Interview on Friday-Advice? (Paralegals and Lawyers Welcome!)

OMGimaMRS

Hi everyone. I am sort of new to the Upstate NY board, but not The Nest. This interview sort of crept up on me. I saw the ad, figured I would send my resume to see what happens, and about an hour later, the office manager emailed me wanting to schedule an interview for FRIDAY. This interview is for an entry level paralegal position in Rochester, and although I feel pretty prepared, I could use some good luck wishes/words of advice/etc. I should say that I do not have experience working as a paralegal, but I have taken an Intro to Paralegal studies college course back in the day, so I do have some knowledge of the field. I graduate in May with a BA in Sociology, and they are aware of my lack of experience because I sent a resume/cover letter. Also, I have a lot of transferable skills, such as a customer service background, working in a call center, dealing with people of all backgrounds, detail-oriented nature, etc. I have never interviewed with a law firm (or any lawyers at all) so what should I expect? Any ideas as to what types of questions they will ask? Thanks!!!

ArcticFox

I guess my first thought is, were they specific about the job duties?

Like will they want you to transcribe depositions?  Then they would ask if you have transcription experience.  Or maybe they will ask if you are familiar with various legal documents.

The paralegal in my last office did everything from transcribing to drafting legal documents to calling judges chambers to set up meetings (as did I, although I am not a paralegal).

Maybe you can search online for paralegal job interview tips.

Susie Derkins

I've never interviewed for a legal support position; only attorney positions.  I'd just say that law firms are generally pretty formal work environments, so if you're not sure about anything (what to wear, etc.), err on the side of being more conservative.  Smaller markets (like Albany, Rochester) are less so than major markets like NYC, but still, it's better to err on the side of more formal.  I'd probably wear a navy blue, black, or charcoal suit to the interview, and aim to look neat.  You may meet with a firm administrator and possibly a few attorneys, depending on how big the firm is.

Good luck  

HockeyWife2be

How big is the firm?  Was there a breakdown of duties in the ad?  I have found that many advertised "paralegal" positions are actually "legal secretary" positions or a combination of both.

At my firm (a small-ish Estate Planning, Administration and Estate litigation firm), my paralegal prepares petitions for Court submission, accountings of assets and simple estate tax returns. 

My secretary handles my scheduling, drafts all my letters, types up what I dictate (which is minimal, but some of the other attorneys rely heavily on this), she also shares general office duties with the other secretaries (answering phones, filling the copier w/ paper, etc.).

Like Susie said, definitely wear a suit to the interview. Also, the ability to work independently and manage many different files at once is very important.  Give specific examples of using those two skills if you can.

Obviously having experience in the legal world is helpful, but they are aware of your lack of that, so I wouldnt worry about it.

When interviewing support staff, our office manager meets with the interviewee first, then our managing partner.  If called back for a second interview, the person typically interviews with whomever they would be working for and two other partners.

Finally, welcome to the board and good luck!