Guidance on Paralegal Interview

[WeGotThis!]

Dear All,

I have recently been shortlisted for a first round paralegal interview with a boutique dispute resolution firm in London. I have the interview in 3 days and wanted some guidance on what I should expect and prepare. They have only stated that the interview is going to have 2 associates and the HR. The duration of the interview is 30 mins on MS Teams.

Any tips will be really helpful! ☺️

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Dear All,

I have recently been shortlisted for a first round interview with a boutique dispute resolution firm in London. I have the interview in 3 days and wanted some guidance on what I should expect and prepare. They have only stated that the interview is going to have 2 associates and the HR. The duration of the interview is 30 mins on MS Teams.

Any tips will be really helpful! ☺️

Hello!

Congratulations on being shortlisted! 🎊

For a 30-minute first-round interview, I'd say you can expect it to be fairly competency-based and conversational, with a strong focus on motivation and fit. My advice is largely based around my own experience interviewing for my previous paralegal role at a boutique commercial property firm in London, so it might differ slightly, but some things that might help to prepare:

1. Motivation for the firm and disputes

• Why this firm specifically (i.e. boutique, the type of disputes, their clients, their reputation, and the culture)
• Why dispute resolution / litigation (e.g. problem-solving, advocacy, strategy, teamwork, written and oral skills)

2. CV and Experience

• I would go back over your CV and be ready to talk through it concisely
• In advance, I would prepare examples from your previous experiences showing: research and drafting, handling pressure / deadlines, attention to detail, teamwork and communication, proactivity, etc. Even academic or non-legal examples are fine if you have don't have any legal experience yet.

3. Commercial Awareness

• You could potentially be asked about a recent legal or commercial issue relevant to disputes - this is unlikely to be too technical (i.e. it could be around how disputes arise and how firms add value for clients)
• When I completed my interview, I was asked some questions about the type of work that a paralegal in the department would complete, so it might be useful to have a rough idea of what a disputes paralegal might do!

4. HR-style Questions

• These are likely to be strengths or competency based questions
• For example, you may be asked about what you think your main strengths and weaknesses are, how you handle feedback, or why you'd suit a smaller / boutique environment

5. Questions for them

• I would definitely prepare a couple of thoughtful questions to ask (e.g. training, responsibility given, exposure to hearings, the firm culture, etc).
• These types of questions might pop up naturally based on things discussed in the interview, but it is always a good idea to go into it with a few in your back pocket just incase!

Overall, it is likely that they'll be assessing whether you're genuinely interested in disputes, have done your research on the work and the firm, and would work well with the team. I'd try to relax and treat it as a conversation about the role rather than an interrogation (although that is easier said than done, I know!).

Wishing you the best of luck!!

 

[WeGotThis!]

Thank you so much! This was really helpful☺️

 

[Sian]

Dear All,

I have recently been shortlisted for a first round paralegal interview with a boutique dispute resolution firm in London. I have the interview in 3 days and wanted some guidance on what I should expect and prepare. They have only stated that the interview is going to have 2 associates and the HR. The duration of the interview is 30 mins on MS Teams.

Any tips will be really helpful! ☺️

Hi WeGotThis!

Congrats 🎉on getting to the first round, that’s a big achievement! Since the general tips have already been covered, here are a few additional points to help you stand out:

1. Structure your answers
Even in a short 30-minute interview, using a simple framework (e.g., Situation-Task-Action-Result) helps you communicate clearly and efficiently. It makes your examples memorable and shows you can think logically under pressure.

2. Demonstrate curiosity and initiative
Boutique firms often value candidates who ask insightful questions about workflow, case strategy, or client interaction. You could ask about a recent dispute the firm handled and what role paralegals played, it shows genuine engagement.

3. Show adaptability and tech readiness
MS Teams interviews can throw up unexpected issues. Be prepared to briefly explain if there’s a tech hiccup, and demonstrate you can communicate clearly and professionally online as firms notice confidence in a virtual setting.

4. Mind your soft skills
Boutiques place high value on teamwork and client interaction. Think of a quick example showing you collaborate effectively, manage client relationships, or adapt to changing priorities.

5. Closing impression
At the end, summarise succinctly why you’re excited about the role and how you could contribute to the team. A confident, positive closing leaves a strong final impression.

Good luck! You’ve got this, and approaching it as a conversation rather than a test can help you shine!