex legal decision you made, where the data was ambiguous or the information led to two different conclusions.'
Interview Question 4: 'Tell me about a time when you had to communicate complex information. What was the situation, what approach did you take and what was the result?'
Interview Question 5: 'Describe a time when you used your skills to persuade a manager or colleague to accept your recommendations.'
Interview Question 6: 'Talk me through a situation where you had to use your initiative to solve a problem for which there was no set procedures.'
* Questions taken from the InterviewGOLD™ Interview System. Click here for more.
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About the Author
Annette Lewis is an accredited interviewer and has recruited for many organisations
within Healthcare, Education, Customer Services and Banking.
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To help you succeed in Legal Interviews,
I recommend the Online InterviewGOLD™ Interview System.
- Arrive Fully Prepared, calm and confident
- Know Exactly What to Expect
- Communicate Easily and Fluidly
- Answer Tough Questions Easily
- Avoid Common Mistakes
- Sell Yourself Effectively and Win
