Paralegal interview

[M777]

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone had advice for paralegal interviews? How should I prep generally and what should I expect?

Thanks!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Typical type of questions that could come up:

Examples of when you have demonstrated:

- attention to detail
- ability to focus on a lot of information or complex information
- time management skills/conflicting priorities
- determination to succeed/self-drive
- dealing with the mundane and how to stay motivated

Also they may want to ask:
- why you are specifically interested in that role - e.g. why that department/practice area and why the firm. Paralegals can have ridiculously high turn over, they will want to be confident that you will stick the contract out
- what your longer term career goals are - linked to the above, they don't want to hear there is a chance you could drop them quickly for a TC opportunity

Also look at the firms values. That may give you an indication of the "character" they are looking to recruit into their organisation and may also give you some indication of quesitons that could ask (because they want to see you showcase those values).

 

[M777]

Typical type of questions that could come up:

Examples of when you have demonstrated:

- attention to detail
- ability to focus on a lot of information or complex information
- time management skills/conflicting priorities
- determination to succeed/self-drive
- dealing with the mundane and how to stay motivated

Also they may want to ask:
- why you are specifically interested in that role - e.g. why that department/practice area and why the firm. Paralegals can have ridiculously high turn over, they will want to be confident that you will stick the contract out
- what your longer term career goals are - linked to the above, they don't want to hear there is a chance you could drop them quickly for a TC opportunity

Also look at the firms values. That may give you an indication of the "character" they are looking to recruit into their organisation and may also give you some indication of quesitons that could ask (because they want to see you showcase those values).

Thank you for all this, this is very very helpful indeed!

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Typical type of questions that could come up:

Examples of when you have demonstrated:

- attention to detail
- ability to focus on a lot of information or complex information
- time management skills/conflicting priorities
- determination to succeed/self-drive
- dealing with the mundane and how to stay motivated

Also they may want to ask:
- why you are specifically interested in that role - e.g. why that department/practice area and why the firm. Paralegals can have ridiculously high turn over, they will want to be confident that you will stick the contract out
- what your longer term career goals are - linked to the above, they don't want to hear there is a chance you could drop them quickly for a TC opportunity

Also look at the firms values. That may give you an indication of the "character" they are looking to recruit into their organisation and may also give you some indication of quesitons that could ask (because they want to see you showcase those values).

When you are answering these questions should you use STAR or CAR or that is not needed for answering these questions @Jessica Booker as I got a paralegal interview coming up on Monday.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

When you are answering these questions should you use STAR or CAR or that is not needed for answering these questions @Jessica Booker as I got a paralegal interview coming up on Monday.

Only if they are competency questions (eg the first section of questions in my post).

 

[Asil Ahmad]

Only if they are competency questions (eg the first section of questions in my post).

Thank you for this and they did not say what type of interview so shall I assume it will be competency-based interview.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you for this and they did not say what type of interview so shall I assume it will be competency-based interview.

I don’t think you can assume it will be competency based. It might not be (they may just ask you to talk through your CV/it could be strengths based) but it’s more likely to be competency based. I would ask the recruiter you spoke to to see if you can get any further insight on how to prepare.

 

[Asil Ahmad]

I don’t think you can assume it will be competency based. It might not be (they may just ask you to talk through your CV/it could be strengths based) but it’s more likely to be competency based. I would ask the recruiter you spoke to to see if you can get any further insight on how to prepare.

Thank you very much will do that.