1. Tell me what if you're asked to address your personal weaknesses?
☛ This can be turned into a positive as well; say you're a workaholic, that you can't let a problem go until it is resolved.
☛ It's best to keep everything positive, that way you create a positive association in the interviewer's mind.
2. Explain me have you ever been sanctioned for, or accused of, attorney misconduct?
You have a right to know whether your potential lawyer has violated, or even been formally accused of violating, the rules of professional responsibility. While you may be able to locate this information on the website of a state's legal licensing authority, you should still ask the attorney. You are entitled to an explanation of the circumstances and the outcomes of any allegations of ethical violations.
3. Tell me what is my role in case preparation?
It is quite important to find out what you should and should not be doing to help your attorney. Often you may be able to provide documents and background information. However, your lawyer will usually tell you that you should not speak to witnesses or do any legal work. Learn how you can help, and make sure to follow your counsel's instructions.
4. Tell us how about after the interview … thank you letter or no thank you letter?
The cons of the thank you letter outrank the potential benefits.
Even the most gracious and classy thank you letters can backfire.
They can make you seem desperate like you have no other options.
Its best to leave on a high note and thank you notes give you an extra opportunity to screw up.
5. Do you know what are the most important skills for a paralegal?
In your paralegal interview answer include organization and planning, research and analytical skills, writing skills, judgment and decision-making skills, attention to detail, strong communication skills, patience and perseverance, confidentiality and sensitivity.
6. Tell me what about video conference and telephone interviews?
☛ Law firms will often conduct telephone interviews before formally bringing you in for an interview.
☛ Technology is advancing and videoconferencing is becoming more and more common.
☛ It's a great way to look for a job during a lunch break without battling traffic, etc.
☛ Don't forget that they can see you. No nose picking, yawning, looking around the room.
7. Tell me how will we communicate?
You should feel comfortable from the beginning of your attorney-client relationship that you will be able to have regular communications with your counsel. Make sure that you exchange contact information and agree on the ways that you will stay in touch.
8. Tell us how do you check the accuracy of your work?
Highlight your attention to detail and your focus on all areas involved in the task no matter how small. Describe the systems and processes you use to check your work for accuracy and completeness.
9. Tell me how important is it to ask questions?
It shows you're paying attention and capable of critical thinking.
Ask for more details about job responsibilities, how work is assigned, possibilities for advancement, and possibilities for independent decision-making.
10. Explain about your experience dealing with confidential and sensitive information?
A paralegal needs to use tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive and confidential issues and situations. Provide a specific example.
11. Tell me why are you the right person for this job?
Focus on what you can do for the organization - your legal knowledge, abilities, legal experience and skills.
12. Tell me why did you leave your last job as Judicial Clerk?
I enjoyed my job a lot and it provided me with great opportunities to learn. However it was limited to family law and I wanted to broaden my horizons in the law field.
13. Tell us how much is your retainer, and how does it work?
Find out how much the retainer is, and what it will cover. If you reconcile or change attorneys, will the unused portion of your retainer be refunded to you? Will there be additional retainers be required when the initial retainer is depleted?
14. Please explain what strategy do you propose?
Lawyers should outline the possible ways to handle a case and then explain why they have chosen a particular strategy, including the pros and cons.
15. Tell me why should we hire you for this job?
I am a dedicated paralegal professional with law education and ample experience in the field. I posses all the core competencies needed for the routine legal assistance tasks and am proficient in legal research and report writing as well.
16. Tell us are there alternatives to a trial?
Every lawyer should review with their clients the possibility of a negotiated resolution prior to trial. In criminal matters, for example, you may be able to get a good plea bargain. In civil cases, your lawyer might propose mediation, a settlement negotiation process involving a neutral third-party. Other times, arbitration might be an option. Arbitration- using a private service to adjudicate a dispute-is a less formal, less costly, and faster way of getting a decision in some civil matters.
17. Tell us what are your hourly rates, and how will I be billed?
Attorneys and staff bill at different hourly rates, and most attorneys charge their hourly rates against the retainer. Some attorneys bill in quarter-hour increments, and some in 6-minute increments. Some bill for each phone call, email or letter, with a minimum charge. Sometimes attorneys charge a higher rate for going to court. Ask how often you can expect to receive an itemized billing.
18. Tell me how do you check your work for accuracy as Judicial Clerk?
I am an individual with high attention to detail. I check and recheck my work continuously and make sure that there are no errors.
19. Explain me how important are the clothes you wear?
☛ Clothes aren't the most important factor, but they can't be underestimated.
☛ No one ever got a job for dressing nicely, but people have lost out on jobs for not dressing nicely.
