Family Lawyer

☛ Why do you want to practice law?

☛ Tell us about a time you exhibited independence in your work?

☛ Why did you choose to study [insert subject]?

☛ What was your favourite subject?

☛ Why are you interested in the work that our firm does?

☛ How is our firm distinguished from others?

☛ What current news issues are you following?

☛ What can you bring to the firm?

☛ Why did you leave your previous job?

☛ What do you like to do in your spare time?

☛ What three words would sum you up?

☛ What brought you to law as opposed to commerce or elsewhere?

☛ Who is a role model in your life?

☛ What do you hope to get out of a clerkship at our firm?

☛ What if my morals conflicted with work I was asked to do?

☛ What stands out to you about this firm?

☛ What are your best three and worst three qualities?

☛ Why do you want to work at this firm over another firms? Have you applied to other firms?

☛ Describe a time when you came up with an innovative solution to a problem

☛ What are the cases that our firm worked on that you find particularly interesting?

☛ Tell me about your college experience.

☛ Why did you choose this major?

☛ What do you intend to do with your degree?

☛ Are you changing your original goals?

☛ What was your grade point average (GPA) in college? in paralegal school?

☛ Were you an honors student?

☛ What was your favorite subject?

☛ What was your least favorite subject? Why?

☛ Tell me the areas in which you excelled.

☛ Tell me your weakest subject areas.

☛ Were you employed while attending school?

☛ Are you planning to complete college/paralegal school?

☛ Why did it take so long to complete your degree?

☛ Why did you decide to become a paralegal?

☛ Why did you change careers?

☛ Why did you choose the ABC Paralegal School?

☛ How has your education prepared you for a paralegal job?

☛ What professional seminars have you attended in the past year?

☛ What are your future educational plans?

☛ Does your grade point average reflect your work ability?

☛ Name three subjects you learned that could be used in this position.

☛ Are you planning to attend law school or grad school?

☛ Tell me about your best/worst assignment.

☛ Did you participate in a paralegal internship program?

☛ What did you gain from the experience?

☛ Do you have a paralegal mentor/role model?

☛ Why did you choose this person?

☛ Are you a CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) or a PACE-registered paralegal (Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam), or have you applied to take either test?

☛ How has this certification or registration helped or hindered your job search?

☛ How do you react to on-the-job-training?

☛ Did you bring college/paralegal school transcripts with you? Can you provide them?

☛ What is your current salary?

☛ What is your base salary?

☛ Are you compensated for overtime? How much do you receive in overtime pay?

☛ Did you receive a bonus? If so, what was it based upon?

☛ Do you hold an exempt (not paid overtime) or nonexempt (overtime is paid) position?

☛ What salary are you seeking?

☛ Excuse me????

☛ Would you be interested in a temporary to permanent position? If so, what is the hourly rate you are seeking?

☛ What was your total compensation?

☛ We start all our entry-level paralegals at $ per year. (You are expected to respond.)

☛ Can you work overtime? (Requires a yes or no answer only.)

☛ We offer a bonus based on merit. (You may be expected to ask a few questions here.)

☛ Are you open for negotiation regarding your salary requirements?

☛ Can you work weekends?

☛ Are you available for the night shift?

☛ What would you like to be earning in 5 years?

Just because the firm may ask you questions relating to your technology skills does not mean that you are prohibited from finding out just how technologically savvy they may be! If you are a new paralegal or a veteran exploring a job change, here are sixteen questions you can ask to help you evaluate your potential new employer's orientation to technology utilization in the practice of law:

☛ What programs are paralegals expected to know, and how are those programs used?

☛ Do members of the firm use E-mail internally to communicate with each other? With their clients?

☛ Are paralegals provided laptops? Are attorneys provided laptops? Do they use them?

☛ Does the firm have a Web site? How often is it updated? Are paralegals included on the Web site?

☛ Does the firm have a technology committee? Do any paralegals sit on that committee?

☛ What ongoing training does the firm provide to maximize comfort level with new and existing technology?

☛ What is the firm's attitude toward the virtual office? Do any paralegals in the firm work from home or a client's office?

☛ Is the firm's computer technology compatible with clients'?

☛ Does the firm have an MIS director, and if so, what is that person's relationship to the firm's management committee? How much interfacing is there between the MIS director and the paralegals?

☛ What is the firm policy regarding the Internet and employee privacy issues?

☛ If the firm has multiple offices, are they networked? Does the firm have an Intranet or Extranet?

☛ What operating system does the firm utilize? (Is the firm still using DOS?) What are the plans for the future?

☛ Does the firm have an in-house litigation support department? If outsourced, to whom?

☛ How does the firm utilize imaging and scanning services?

☛ How does the firm market its technology to clients?

☛ Does the firm utilize computers in the courtroom?

☛ Can you describe a typical assignment?

☛ Can you describe a typical day in the life of a paralegal in this position?

☛ Does the position have a full pipeline of work?

☛ How many attorneys and paralegals will I work with?

☛ Why is this position open?

