Hi everyone! I've just been notified I've gotten through to the next round for a paralegal interview (after having had a first interview with a recuriter). This will now be the second to last interview before the last and final one. It's for an in-house paralegal role and I've been told it will be around 1 hour 20 mins long. Any tips or advice would be really appreciated since i'm not sure what to expect seeing as it's longer than interview's I'm used to. I was told there would be a task involved in the interview too but haven't been given more to go off based on this. If anyone can let me know what I could maybe expect task wise or in the interview itself or any tips (I believe it will be two lawyers in the corporate team) I would be really grateful, thank you!!
Hey
@sqe4676, congratulations on your paralegal interview! I’m assuming that your first interview with the recruiter would have been a chance to get to know who you are and whether you’re right for the role they’re being commissioned to hire for, and the company has now selected you for an interview.
On that basis, as it’s the first time the company is technically speaking with you, they’re going to want a brief run-through as to who you are. So, be prepared to summarise your education, significant experiences in your career (if any), where you currently are and what you’re now looking to do. Aside from this, they’re going to want to know your motivation for applying to them. Although they probably know deep down that they are one stop on your final destination to a TC, I wouldn’t be that honest at this stage. In the past I’ve focused on their focus of work, and linked this to a module on my degree or experience and whenever they’ve asked about qualification, I’ve kept my cards close to my chest and said that at this stage, I just want to experience a career outside of qualification. The choice is yours, but I would say that it is best to be strategic here.
Aside from the introduction, they’re going to ask about competencies, and I’m sure you know the best way to approach this is to use the STAR method. It doesn’t need to be so heavily structured so as to affect your natural tone and articulation, but at the very least qualify any statements you’re making with past experiences/situations.
In terms of the task, it’s difficult to say with paralegal interviews but in an interview setting it is usually a quiz on that particular area of law e.g. I was once asked so many questions about shares, dividends, board meeting practices etc for a corporate governance position. I would advise brushing up on key points of that particular type of work you’re applying for. You may stumble, it is not the end of the world. Personally, I got 60% of my answers wrong and the interviewer corrected me, and I still got the job because they appreciated my approach and way of thinking. So do not panic.
Lastly, ask some good meaningful questions that actually show an interest in the role you’re applying for, ask about what success looks like for them, enquire about the challenges they’re facing and how they’re going about bridging it. Treat this as a chance to check if the place is going to offer you what you really want from this experience.
Good luck!
P.S. If you have been put forward by a third-party recruitment agency, I would ask them for more information on the interview and task. They may have other candidates that have interviewed before you and have fed back to them, so see if they have an update before you sit the interview.