☛ Always go for a more conservative style of dress:
☛ Men: suit, tie, leather shoes
☛ Women: business skirt, low-heeled conservative shoes; avoid perfume and flashy jewelry.
☛ Even if the firm is more casual, dress conservative for the interview.
20. Tell me do you have any conflicts of interest?
Attorneys in every state have an ethical obligation to advise you of any conflict of interest. Still, you should ask the question. If the lawyer's representation of prior or existing clients would limit the attorney's ability to represent you, there is likely a conflict. For example, if you want to sue a hospital that the potential lawyer regularly represents, there would be a conflict. A conflict might also arise if the attorney you are interviewing has already been hired by a co-defendant in your case. Not all conflicts automatically disqualify potential counsel, but you must be fully aware of and understand the nature of the conflict before deciding whether to hire a lawyer in spite of it.
21. Explain how long should my divorce take, and what do you estimate it will cost?
Don't be surprised if the attorney doesn't have a straight-forward answer for this one, since how long it takes and the cost depends on how cooperative each side is as well the complexities of the case. If there's a custody battle or complicated business and property issues, a divorce can take a year or longer.
22. Tell me what will the fees and expenses be?
You need to know, upfront, exactly how your lawyer will charge for representation. In some cases it will be a fixed amount, and in others it may be an hourly rate. In cases where you are suing for monetary damages, the lawyer may represent you for a “contingency fee.” This means the attorney gets paid a portion (typically one-third) of the amount you receive after a successful trial or settlement. Make sure you discuss expenses as well as attorney fees. The lawyer's expenses include everything from small things like photocopying to big-ticket items like expert witnesses. While your lawyer may not be able to give you a precise quote, you should have a good understanding of the potential price tag.
23. Tell me what's the best way to handle a bad interview?
☛ Put it behind you.
☛ Don't let it get you down because everybody has bad interviews.
☛ The most important thing is to always appear enthusiastic. After a bad interview, be sure not to let it show in the next interview. Lawyers need to be “up” when appearing in front of judges or clients, so it is crucial to show that you have an upbeat personality.
☛ Getting rejected after an interview is usually not your fault. Internal firm politics and issues of personal chemistry generally play a very heavy role in employment decision-making.
24. Explain me about a time you had to handle a difficult client as Judicial Clerk?
There was an instance when a client we figured to be lying wanted to make us believe otherwise. It was a sensitive case and we couldn't be too careful. He would come in to the office and threaten us when the office refused to take his case. He almost made it into a hostage situation when he tried abducting one of the secretaries. I took over the situation and calmly convinced him to leave.
25. Tell me any advice for the shy? How do you appear to be confident when nervous?
☛ Rehearse! Write up practice questions and answers.
☛ Do it in front of the mirror.
☛ Have a friend or relative ask you questions.
☛ Be thoroughly prepared for every possible question. Its better to be over-prepared than to be caught off guard.
☛ Be conscious of the telltale signs of nervous behavior, fidgeting, stammering, saying “you know”
☛ Try to relax, but don't get too relaxed. Revealing too many personal details, taking off your shoes, or treating the interviewer like one of your pals can make you look like a crazy person.
26. Why should I hire you as Judicial Clerk?
Almost every interviewer will ask this question and, “Because I am the best candidate for the job,” is not the right answer. The interviewer wants to know why you are the best candidate. You will want to talk about your skills and accomplishments as well as what you can can do for the company or firm. You might say, for example, “Because I have the experience you are looking for and my creativity and problem solving abilities can make this company money” or “Because my research and organizational skills, combined with my ability to get things done would make me a valuable asset to this firm.”
27. Tell us do you practice in the courthouse where my case is (or will be)?
Getting a lawyer with the right legal background is essential, but it is also important to know whether your attorney has experience with the judges who will likely preside over your case. If yours is a criminal matter, it is important to know if your lawyer knows the local prosecutors. This courtroom experience can greatly enhance your lawyer's ability to evaluate the likely outcomes in your case and give you advice that you can rely on.
28. Explain is there a decent way to answer the dreaded question “Tell me a little about yourself?”?
☛ Most people are uncomfortable with it, but it's really a great opportunity to make an impression.
☛ Treat it like an essay in school and think about it before hand.
☛ Draw a correlation between how you describe yourself and the job description, be subtle, but connect your personality with the firm's work.
☛ “What do you know about our firm?” How can this question be best handled?
☛ If you're using a recruiter, they will do the necessary research and tell you everything you need to know beforehand.
☛ If not, always do your research. Use the Internet.
☛ Learn about the firm's philosophy, successes, and history.
Describe the systems you use to stay organized. How do you prioritize your workload? How do you plan and schedule your work tasks and activities? How do you stay focused and productive despite interruptions and conflicting demands on your time?
