Paralegal Interview Prep Forum

[gatesome]

Any advice or suggestions?

[4LTsPointingNorth]

What type of law firm?

[gatesome]

What type of law firm?

business litigation

a branch of law i have very little familiarity with

[4LTsPointingNorth]

What type of law firm?

business litigation

a branch of law i have very little familiarity with

Prepare some anecdotes about how organized you are and how you enjoy working toward tight deadlines. Bonus points if you already color code binder tabs for fun; if not, you soon will.

[hill1334]

What type of law firm?

business litigation

a branch of law i have very little familiarity with

Prepare some anecdotes about how organized you are and how you enjoy working toward tight deadlines. Bonus points if you already color code binder tabs for fun; if not, you soon will.

Working as a paralegal, I have tabbed hundreds of binders over the last year and a half, but I never have actually used color coded binder tabs. I guess I have been lucky.

OP, I participated in the interview process at my firm last spring. I have the following suggestions:
1) If, like my firm, the firm you are interviewing at would like a two year commitment, emphasize your desire to fulfill that commitment.
2) Stress your willingness to work long hours and to work weekends. If you have examples of when you have worked long hours in the past, other than just at school, that is a plus. FYI--you most likely will work really long hours.
3) Demonstrate an interest in law. As I mentioned above, my firm is very interested in having paralegals stay on for at least two years. A genuine interest in law makes it more likely that an individual will do so.
4) Demonstrate a knowledge of how civil litigation actually goes down. I think this is a better way of showing interest in the job than having superficial knowledge regarding the law firm you are interviewing at (though that might be worth having as well).
5) Stress attention to detail, organization, time management, and any computer skills you may have.
6) It may be too late for this one, but make sure your resume is formatted perfectly and is internally consistent. My manager sees an inconsistently formatted resume as being evidence of a lack of attention to detail.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[kalvano]

When I interviewed my paralegal at my old firm, she didn't have any experience in transactional work. The two biggest things I was looking for were attention to detail and a willingness to learn something new. I also wanted to know why the switch to a new area of law. I would have a good explanation for that.

[cookiejar1]

Showcase your attention to detail and your ability to follow asinine directions to a tee.

[scrowell]

Dazzle them with your fabulous personality.

[GOATlawman]

2) Stress your willingness to work long hours and to work weekends. If you have examples of when you have worked long hours in the past, other than just at school, that is a plus. FYI--you most likely will work really long hours.

Is this really true?

IME at multiple firms staff hours have been cut to avoid paying overtime and less benefits. Much cheaper to have two paras working at 30 hours than 1 para working 60

[4LTsPointingNorth]

2) Stress your willingness to work long hours and to work weekends. If you have examples of when you have worked long hours in the past, other than just at school, that is a plus. FYI--you most likely will work really long hours.

Is this really true?

IME at multiple firms staff hours have been cut to avoid paying overtime and less benefits. Much cheaper to have two paras working at 30 hours than 1 para working 60

If you're working as a Big Law paralegal/legal assistant it's true. Much easier for associates to work with one para through the life of a deal/case and not have to re-explain everything, plus the Firm usually bills the para's time to the client at more than 5x the para's overtime rate anyway

[GOATlawman]

2) Stress your willingness to work long hours and to work weekends. If you have examples of when you have worked long hours in the past, other than just at school, that is a plus. FYI--you most likely will work really long hours.

Is this really true?

IME at multiple firms staff hours have been cut to avoid paying overtime and less benefits. Much cheaper to have two paras working at 30 hours than 1 para working 60

If you're working as a Big Law paralegal/legal assistant it's true. Much easier for associates to work with one para through the life of a deal/case and not have to re-explain everything, plus the Firm usually bills the para's time to the client at more than 5x the para's overtime rate anyway

That's funny because I was referring to biglaw firms I've worked at, OL

Apparently some, but it is certainly fewer firms these days than in the past.

Just because a para is working less hours doesn't mean you need more paras per case, it means that para won't be on as many matters

[gatesome]

Interview is tomorrow ... any last tips?

Thanks everyone

[cookiejar1]

Are you interviewing with a biglaw firm? If so, read a little bit about them if they're listed here: http://www.chambers-associate.com/Search/FirmList

[AReasonableMan]

I would imagine that for this position, fit is even more important than it is for SA's.