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Legal secretaries are tasked with drafting legal correspondences, maintaining and developing professional relationships with clients, preparing and filing complaints, motions, briefs, orders, subpoenas, and other court documents, supporting attorneys with clerical duties, conducting research for court cases, and managing the administrative functions of a law firm or office.
Job-seekers should have a polished resume and be ready to ace their job interview to “sell themselves” to established hiring managers and legal professionals to obtain a well-paying and rewarding career as a legal secretary. Applicants who come across as motivated and ready to work are much more likely to get the job than dull, unprepared, or underqualified applicants.
Discussing your experience drafting legal documents and correspondence, managing complex calendars, providing executive-level support to lawyers, processing expense reports, screening telephone calls, maintaining client files, and filing legal documents are excellent ways of answering some of the most commonly asked legal secretary interview questions.
Key Takeaways:
As the candidate, you should highlight your relevant skills such as communication, computer, and the ability to multitask because those are common skills needed for being a legal secretary.
Interviewers should ask legal secretary behavioral interview questions to get an understanding of the candidates abilities and how they approach their work.
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You should be prepared to answer several job-specific interview questions when interviewing for a job as a legal secretary. Here are the top 20 most commonly asked legal secretary interview questions and sample answers:
Why do you want to work here? This question is asked to get a sense of how much you know of the company. Your answer needs to show how much research you have done on the company. Your answer should also show your genuine interest in working at the company.
Example Answer:
I want to work here because of our commitment to providing high-quality legal services and your focus on client satisfaction. I also admire your dedication to fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
I believe it's important to have an inclusive and diverse culture because it allows for collaboration and that is something that is important to me.
Tell me about yourself. This is a common interview question commonly asked at the start of the interview. It's usually asked as an icebreaker question to get a better understanding of who you are. Be sure your answer highlights your relevant skills and experiences.
Example Answer:
I have six years of experience working as a legal secretary working at XYZ Company. In my last role, I gained experience drafting and formatting legal documents. I am also proficient in maintaining both physical and electronic filing systems to ensure efficient retroviral of and handling of confidential information.
I have a strong sense of attention to detail which helps me support attorneys in handling correspondence, ensuring accurate formatting, and adhering to legal citation formats. My passion for the legal field and my experience makes me confident I would be an asset to your company.
What is your experience working with attorneys and judges? Unlike other secretarial or assistant positions, legal secretaries regularly interact with judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals.
Illustrating your previous experience working with established lawyers and court justices will help you stand out during the interview process.
Example answer:
In my previous position as a legal assistant at Kirkland Ellis, I provided support for a team of four personal injury lawyers. On behalf of the attorneys at my previous firm, I regularly interacted with law enforcement officials, clients, attorneys, and judges in our county court system by phone and email.
What kind of legal transcription experience do you have? Legal secretaries are often tasked with transcribing case details or relevant recordings using dictation software.
When hiring legal secretaries, hiring managers typically look for applicants with expert computer and typing skills, knowledge of legal jargon and terminology, and experience transcribing documents for clients and attorneys.
Example answer:
In my last position as a legal secretary, I transcribed case notes, recorded meetings, and dictated reports daily. I was also tasked with attending weekly case meetings and recording and accurately transcribing meeting minutes. My experience has helped me develop a thorough understanding of complex legal terminology and significantly strengthen my computer skills and typing accuracy.
What makes a successful legal secretary? The best way of answering this commonly asked interview question is by highlighting your most desirable skills and professional experiences.
Before going to your job interview, whether in person, over the phone, or via video conference, it’s a good idea to review the qualifications listed in the job advertisement and make a conscious effort to highlight those in your interview answers.
Example answer:
In my experience, the most successful legal secretaries have strong writing, interpersonal, and organizational skills. In addition, I think it’s also imperative that legal secretaries efficiently multitask and work well under pressure, have knowledge of legal systems and court procedures, and be motivated to offer administrative support to attorneys and clients in their pursuit of justice.
How would you handle an upset or angry client? Even the most successful legal secretaries are bound to cross paths with an angry, frustrated, or upset client. Having the ability to professionally handle tense situations, efficiently address a client’s concerns, and, when necessary, refer issues to attorneys will make you a more desirable applicant.
Example answer:
I understand how important a relationship is between an attorney and their client, so if I were to encounter an upset client, I would listen to their issues and concerns and do everything in my power to problem solve and quickly and appropriately address the matter. If the situation required additional attention, I would take a detailed message and calmly inform the client’s attorney.
