when you interview with a lawyer for admin job

by Melissa Nitzsche 3 min read

How to answer “why do you want to be a lawyer”?

Apr 21, 2021 · What to look for in an answer: Passion for different areas of the law. Ability to engage in all job-related activities. Evidence of diligence and motivation. Example: “I enjoy the daily aspects of both the legal research of being a lawyer as well as being able to interact with and help clients of all types. Q:

What should you look for when hiring a lawyer?

Jul 17, 2016 · Legal Administrator was asked... July 25, 2019. How would your colleagues describe you in one word? (Then followed up with same question about friends) 1 Answers. ↳. Passionate and loud (got a bit of a chuckle) Legal Billing Administrator was asked... May 3, 2017.

What are the interview questions for an administrative assistant?

Mar 01, 2013 · Legal Secretary jobs. Legal Secretary salaries ($60k) Paralegal jobs. Paralegal salaries ($46k) Executive Assistant jobs. Executive Assistant salaries ($55k) Executive Administrative Assistant jobs. Executive Administrative …

What questions do they ask in a law school interview?

What to look for in an answer: Willingness to assist lawyers. Experience in a similar role. Understanding of the role. Example: "I help make a lawyer's job easier in a number of ways. I take on administrative tasks, such as answering their calls, greeting clients, filing paperwork, or preparing case files.

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How do I pass an admin interview?

5 Essential Steps in Preparing for an Administrative or Executive Assistant Interview
  1. Research the company and the person/team you're meeting with. ...
  2. Understand the job description. ...
  3. Have a good grasp of your relevant skills, experiences, and strengths. ...
  4. Run-through some data-entry activities. ...
  5. Expect to answer questions about…

What questions does an interviewer who is interviewing for an administrator ask?

Popular admin job interview questions
  • QUESTION: How do you handle stress? ...
  • QUESTION: Why do you want to be an administrative assistant? ...
  • QUESTION: What computer skills do you have? ...
  • QUESTION: Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult client or customer. ...
  • QUESTION: How do you stay organized?

How do you impress a law firm interview question?

If you are interviewing virtually, all of these tips apply.
  1. Do your research. Lawyers are known for being good researchers. ...
  2. Be presentable and dress your best. ...
  3. Come prepared to ask questions. ...
  4. Be personable and show enthusiasm. ...
  5. Be genuine. ...
  6. Promptly send a thank-you note.
Oct 28, 2020

What questions should I ask in an attorney interview?

Litigation-related questions to ask a lawyer in an interview include:
  • How many court and jury trials have you done and what is your win percentage? ...
  • What is the chance that I receive a favorable outcome? ...
  • What are the risks if the case does fail? ...
  • What are the odds of a settlement? ...
  • How long should I expect this to take?

What is your weakness best answer?

Answer “what is your greatest weakness” by choosing a skill that is not essential to the job you're applying to and by stressing exactly how you're practically addressing your weakness. Some skills that you can use as weaknesses include impatience, multitasking, self-criticism, and procrastination.

What are the top 3 skills of an administrative assistant?

Top 10 Administrative Assistant Skills
  • Organization.
  • Time management.
  • Interpersonal skills.
  • Written communication.
  • Verbal communication.
  • Attention to detail.
  • Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
  • Adaptability.

How do you stand out in a law interview?

8 ways to prepare for a legal job interview
  1. Highlight your successes. ...
  2. Be knowledgeable about what you've done. ...
  3. Frame your experience for the role. ...
  4. Know what's going on. ...
  5. Sell your soft skills. ...
  6. Prepare your questions — and your answers. ...
  7. Dress to impress. ...
  8. Relax and be yourself.

What should I bring to a law interview?

Always bring copies! You can't assume your interviewer will have them. Bring any personal care items you might need: gum, mints, a toothbrush (if you're coming for a meal), extra hosiery, eyedrops, touch-up makeup, etc. And don't forget directions (including parking locations, if you're driving).Jul 17, 2015

What should I expect from a law firm interview?

