30 Legal Assistant Interview Questions & Answers

"I believe a successful legal assistant is a person who possesses strong time management skills, communication, and attention to detail. These qualities are essential to maintain multiple projects at one time and fulfill duties for multiple staff members. A successful assistant is flexible while managing case files and open to lending support to the broader team; they are the glue that enables the team to work smoothly and efficiently."

"Based on my research, your firm specializes in Intellectual Property Law. I have legal assistant experience from my previous legal internship in New York that will be extremely helpful for you and the firm. I am eager to immerse myself in IP Law and expand my knowledge in this specialty."

"At my previous legal internship, I assisted a client who was distraught during a complicated divorce. She feared for her safety and reached out to me several times a day to express concerns. I deescalated her calls by listening intently and nonjudgmentally while offering her practical advice and firm boundaries. I referred her to police authorities and stated that I was not qualified to provide advice on the situation. The client felt heard and assisted, resulting in positive feedback from her and my previous employer. When dealing with a difficult client, I remain proactive versus reactive; I attend to situations calmly and rationally."

"I am the best candidate for you because I pride myself in delivering over expectations, and going the extra mile to do things right the first time. My college experience, as well as previous employment, has shaped me into someone reliable, dedicated, communicative, and organized."

"Throughout my career, I have fine-tuned my organizational and time management skills. As an analytical thinker, I have created systems to keep me on-time and accurate. With the use of calendaring applications, I set clear deadlines for each project, and allot time to double-check and cross-reference my work. And, if time allows, I receive third-party feedback as well."

"I manage large-scale projects such as research work by prioritizing each piece and setting clear deadlines. In my previous internship, I had no prior knowledge of New York Law. I quickly acclimated myself to their trademark filing process and the business database to complete all tasks promptly. I worked overtime to account for the learning curve and asked for assistance when needed."

"I do my best work in supportive and collaborative environments. I am ready to jump in and help anyone who needs me, and I appreciate the same gesture in return."

"At my previous legal internship, I would work on multiple urgent legal assignments at one time. I managed the workload by optimizing my time. I utilized the app todoist to prioritize tasks pertaining to each legal assignment and blocked off sections of my schedule to dedicate to research. By doing so, I was not distracted by constantly checking emails or attending to other tasks."

"My most notable strength is flexibility. In my previous legal internship, I juggled primary legal assignments, meetings, phone calls, and unforeseen tasks throughout the day; Flexibility, Time Management, and Prioritization were essential in my success. Currently, my greatest weakness is overthinking. I believe the experience I gain at Legal Assistants will allow me to sharpen my skills and provide me more confidence to address my needs to overanalyze."

"My short-range career goal is to help people every day, utilizing the knowledge that I gained while attending college. This goal will fuel me in my long term goals which include leading a team of junior paralegals or even taking additional law coursework in tandem with my full-time job. My ultimate goal is to be with a firm that supports my learning and professional growth."

"I am currently immersed in knowledge and concepts that I can directly and actively put into use. I am increasing my knowledge base every day and would build upon my momentum by taking on this role."

"I thoroughly enjoyed studying Contracts, because it helped shape my outlook on agreements. The coursework was structured and practical, which was very helpful."

"I am currently taking an online course to strengthen my skills in Microsoft Suite as well as planning to take Intellectual Property units to further my understanding of the area. For me, being a strong Legal Assistant requires not only legal knowledge, but proficiency in the proper administrative tools and applications as well."

"Be prepared to answer questions such as:

"How do you maintain work/life balance?"

"Other than deep breaths, what are other ways you decompress and remain focused through long and stressful workdays?""

"Yes, I consider myself a person who handles stress and pressure very well. Being organized helps me to remain calm and diligent. I once organized a networking event for the Australia China Youth Association. This particular project was large in scale, with many team members to manage. I was charged with finishing the budget, writing proposals, and contacting company representatives. Despite managing several balls in the air at the same time while trying to come in ahead of our deadlines, with the use of a clear action plan and calendar system I took comfort in breaking that large project into smaller, more easily managed goals giving me the flexibility to comfortably shift priorities where needed. Properly setting yourself up for success eliminates any fear of failure. We fear the unknown. Remove the unknowns from a project and what is there to fear, right?"

"I love learning and being able to facilitate and optimize processes. In this role, I would be able to not only contribute my skills to an industry I am passionate about but also know that I am helping shape the entrepreneurial landscape. I have genuinely found a role that fulfills my passions and elevates my skillset."

"The top three things that are most important to me are honesty, support, and transparency. I am seeking an employer who actively encourages employees to be open about their achievements, creating a safe and open workplace for all."

"I will contribute to your firm by being a reliable and professional support person to your law team. I will bring determination, knowledge, and practical understanding; allowing me to help pave a smooth path for the cases your firm takes on."

"I would first describe myself as hard-working. I grew up in a household that embraced working hard for what you get, and have always been prepared to do so, from school and into my professional career. I have a genuine interest in the law, human rights, and how the two come together. I would say the topic of human rights is one of my bigger interests when it comes to the law."

"In ten years, I would like to be a proud homeowner with the ability to take my family to Japan. This has been a family dream of ours, and we would love to take in the sights and culture."