This is a good opportunity to highlight the paralegal software you are familiar with such as Lexis/Nexis, Concordance, CaseMap.
If you're uncomfortable answering a question, and it is indeed inappropriate, just ask how it is related to the job.
Be polite even if you think it's inappropriate
Case filing is an intricate task, it involves case summarizing, material collection and organization, law research, witness scheduling and team case review reports.
☛ A job interview is not a test of wills, it's an opportunity to demonstrate that you can think, listen, and articulate.
☛ Coming off as pushy or arrogant is a turn-off. Even if the job requires aggressiveness, you don't want to seem like someone who is difficult to deal with.
33. Tell us why do you want to work here as Judicial Clerk?
While you may be tempted to say, “Because you are hiring” this is never the right answer, as honest as it might be. Interviewers ask this question in order to determine which, if any, of the job candidates has a particular interest in working for that law firm, as opposed to other firms. After all, an employee who really wants to work for you may work harder than one who is willing to work for anyone with a job opening. In order to answer the question, you will therefore need to know something about the firm or company for which you are interviewing. To gather this information, you can review the company's website, talk to people who work, or have worked, there, and/or search the internet for press releases, news articles, and other information about the firm or company. Look for something about the firm or company that you like. For example, does the firm practice an area of the law that you are interested in learning about or in which you are already experienced? Does the company do charitable or pro bono work for a cause that you support? Is there an attorney at the firm whose record is so impressive you simply must work with him or her? Find at least one thing that you can honestly say you like about the firm and when you are asked why you want to work there, talk about it.
34. Tell me how familiar are you with the judges and court personnel and local court procedures?
If you are not able to settle your case out of court, you want an attorney who is experienced and is willing and able to go to trial, if necessary, and who is familiar and comfortable with the local court system.
35. Top 36 Judicial Clerk Job Interview Questions:
☛ 1. Your full name, date of birth and social security number.
☛ 2. Contact information such as an address, landline/cell phone number and email address.
☛ 3. Proof of state residency.
☛ 4. Your employer's name, address and phone number.
☛ 5. Your length of employment and your monthly or annual salary. You should be prepared to show your attorney at least three years in income tax returns.
☛ 6. Your spouse's full name, date of birth and social security number.
☛ 7. Contact information for your spouse such as an address, landline/cell phone number and an email address.
☛ 8. Your spouse's employer information, address and phone number.
☛ 9. Your spouse's length of employment and salary.
☛ 10. If the attorney will be serving your spouse with divorce paperwork they will need to know where you want this to take place. At your spouse's work or place of residence?
☛ 11. The date and place you were married.
☛ 12. The name of your spouse's attorney if he/she has one.
☛ 13. The name of a marital therapist you and your spouse visited with times and dates.
☛ 14. A list of the marital problems that led to divorce if any involve alcohol or drug abuse, religious differences, infidelity, sexual incompatibility or, domestic abuse.
☛ 15. The full names, dates of birth and social security numbers of any children born during the marriage.
☛ 16. Which parent the children now resides with and whether or not a custody dispute will be part of the divorce process.
☛ 17. The full names, dates of birth and social security numbers of any children from a previous marriage.
☛ 18. If you pay child support, how much you pay. If you receive child support, how much you receive.
☛ 19. Whether or not your spouse has children from a previous marriage. If so, how much child support is paid or received.
☛ 20. Who provides health insurance for the children born of this marriage?
☛ Property Information Your Divorce Attorney Will Need:
☛ 21. Addresses of property owned jointly or separately.
☛ 22. Addresses of any mortgage companies you have accounts with.
☛ 23. The estimated fair market value of homes owned.
☛ 24. The balance on any mortgages.
☛ 25. The amount of monthly payments to a mortgage company.
☛ 26. A list of all automobiles, boats, motor cycles, trailers or airplanes owned jointly or separately.
☛ 27. The year, make and model of each and who has possession.
☛ 28. The name and address of any lender who may hold the title to autos, boats, motor cycles, trailers or airplanes.
☛ Financial Information Your Divorce Attorney Will Need:
☛ 29. A list of all joint and separate bank accounts, savings accounts, C.D.'s, Credit Union accounts, Savings Bonds and Stocks and Mutual Funds.
☛ 30. How many debit cards you have for each account and the names on those cards.
☛ 31. A list of any credit card accounts you hold jointly or separately. The names on the accounts and the balance due.
☛ 32. Information about retirement accounts, 401K's and other investment type accounts.
☛ 33. Disclosure of any life insurance policies, whose life is insured and for how much.
☛ 34. A list of names of those who owe you money. How much they owe and the expected payment date.
☛ 35. A list of any lawsuits you may be involved in.
☛ 36. A list of any livestock, such as cattle or horses that you may own.