4. Preparing for the Law Firm's Interview Questions
  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Why did you decide to go to law school?
  • Why did you choose your law school?
  • Is your GPA an accurate reflection of your abilities? ...
  • What makes you think you are a good lawyer?
  • What do you know about our firm?
  • What area of law most interests you?

What are the top 5 questions to ask an interviewer?

7 good questions to ask at an interview
  • Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of the role? ...
  • How could I impress you in the first three months? ...
  • Are there opportunities for training and progression within the role/company? ...
  • Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?

Why should we hire you example?

For starters, I have all the skills and experience listed in the job description, and I'm confident that I can make an immediate impact on your company. It's not just my background in leading successful projects for Fortune 500 companies, but also my passion for the industry that drives me to succeed.Jan 4, 2022

What are your weaknesses?

Examples of weaknesses on the job
  • Inexperience with specific software or a non-essential skill.
  • Tendency to take on too much responsibility.
  • Nervousness about public speaking.
  • Hesitancy about delegating tasks.
  • Discomfort taking big risks.
  • Impatience with bureaucracies.
Dec 13, 2021

Can you please name a Supreme Court case that impacts your practice of law on a daily basis?

The purpose of this question is not necessarily to test the substance of the answer but more the fact that the candidate has an answer. This is indicative of the fact that they are informed and see the larger picture. So much of what a lawyer does relies on having strong background knowledge of the law.

Can you give an example of where you have chosen to involve yourself in the broader legal community?

Lawyers that network and do the “extra-curricular” activities are generally better informed about recent developments than other attorneys. In addition, networking helps a lawyer build a reputation in the legal sector. Attorneys who have better connections with other attorneys benefit from getting referrals of business from those other attorneys.

How do you handle a disagreement with a superior over a legal matter?

Disagreements happen in the practice of law. Two attorneys can reach different opinions about an issue and both can be correct. It is even more difficult when one of the attorneys works for the other. Part of being a successful lawyer is learning how to make one’s voice heard without being overbearing.

Can you elaborate on a situation where you were unsuccessful and how you handled it?

You should get a sense of how the lawyer handles adversity because there is quite a bit of it in the legal profession. A good lawyer will learn from failure and make the necessary adjustments so it does not happen again in the future. Every lawyer will experience failure at some point.

What aspect of the daily job of being a lawyer interests you the most?

Every lawyer has strengths and weaknesses. Some attorneys do things better than others. This question will test what a lawyer believes that they are good at and what interests them. If they indicate that they dislike a critical basic area of the job, it can help you determine where they would be a good fit in your company.

Have you ever worked on a case that was hard not to take home with you? How did you handle the situation?

Depending on the type of law they practice, lawyers may have to work on cases that evoke emotions like those in family cases or criminal trials. This question allows an interviewer to gauge a candidate's ability to maintain their mental health when working on particularly difficult cases.

Why is it important to have an administrative assistant?

It is important for administrative assistants to be independent enough to keep the office running smoothly with limited oversight but it is also important that the administrative assistant’s work preferences and their supervisor's management style align.

What does STAR stand for in an interview?

STAR stands for situation, task, action and result. When using this technique to answer an interview question, you need to clearly define a specific situation you have experienced ...

Legal Administrator at Boeing was asked..

More than 1 interviewer asked me if I could take a joke because it seems they like to prank each other while on the clock.

Legal Billing Administrator at Freeman Freeman & Smiley was asked..

How do you handle a situation with a person in the office that is hard to deal with?

Legal Administrator at Cruise was asked..

I answered these questions to the best of my ability. A lot of them were typical interview questions and may be different for everyone. I stay calm and work out a plan to tackle the highest priority item at a time.

Legal Administrator at Aronfeld Trial Lawyers was asked..

No questioning done by this interviewer. I was prepared and shocked that the COO was unprepared, but he admitted that he lacked experience and did not know how to hire.

