MockQuestions

Paralegal Mock Interview

30 Questions Created By

To help you prepare for your Paralegal interview, here are 30 interview questions and answer examples.

First Question

30 Paralegal Interview Questions

10 Interview Questions With Sample Answers

1.   Do you take criticism well?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

All positions will be subject to feedback, which can sometimes be perceived as criticism. As a paralegal, you may also receive criticism from clients as you are often the front-line communication point for the firm. The interviewer wants to know how you address or cope with such interactions.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

How to Answer

In your answer, provide an example of specific feedback you received and how it affected your work going forward. Also, talk about how your relationship with the person who provided the feedback evolved after that discussion.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"I am always open to feedback on my work. I would prefer that criticism comes with additional feedback on how to improve. If I am doing something incorrectly, I am happy to correct it but may need some additional guidance."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

2.   Tell me a little bit more about your work at your last position. How did you handle assignments, schedules, various tasks, etc.?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

The interviewer wants to get an idea of previous work environments that you have worked in to help determine if you would be a good fit for the company. It can also provide insight into what training may be needed to successfully onboard you into the position.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

How to Answer

In your answer, provide your general responsibilities in your last position. But it will also be helpful to provide specific examples to further explain how you tackled specific duties. Share specific examples that highlight your successes in that role.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"In my last position, I worked as a paralegal for an in-house legal department at Company ABC. There were five attorneys and three other paralegals on the team. We each were assigned a specific attorney that assigned most of our work. They used Asana project management software that helped us calendar and prioritize tasks. We also had weekly team meetings that provided further guidance and feedback on our work. I enjoyed this work environment but decided it was time for a change as I wanted to work in a law firm rather than a corporate legal department."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

3.   How would you describe your work ethic?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

This question can help determine if you will fit into the company culture. Depending on your answer, the interviewer may get better insight into which attorneys you will work best with.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Focus Your Answer On

Explain your general approach and work ethic. You can also provide specific examples of how you have applied this in past work for better context.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"I am a goal-focused person who can work independently after I have my assignment. I know how to stay focused and get things done. I appreciate it when my colleagues have similar attributes."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

4.   What motivates you to take initiative at work?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Each employee is motivated by different things. Some need encouragement, others need freedom in how the task is done, and others may be looking for a reward. The interviewer is looking for insight into your expectations and motivation.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Focus Your Answer On

Think about a successful task you completed and determine what it was that drove you to success. It may not be immediately obvious what motivates you so take the time to think through a few items in your past experience to see if there is a pattern of your drive.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"I am looking to make an impact on people's lives. It doesn't have to be a huge impact, but I want to know that when someone needed help, I was able to provide it. As a paralegal, I have the opportunity to help both the attorney and the client. Being able to spot what people need and help them achieve their goals motivates me to work harder."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

5.   What do you foresee as the toughest challenges you will face if hired?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

There are plenty of challenges in every job. But the specific challenge a person sees is often unique to their strengths, experience, and worldview. By learning this information, the interviewer can note specific training or mentoring you may need if you accept the position.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Focus Your Answer On

Identify the challenge you perceive and provide context for why you believe it will be challenging. If you know specific training or conversations that can help it seem less challenging, include that information as well.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"I believe the toughest challenge in this position will be dealing with an upset client. I choose to enter the legal field because I want to help people and solve problems. However, I also know this is not always possible. Inevitably, issues are going to come up. Being on the front line of communication with a client, I understand that I may see or hear more anger and frustration. I've learned though how to not take this personally and to simply maintain calm and professional communication. It can still be difficult at times though."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

6.   Paralegals are essential to the legal team working on a trial or transaction. How do you see your role working on a team?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

The interviewer may be asking this question to ensure your understanding of the job description matches the tasks that will likely be assigned to you. If you have questions about the specifics of the job, this would be a great opportunity to start that conversation.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Focus Your Answer On

Include your expectations on typical tasks that you are going to be doing in the position. But you can also include some items that you enjoy working on and let the interviewer know that you would appreciate the chance to develop those skills further.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"Paralegals primarily provide administrative support to the team. This can include helping attorneys stay organized, on track, and facilitating communication with the client. However, just because the primary function is administrative support, paralegals can also provide helpful insight and perspective on the case or transaction. I would appreciate working with colleagues who can recognize the value that all staff members bring to the team."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

7.   What are some of your strengths?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Knowing an individual's strength can help with determining what tasks are best assigned to them. It also helps to gain a more personal insight into what you enjoy.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Pro Tip

Sometimes it can be difficult to articulate our strengths. By taking an assessment or personality test, you may benefit from learning the specific language to describe your unique strengths.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"I have a strong sense of responsibility, a deep love for learning, and enjoy developing strategies. I believe each of these strengths will prove beneficial in the paralegal role. I naturally feel invested in the tasks that I am assigned, which builds trust in my work and accountability. I love learning new things so I train quickly on new tasks and systems. And I can be a sounding board for attorneys as they think through a case or transaction for clients. I look forward to further investing in these strengths and developing skills in this role."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

8.   Do you have experience filing documents with the courts (for litigation) or secretaries of states (for transactions)?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Filing documents with the applicable entity is the paralegal's responsibility. If you do not have experience with filing documents, the interviewer knows to include this in your training.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Focus Your Answer On

If you have experience, be sure to include the different filing systems you have used and any issues you encountered (and solved). If you do not have this experience, assure the interviewer that you are a fast learner and provide an example of another system you were successfully trained on and utilized.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"I do have experience filing documents with the secretary of state for business formations. I assisted an attorney last year who practiced in corporate law and many of our clients formed LLCs for new business ventures. I found the filing system to be very user-friendly and never encountered any issues or rejections."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

9.   What experience do you have as a paralegal?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

The interviewer may have questions on past experience included on your resume. Or if you do not have a paralegal role listed on your resume, they may want to know how you plan to transfer your experience into this role.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Focus Your Answer On

It is possible that you had previous positions that included paralegal responsibilities but they were done under a different job title. If that is the case, clarify your experience and show the interviewer how you qualify for this role.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"I previously worked as an executive assistant. During my time in that position, the attorney started to assign me many tasks that I see in a paralegal job description. I assisted with filing court documents and located court documents to facilitate her research. It was a smaller office so even though I did not have a paralegal title, I believe I was performing many tasks that I would be in this role."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

10.   Tell me about your legal experience.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

The interviewer wants to know more about your past experience. If you have not had a paralegal position before, talk about applicable coursework from school or other experience you believe is transferrable to the role.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Focus Your Answer On

The question is asking for legal experience specifically so if you do not have much work experience, you will have to use other experience and explain how you plan to apply it to this position. Or perhaps you have a story of what inspired you to move into the legal field that would help clarify your desire to work in the position.

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

Answer Example

"I decided I wanted to work as a paralegal during my undergraduate studies. After getting my bachelor's degree, I took night classes for my paralegal certification. I made sure to network with those instructors so I could better learn what is expected from a paralegal. I also worked as a research assistant for one of my instructors, which helped with my legal research and writing skills. While I have not worked in a paralegal position before, I am confident that I bring skills to the position that will help me succeed in this role."

Written by Nicole H. on January 17th, 2022

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