☛ How many paralegals have held this position in the past 5 years?

☛ What are the computer skills required for this position?

☛ If the senior partners retire, does the firm continue on?

☛ What do you expect this paralegal to accomplish?

☛ Will I cross-train in other practice areas of the firm?

☛ What access do paralegals have to word processing?

☛ What access do paralegals have to the law library?

☛ How long has this position been open?

☛ What are the precise characteristics to be a successful candidate?

☛ What is the skill level required for this position?

☛ What software packages will I be expected to know?

☛ Does the firm/corporation have a structured paralegal program?

☛ What is the hiring process?

☛ Would you like a writing sample?

☛ Does the firm have a training program for entry-level paralegals?

☛ Is the relationship between managing partners and paralegals favorable?

☛ What are the most important duties in this position?

☛ What causes a paralegal to fail in this position?

☛ How is my performance evaluated?

☛ What opportunities are there for advancement?

☛ I have some interests outside work. Will I be able to pursue these after hours?

☛ Do you have any other questions regarding my qualifications for this position?

☛ Since I will be working with (five) attorneys, is there a formalized policy for prioritizing the work?

☛ Will I have client contact?

☛ What are the most important goals of this position?

☛ When will you make a hiring decision?

☛ Does the paralegal in this position have an office?

☛ How would you rate your computer skills?

☛ What are your computer skills?

☛ Tell me the software in which you are proficient.

☛ Do you know how to use spreadsheets? Which ones?

☛ Can you use a MAC? a PC?

☛ What do you know about networks?

☛ How experienced are you on the Internet?

☛ What do you know about videotaped depositions?

☛ How extensive is your knowledge about imaging and scanning?

☛ Can you design databases?

☛ Have you ever coded documents?

☛ What legal forms software packages do you know?

☛ Do you know Windows 98? Windows 2000?

☛ Do you know Office 99? Office 2000?

☛ Are you familiar with SQL?

☛ Are you familiar with graphics packages?

☛ Tell me about your technology expertise.

☛ Tell me about your litigation support expertise.

☛ Are you a fast learner?

☛ How many year's experience with computers do you have?

☛ How did you use the computer on your last job?

☛ Do you have good data entry skills?

☛ Tell me about your legal research skills.

☛ Are you familiar with WordPerfect or Word?

☛ Do you have a computer at home? A modem? Fax? DSL?

☛ Do you own a laptop computer?

☛ Do you consider yourself computer literate?

☛ How up-to-date are your computer skills?

☛ How do you keep yourself informed about the latest technology changes?

☛ Are you familiar with EDGAR?

☛ What is HTML?

☛ Have you ever used Lotus Live Notes?

☛ What is Explorer?

☛ What do you know about Java?

☛ Yahoo is not a term used by cowboys. What would you say it is?

☛ How have you used these services?

☛ Are you comfortable asking for help when learning a new program? Or do you tend to "tough it out"?

☛ What experience do you have with E-mail?

☛ What is LAN/WAN?

☛ What is your opinion regarding copyright, privacy, and First Amendment rights concerning the Internet?

☛ Do you think the Internet is misused?

☛ Where do you think technology in the legal field is headed?

☛ What do you know about computers in the courtroom?

☛ How has technology impacted billable hours?

☛ What is a browser?

☛ What technology periodicals do you read?

☛ How did you first learn to use a computer?

☛ Can you use the redlining features?

☛ Do you know how to burn a CD?

☛ Did you take any computer science courses in paralegal school?

☛ Are you familiar with any of the latest litigation support software? Which ones?

☛ Tell me about your past position. What were your responsibilities?

☛ Why are you leaving your present position?

☛ Why did you leave your past positions?

☛ Describe your current responsibilities.

☛ How does your current/past position relate to the paralegal field?

☛ To whom did you report?

☛ What do you enjoy most about your current position?

☛ Were you required to bill time in your past position? If so, what were the requirements?

☛ Why were you downsized? Laid-off?

☛ What would past employers say about you?

☛ Are you accustomed to working overtime?

☛ Tell me about your toughest project and how you handled it.

☛ Describe a typical assignment from your last position.

☛ Does your present employer know you are leaving?

☛ Were you responsible for training/supervising anyone?

☛ Why do you want to change professions?

☛ Who can we contact for professional references?

☛ How did you get along with your boss? Coworkers?

☛ Tell me about your last performance review.

☛ Why do you want to work here?

☛ Why should we hire you over other candidates?

☛ What do you know about our firm/company?

☛ When can you start a position?

☛ What would you like to be doing in five years?

☛ Have you ever written any articles/taught courses?

☛ Your resume reflects a two-year gap. Did you work during that period?

☛ What is your hourly billing rate?

☛ What is the associate's billing rate?

☛ If both you and the associate are working on my case at the same time, am I billed at your combined rates? (Some firms do that only if two attorneys are needed, such as at trial. Others do it routinely, and others only bill you at the higher attorney's rate.)