General questions

When you're interviewing for the role of legal assistant, you'll likely meet with an attorney, firm partner or paralegal who will be responsible for overseeing your work.

Questions about experience and background

Because a firm may be looking for particular experience based on the attorneys' needs, interviewers often ask legal assistant candidates about their work history.

In-depth questions

An interviewer may ask you a couple of in-depth questions to learn more about what they can expect from you if you're hired. Your answers can show how you support a legal team, the knowledge you have about different legal processes and how you may have managed a difficult situation in your previous work history.

Legal assistant interview questions with sample answers

You can prepare for an interview process by practicing answering sample questions for the role you're applying for. Here are some example questions and answers to review:

Legal Administrative Assistant at Allstate was asked..

If I had an issue with a task or a co-worker, how comfortable would you feel speaking to your boss?

Legal Administrative Assistant at Haynes and Boone was asked..

I told her that I enjoy family time, art and literature, and design costumes, sewing and reading about law.

Why have you chosen to make your career in the field of law?

It takes a dedicated person to deal with the stresses of the law profession. This question is aimed at learning what motivates your candidate to work as a legal assistant and where their personal and professional goals lie.

How do you handle working for difficult people? Can you give an example of when you felt mistreated?

Busy attorneys are not always the easiest people to work for due to the stresses, pressures and frequent strict deadlines of the legal profession. This question will help you understand how your candidate will handle the expected stress, tensions and tight deadlines.

What is your familiarity with technology? What sort of legal systems have you worked with and what is your expertise?

The legal world is changing rapidly, driven primarily by technology. The more proficient a legal assistant is in using various technologies, the more valuable they will be to your agency, and particularly if they are proficient in working with legal technology.

What is your system for staying organized and meeting pressing deadlines?

Legal assistants need to be highly organized in order to meet all the demands that are placed on them on the job. The applicant should have strong organizational and time management skills and a system of keeping track of tasks.

What would you do if you received an urgent call from a client but the attending attorney was in court defending another client?

Legal assistants hold an integral role in maintaining communications within a legal department or law office. They may have to field calls of varying priority levels, including calls from clients. Good legal assistants apply their understanding of the legal system to keep clients informed and connect them with legal resources when necessary.

General questions

These questions help a hiring partner get to know you a little more by understanding your passions, interests and how you may fit into the firm's culture:

Questions about experience and background

These questions help an interviewer understand how your education and previous experience translate to the role:

In-depth questions

An interviewer may ask these questions to get to know how you build a relationship with clients and navigate court issues. These questions also give you a chance to explain your processes and display the parts of your personality that make you the right candidate for the role.

Sample interview questions and answers

Review these sample interview questions and answers to form your own responses:

Law firm interview tips

Here are some interview tips to consider so you can present yourself well to the hiring partner:

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General Questions

  • When you're interviewing for the role of legal assistant, you'll likely meet with an attorney, firm partner or paralegal who will be responsible for overseeing your work. The purpose of these questions is to help a hiring manager learn more about you as a candidate, including what your career ambitions are and why you're applying for their open pos...
See more on indeed.com

Questions About Experience and Background

  • Because a firm may be looking for particular experience based on the attorneys' needs, interviewers often ask legal assistant candidates about their work history. With a better understanding of your unique qualifications, a hiring manager may be better able to compare your experience to those of the other candidates and determine which one to hire at the firm. Consid…
See more on indeed.com

In-Depth Questions

  • An interviewer may ask you a couple of in-depth questions to learn more about what they can expect from you if you're hired. Your answers can show how you support a legal team, the knowledge you have about different legal processes and how you may have managed a difficult situation in your previous work history. You can prepare for some in-depth questions by reviewin…
See more on indeed.com

Legal Assistant Interview Questions with Sample Answers

  • You can prepare for an interview process by practicing answering sample questions for the role you're applying for. Here are some example questions and answers to review:
See more on indeed.com