How advanced are your time management and multitasking skills? Legal secretaries are often employed at busy law firms and provide support to several attorneys and legal professionals.
Because of this, multitasking and strong time management skills are highly sought after by hiring managers and prospective employers.
Example answer:
During my last position as an executive assistant, I refined my time management and multitasking skills. I was tasked with individually supporting a busy chief executive officer and chief financial officer, so I’m fully capable of handling multiple projects at once and working in a fast-paced office environment. I find that I do my best work when under a deadline.
Tell me about a challenge you have faced as a legal secretary. Having strong problem-solving skills is vital in nearly every professional industry.
Still, it’s even more vital for legal secretaries since you’ll interact with both clients and attorneys daily and encounter challenges from time to time. Having good people and problem-solving skills is imperative.
Example answer:
In my last position at MGA Law, our computer systems crashed the night before a prominent criminal trial. I was unable to access and print the files necessary for the case. I worked overtime and coordinated with our tech department and an outside software repair company to fix the problem. I was then able to access the necessary files and provide them to the attorney and judge on time.
Are you comfortable working with many attorneys at once, or do you prefer working with one lawyer? While some legal secretaries work one-on-one with an attorney, others thrive when working with a team of lawyers.
There is no right or wrong answer to this commonly asked legal secretary interview question, so being confident and honest in your response is your best bet.
Hiring managers typically ask this question to get a feel for your work style and determine where you would be the most successful within the law firm.
Example answer:
I find that I do my best work when I’m working with one attorney. By working one-on-one with a lawyer, I can fully understand their work style and preferences and tailor my communication, organization, and documentation techniques to better support them and their clients.
What area of law are you most interested in? Even if you’re looking for an entry-level position as a legal secretary, hiring managers are often more apt to hire job seekers with a vested interest in law.
Discussing what areas of law are most interesting to you can help you stand out among other applicants and allow recruiters to determine what department you would fit best in.
Example answer:
The legal and judicial processes in general in the U.S. interests me, but I am particularly interested in criminal law and civil rights law.
What legal secretary tasks are you most familiar with? In addition to having a vested interest in the American legal system, legal secretaries also must have a firm grasp of the administrative duties required of them and the ability to complete them quickly and efficiently.
Highlighting your organization and computer skills can help to illustrate your familiarity with specific secretarial tasks.
Example answer:
With three years of experience as a legal secretary, and an additional five years of experience in office management, I am very familiar with the administrative functions of a law office and am capable of completing all clerical tasks. I am highly skilled in screening phone calls, managing complex calendars, preparing legal documents, drafting correspondences to clients and foreign counsel, and conducting case-related research.
How do you maintain confidentiality when handling a client’s case? Since legal secretaries handle confidential documents and communicate with clients and attorneys regarding private court cases, maintaining confidentiality is imperative to being a successful legal secretary.
Example answer:
Client privacy is of the utmost importance to me. I always maintain the highest level of confidentiality when handling court cases by discussing case details only with the attorney or client, keeping filing cabinets locked at all times, and ensuring confidential electronic documents are password protected.
What is your experience preparing subpoenas and depositions? No matter what type of law legal secretaries specialize in, they are usually tasked with preparing subpoenas, depositions, and other important court documents. Having previous experience will give you a leg up among competing candidates.
Example answer:
At my previous firm, I was responsible for preparing and filing motions, briefs, orders, answers, pleadings, subpoenas, and depositions. I have experience preparing legal documents and filing them in city, state, and federal courts.
Have you ever faced an ethical issue as a legal secretary? When working in law, no matter what position you hold, upholding a high ethical standard is essential when completing tasks and procedures. The first step in avoiding an ethical issue is honesty, so being truthful is the best way to answer this common interview question.
Example answer:
In my five years working as a legal secretary, I am proud to say that I have never faced an ethical issue. I am diligent in following all ethical standards and confidentiality rules and closely follow all industry regulations.
What is your preferred communication method with clients and attorneys? Strong communication is key to being a successful legal secretary. Hiring managers and prospective employers often ask job applicants about their preferred communication methods to understand their work styles and evaluate their skills and abilities.
Example answer:
I prefer to communicate with clients and attorneys via email and telephone. I often contact people by phone first, then follow up with an email after speaking to them or leaving a voicemail. This approach is the most effective method of eliciting a fast response from legal professionals and private clients.
