Paralegal

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“Paralegal based Frequently Asked Questions by expert members with experience as Paralegal. These questions and answers will help you strengthen your technical skills, prepare for the new job test and quickly revise the concepts”



84 Paralegal Questions And Answers

21⟩ Operational and Situational Paralegal Interview Questions

► What interests you about being a paralegal?

► Why did you choose to specialize in this area of law?

► What education and training has prepared you for this role?

► How have you kept up with your continuing education requirements?

► What's your familiarity with paralegal software? Which ones have you used?

► What kinds of legal documents have you drafted?

► What problems or language would you look for in [standard legal document]?

► In as much detail as possible, describe a time you parsed large volumes of data to prepare a report in the face of tight deadlines.

► Recall a complex legal decision you had to make. Describe the process you used to make your decision.

► If you report to multiple attorneys, how do you decide which assignment to do first?

► How comfortable are you with handling confidential information?

► Some paralegal tasks are repetitive. How do you stay focused?

► Describe a time you worked with a difficult client. How did you handle it?

► Describe a time you turned a negative situation with a client into a positive one.

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22⟩ Career Objectives based Paralegal Interview Question

► What position do you expect to hold in another 2/3/5 years?

► What are your plans to achieve that goal?

► What other positions within the firm are attractive to you?

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

► What is your 5-year plan?

► What thought have you given to your professional future?

► Have you joined a paralegal association?

► Tell me about your dream job.

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23⟩ Characteristics and Traits related Paralegal Interview Question

► 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?

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24⟩ Skills based Paralegal Interview Question

► Did you bring a sample of your work product?

► Can you provide a writing sample?

► Have you had a legal research assignment?

► Do you know how to use LEXIS-NEXIS or Westlaw?

► Are you familiar with federal and state laws?

► What specialty are you seeking?

► Do you speak any foreign languages?

► How would you rate your cite-checking abilities?

► Tell me about your computer skills.

► Tell me about your analytical skills. Please give an example.

► How extensive are your factual investigation skills?

► Have you ever interviewed a witness?

► Can you put together closing binders? Trial binders? Exhibits?

► Have you ever summarized a deposition?

► Have you ever drafted pleadings?

► Have you ever attended trial?

► What do you know about the SEC?

► How would you prepare for a real estate closing?

► Can you prepare subpoenas? Notices of depositions?

► Tell me about the judicial system.

► Have you ever coded documents?

► Tell me about your organizational skills.

► How much experience do you have interfacing with clients?

► What are your crisis-management skills? Please give me an example.

► Describe your worst assignment and how to prevent it, if you could, today.

► Describe an assignment where you were the hero.

► Do you know your way around the courthouse?

► What do you know about imaging and scanning?

► Have you ever formed a corporation?

► Do you have any experience working with government agencies?

► What do you know about CERCLA?

► Have you ever worked on the case/matter? (Checking for conflict of interest.)

► To what extent have you been exposed to mergers and acquisitions?

► Have you ever worked with Blue Sky laws?

► Have you ever Bates-stamped? No? Have we got a surprise for you.

► How are punitive damages awarded?

► How do you prepare jury instructions?

► Have you ever prepared a lease summary?

► Have you been to/studied Family Court?

► Are you familiar with products liability litigation?

► Describe how a trademark is registered.

► Describe the patent registration process.

► What is the procedure to file a copyright?

► Give me an example of your organizational abilities.

► Describe the differences between Chapters 7, 11, and 13.

► What skills do you possess to be a great paralegal?

► Why have you chosen corporate law over litigation?

► Why are you seeking a position with an in-house legal department?

► What is the difference between arbitration and mediation?

► What practice area most interests you and why?

► What are your strengths?

► What are your weaknesses?

► How do you handle last-minute projects?

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25⟩ Benefits, Perks, Vacations, Time Off based Paralegal Interview Question

► Can you describe the benefits package? (Includes vacation and parking.)

► Does the firm/corporation offer a 401(k) or other retirement packages?

► Does the firm/corporation reimburse or pay for continuing education?

► Does the paralegal in this position have an office or secretary?

► What is the vacation policy? How is it accrued?

► Does the firm/company endorse participation in paralegal associations?

► Does the firm/company pay for association dues?

► Are year-end or holiday bonuses offered?

► Does the firm pay for parking or offer a transportation allowance?

► Can you describe the health benefits?

► Does the firm/corporation offer dependent coverage?

► Do employees pay any part of the insurance premium?

► Does the firm offer long-term disability or life insurance?

► Does this corporation offer profit sharing?

► Will I be able to attend paralegal association seminars? Does the firm/corporation reimburse or pay for these seminars?

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26⟩ Basic Paralegal Interview Questions

► Describe your day to day tasks at your last paralegal job.

► How do you think your experiences will best benefit our legal department?

► How has your education prepared you to work in the criminal justice system?

► What methods do you use to organize and review legal documents?

► What do you consider to be the most important skills in an effective paralegal?

► What experience have you had drafting legal documents?

