Legal Assistant Job Interview

LegalLady2

Hi guys,

I have an interview coming up for a legal assistant position.

The solicitor told me the interview will last 40 minutes which has kind of scared me - does anybody have any tips on what would be involved/type of questions usually asked?

All suggestions kindly appreciated. Thanks!

Hunchback

I have no doubt at all that when you come out of the interview you will look at your watch and be shocked - 40 minutes seems like 5 minutes in a job interview, I promise!

Some of the most popular questions can be found here:- <http://www.irishjobs.ie/careeradvice/the-top-ten-interview-questions/> especially be prepared for the first question 'tell us about yourself'. Most interviews start with this question as a means of getting interviewees to relax, but ironically, this question can make interviewees quite nervous if you haven't prepared for it. So expect to be asked to give a good account of yourself at the interview.

Go on to the website of the firm and read over it three or four times - it might be the case that you can refer to something of interest that you came across when you were 'researching' the company.

It is very important as well to have a couple of questions for the interviewer at the end of the interview. The best type of questions are ones that add value from the potential employers perspective. As in, that indicate that you could do something extra for them. For example 'I noticed from your website that there might be potential for periodic updates in the form of a legal blog or something similar. I would be delighted to help with this. Do you think that this might be something of interest to your firm?'

That's all I got at the moment

Oh yes, and record yourself answering the questions using the camera on your laptop or something. Practice answering the top 20 most popular interview questions (google it). Spend a couple of hours doing this and there is a very high chance that you will cover the questions that you will be asked in the interview. Or most of them anyway.

Hunchback

They may very well ask you 'why law?'

I used to hate that question because I used to worry that I wouldn't sound genuine answering it or that I would come across like I didn't even know 'why law' myself.


I practised it a good bit though and began answering it by saying that my skill-sets were suited to the field. Then I said what my skill sets were and gave concrete examples of where I had used those skills to achieve an objective.

I'd mention that you have good attention to detail and come up with a couple of examples of when you showed outstanding attention to detail. Maybe organisational skills and time management skills could be emphasised as well, whilst being backed up with concrete examples of when you displayed these attributes to achieve something.

I think as well that if you have ever worked in, for example, the hospitality industry, say as a waiter or waitress, you could emphasise that client interface is second nature to you. Relationships with clients are huge and you will likely have a degree of interaction with clients, over the phone at least, so this would be important to your potential employer.

Hunchback

So,

How did the interview go LegalLady - have you had it yet?

LegalLady2

Thank you for your advise Hunchback, much appreciated!

Interview went quite well, all the questions were very unusual and extremely not expected! Wasn't even asked the classic "tell me about yourself"!

Landed the job so I mustn't have done too badly.