☛ Is your fee for trial different from your hourly rate? (Some attorneys charge a set fee for every day they are in court.)

☛ Do you charge a retainer, and how much is it?

☛ Will the billing arrangements be set out in writing? (Insist that they be.)

☛ What happens when the retainer is used up?

☛ Will you keep me informed each month as to how much of the retainer has been depleted?

☛ What happens if I get behind on the bills?

☛ Can you collect your fees from my spouse?

☛ How much am I billed for copies of all relevant documents? (If the fee is too high, you might want to make copies on your own.)

☛ What extra fees should I expect? (Your retainer will spell out your responsibility for “fees”—what the lawyer charges for his/her time versus “costs”—things like court filing fees, process server fees, excessive postage, messengers, stenographers, or similar out-of-pocket expenses.)

☛ Are those fees due in advance, and will I know in advance what they are?

☛ Am I billed for telephone calls?

☛ Do you have a minimum unit of time you bill me for? (Some lawyers will bill you for 5 or even 15 minutes when a call takes only 4 minutes.

☛ Tell me about yourself.

☛ How well do you work under pressure? Please give me an example.

☛ What would you do if, during a peak work period, someone dropped a document on your desk and said, "please have this done in an hour?"

☛ Do you get bored doing routine and repetitious work?

☛ Tell me about your ability to pay attention to details. Please give me an example.

☛ What stresses you? What really stresses you on the job?

☛ Tell me how you cope with deadlines. Please give me an example.

☛ How would your past employers describe you?

☛ What are your greatest strengths?

☛ What are your weaknesses?

☛ How would your friends/former coworkers describe you?

☛ How do you cope with a changing work environment?

☛ Who are your role models?

☛ Describe a work situation where you were the "hero."

☛ Describe a situation you could have handled better.

☛ Describe a situation that demonstrates you are a "self-starter."

☛ What are your feelings about a dress code? Casual day?

☛ Why should we hire you?

☛ Our paralegals are expected to bill 1,600 hours per year. Can you do that?

☛ Describe how you would handle an irate client/attorney/ colleague/supervisor.

☛ Describe how you would handle an overworked, stressed-out, about-to-go-to-trial attorney/client/colleague.

☛ What is your greatest attribute?

☛ How do you get along with others?

☛ Are you better in a team environment or as an independent player?

☛ Are you a team leader? If so, please describe an instance that demonstrates your leadership.

☛ What would you do if you were faced with an unethical dilemma?

☛ What is your retainer fee?

☛ What is your hourly billing rate?

☛ Do any fees I pay include the services of any associates who work on my case?

☛ If my case goes to divorce court with there be extra fees?

☛ Will I sign a contract outlining the fee arrangement?

☛ Will I be sent itemized bills?

☛ Will I be kept updated about how the retainer fee is used and when it is used up?

☛ Will you petition the court for my spouse to pay my attorney fees?

☛ How much do you charge for letters and phone calls to my spouse’s attorney or me?

☛ How much will you charge for copies of all relevant documents?

☛ Will there be other costs such as court filing fees, process server fees or other extraordinary fees? Are these costs included in your fees or do I pay them separately?

☛ Will I be billed for communication via phone or email? If so what is your billing structure? Find out exactly how much the attorney feels his time is worth and how he bills for his time.

☛ Is salary based on years of experience or performance levels?

☛ When would I receive a performance review?

☛ When would I receive a salary review?

☛ Does the firm offer a bonus? What are eligibility requirements for the bonus?

☛ Can you give me an approximate range of the bonus?

☛ Does the firm/corporation offer compensatory time off in lieu of overtime?

☛ Can you provide a salary range for this position?

☛ How does the firm recognize and reward performance?

☛ Does everyone in the firm/corporation receive salary reviews at the same time or on anniversary dates?

☛ Since I would not have been with the firm for an entire year when reviews are given, will I be eligible anyway?

☛ Since I would not have been with the firm for an entire year when bonuses are calculated, am I eligible for a bonus on a prorated basis?

☛ Is this position exempt (does not pay overtime) or nonexempt (does pay overtime)?

☛ About how much overtime can I expect?

☛ What is the structure of the firm or in-house legal department?

☛ Who is the person paralegals report to?

☛ How long has the firm/legal department used paralegals?

☛ What is the history of the firm/company?

☛ How many attorneys are in the practice specialty?

☛ What is the ratio of paralegals to attorneys?

☛ What are the practice specialties of the firm/legal department?

☛ How many employees does the firm/corporation have?

☛ Do paralegals work with senior partners?

☛ How are paralegals assigned work?

☛ Is the paralegal program a profit center?

☛ What are the number of required billable hours?

☛ Does the firm/corporation handle pro bono work?

☛ If so, are paralegals involved?

☛ Does the firm/corporation have branch offices? If so, where?

☛ What is the firm's philosophy regarding technology?

☛ Are paralegals responsible for administrative time? If so, what kinds of duties are involved?

☛ Will I have an office?

☛ Tell me about secretarial support for paralegals.