► Give me an example of a time you used excellent written communication skills.

► How comfortable are you dealing with confidential information?

► How comfortable are you working for the defense of suspected criminals?

► What do you do to ensure accuracy in your daily work?

► What do you know about this law firm?

► Have you had experience with any Case Management Software?

► How well do you handle stress?

► Why did you decide to become a paralegal?

► What are your future plans?

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27⟩ Temporary Employees and Assignments based Paralegal Interview Question

► Are you seeking full-time (permanent) employment?

► Can you commit to the end of the assignment?

► Can you work overtime?

► What are your computer skills?

► Have you ever worked in a temporary position?

► What skills do you have for this position?

► Do you take direction well?

► What hourly rate are you seeking?

► When does your current assignment end?

► What guarantees do we have that you'll finish the assignment?

► Do you need an office?

► Can you manage others?

► Are you available on the weekends?

► What agency do you work with?

► Can you start tomorrow?

► Describe an instance where you were required to make an important decision related to a temporary assignment. How did you handle it?

► Have you ever had an assignment like this before?

► Can you travel to the document production site?

► Can you get here on time?

► When is your time card due?

► Who is supposed to sign your time card?

► What would you do if you completed your assignment early?

► What would you do if you didn't understand the assignment?

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28⟩ Position based Paralegal Interview Question

► 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?

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29⟩ Creativity and Initiative based Paralegal Interview Question

► Tell me how you handled the most boring assignment you've ever been given.

► What would you do if you were handed an assignment you didn't know how to complete?

► What makes a paralegal successful?

► Describe an assignment where you took the initiative.

► If you were in a situation where work was trickling in, what would you do?

► If you were in a situation where the volume of work was overwhelming, what would you do?

► How do you motivate a team?

► How do you go about making important decisions?

► Can you work without direct supervision?

► What process do you use when faced with a job-related problem?

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30⟩ Paralegals in the Firm/Corporation based Interview Question

► How many paralegals are in the firm/corporation?

► Have paralegals been promoted into other positions within the firm/corporation?

► How many attorneys or paralegals have been promoted to vice president in this company?

► Do paralegals meet on a regular basis?

► Are paralegals included in department meetings? Client meetings?

► Who supervises the paralegal's work?

► Where do I go if I have questions?

► How do paralegals receive assignments?

► Do paralegals use the Internet?

► Do paralegals perform legal research?

► Do paralegals draft documents in this firm/corporation?

► Does the firm/corporation offer continuing education or in-house training?

► Do paralegals attend trial?

► Do paralegals attend depositions?

► Do paralegals have access to secretaries or word-processing support?

► Does the firm/corporation have a litigation support department?

► Does the legal department work separately from other departments in this company?

► Can you tell me how paralegals receive updated information regarding laws, technology and clients?

► Does each paralegal have a computer?

► Can you describe the culture of the firm?

► What are the long-term plans of the firm/corporation?

► Has the level of paralegal assignments progressed over the years?

► What is the average tenure of the paralegals here?

► Does the firm have a career path for its paralegals?

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31⟩ Past Employment based Paralegal Interview Question

► 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?

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32⟩ The Firm/Corporation related Paralegal Interview Question

► 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.

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33⟩ Availability based Paralegal Interview Question

► Are you available to work overtime?

► Are you available to travel?

► Can you complete this temporary assignment by the deadline?

► How much notice will you give your present employer?

► When are you available to start a position?

► Can you start any sooner?

► When do you graduate?

► Are you available for work before graduation?

► Can you relocate?

► Are you available for training in our corporate office?

► Are you available to meet with the rest of the staff on Tuesday?

► Are you available next week for a second interview/lunch with colleagues?

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34⟩ Describe a complex legal decision you had to make. Take me through the process you took to reach your decision?

As a paralegal you need to be able to make sound decisions independently. Steps include gathering all relevant information and pertinent facts, generating and exploring good alternatives, selecting the best alternative and checking the decision. Focus on presenting a logical and systematic decision-making process.

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35⟩ Do you have any experience in dealing with confidential information? If yes, how well did you manage it?

Being a trained legal assistant I fully understand the importance of confidentiality in legal proceedings and know that even the minor details of any case should be kept confidential. I have always maintained case confidentiality during my work experience and my previous employer can testify the same.

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37⟩ Tell me about a recent complex legal decision that you had to make, and the process you used to make a decision?

It's a paralegals job to make clear coherent decision independently. This includes getting all the required information and essential facts. It's then the paralegals job to choose the best alternative decision, while focusing on a logical and systematic decision-making process.

You should demonstrate all the above to the interviewer

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40⟩ Give me an example of having to organize large volumes of data in order to prepare a report by a tight deadline?

A paralegal must research and analyze volumes of data in order to prepare written reports and summaries. They also have to be able to work under pressure. Describe the steps you took, using a specific example, to identify key issues from a base of information. Highlight how you applied relevant legal principals to the facts in your analysis of the information.

 148 views