Top 5 Paralegal Interview Questions

When interviewing for a paralegal position, you want to make sure your knowledge of the law and attention to detail are apparent. Come ready to answer common job interview questions, however there are a few paralegal-specific questions that you should practice ahead of time.

Why did you decide to become a paralegal?

The interviewer wants to know your motivation for entering the field. Make it clear that your true intention is to be a paralegal and not a lawyer.

"I became a paralegal because I have a true passion for the law and criminal justice. I am drawn to the research and data aspect of the industry. Additionally, I love working with a team and playing an integral role in the process."

What tools and methods do you use for the daily planning and organization of your work?

As a paralegal, you must be organized and able to prioritize your workload. Use this question to explain how you achieve that. This is a great opportunity to highlight your use of any paralegal software as well.

"In order to plan and schedule my work tasks and activities, I use Microsoft Outlook. I use various paralegal software programs to organize my case files. A few examples include CaseMap and Concordance. These tools allow for a more efficient and productive work environment."

Are you comfortable working for the defense of suspected criminals?

You might be put in a position where a client is guilty or suspected of a crime that conflicts with your personal ethics, however the interviewer must ensure that won't affect your work.

"Our job is to provide high quality legal services and I believe everyone deserves to be represented equally, regardless of the alleged charges. I pride myself on my level of diplomacy. At the end of the day, I have a job to complete so I would never let personal feelings cloud my professional judgment."

Can you give me an example of a time recently when you had to organize and analyze a lot of data that had to be used within a tight deadline?

Most likely this type of situation will happen regularly as a paralegal. Show that you can produce quality results under pressure.

"In my previous position, we had a case where we were representing a plaintiff with a quickly approaching court date. The case involved the purchase of a new home and the seller did not disclose to our client that there was a termite infestation in the home. The conflict was whether or not the seller had an affirmative duty to share that information with our client. While researching, I found a similar case where the plaintiff won and I proposed we use the common law system in our favor. My process was to create a report documenting a condensed case summary and relevant legal principles that can be used to our advantage."

Why should we employ you for the job?

The interviewer wants to know what makes you stand out among the other applicants.

"I should be hired for this position because I will be a true asset to your company. I have extensive knowledge in the legal field as well as experience working in various areas of specialization. In addition, my research and analytical skills allow me to gather all pertinent information in order to win cases and make logical, systematic decisions."