Take me through your process of recording minutes to a trial or meeting. Legal secretaries are often tasked with attending meetings or court trials to record minutes meticulously. Hiring managers often ask situational interview questions like this to understand an applicant’s work style and technical abilities.
Example answer:
In my ten years as a legal secretary, I have found that each attorney typically favors a specific method or recording meeting minutes. As such, I always coordinate with attorneys to understand their preferences to support them in the best possible way.
Personally, I prefer using a laptop or tablet to take minutes since my typing speeds are much faster and more accurate than my ability to write minutes with pen and paper. However, I am well versed in taking minutes by hand, electronically, and via audio recording.
How fast can you type? Strong typing skills are highly sought after by hiring managers and legal professionals. Being able to type quickly and accurately will set you apart from other applicants.
Example answer:
I can type 100 words per minute, with a 98 percent accuracy rate.
Tell me about a time where your legal assistance helped the outcome of an important case.
Since legal secretaries are tasked with supporting attorneys, the best way of standing out and making a good first impression on hiring managers is by illustrating a situation where your legal support positively impacted the outcome of a court case.
Example answer:
In my previous position at Murphrey and Sons, we were defending the plaintiff, a victim of a drunk driver accident. I worked overtime to research the crash site and coordinate with law enforcement to obtain the arrest records and toxicology report. Thanks in part to my research, our firm won the case.
Why should we hire you for this legal secretary position? Hiring managers across all professional industries and careers often ask job applicants why they're the best-suited candidate for the role or why, exactly, they want to work for the company they're interviewing with.
Preparing for this question and answering professionally and confidentially will help you stand out and get hired.
Example answer:
I have over six years of practical experience as a legal secretary and a deep understanding of the complexities of the country’s legal system. I thoroughly enjoy working with attorneys and clients to ensure justice is served and am highly motivated to continue my legal career with your firm.
I am confident that my administrative skills and abilities to draft legal documents, conduct research, and maintain professional relationships with clients will help take Latham Watkins to the next level.
Can you describe the process of drafting and formatting legal documents, such as contracts or pleadings, using specific software or tools commonly used in the legal field?
How do you handle the organization and maintenance of legal files and documents, including electronic and physical filing systems, to ensure easy retrieval and confidentiality?
What steps would you take to conduct legal research efficiently and effectively, including using online databases, case law, and legal libraries?
Have you ever assisted with the preparation for trial? If so, what tasks did you perform, and what strategies did you employ to ensure smooth proceedings?
Can you explain your experience in managing a lawyer's calendar, including scheduling appointments, court appearances, and deadlines, and handling conflicts or adjustments to the schedule?
What procedures do you follow to assist with the preparation and coordination of meetings, conferences, or depositions, ensuring all necessary arrangements are made, such as reserving venues and coordinating attendees?
Describe your knowledge and experience in handling billing and invoicing tasks, including generating client invoices, tracking billable hours, and maintaining accurate financial records.
How do you handle incoming and outgoing correspondence on behalf of attorneys, ensuring timely delivery and accurate formatting, including the use of legal citation formats and proofreading for errors?
Have you ever managed the intake process for new clients or potential clients? If so, explain the steps you took to gather necessary information, maintain confidentiality, and ensure smooth communication with attorneys.
Can you discuss your experience with legal administrative tasks, such as managing attorney expenses, coordinating travel arrangements, and preparing reimbursement requests, using specific software or systems commonly used in the legal profession?
As the Candidate:
Highlight your relevant skills. The role requires strong communication, computer, and writing skills and the ability to multitask and stay organized while providing high-quality services to lawyers and clients.
Mention your qualifications and experiences. Working as a legal secretary usually requires a bachelor’s or associate’s degree and prior work experience providing administrative support or working as a legal assistant, administrative assistant, secretary, or office manager.
Review common legal secretary interview questions. One of the best ways to prepare is to review common and behavioral legal secretary interview questions. This will help you give confident and concise answers in the interview.
As the Interviewer:
Understand the role. Have an understanding of what the role needs to help you find your ideal candidate. To do this, review the job description to get a clear understanding of what the responsibilities entail.
Create legal secretary behavioral interview questions. Asking behavioral interview questions will allow for you to get a sense of how a candidate will react and handle situations. Asking these questions will also get examples from their past experiences to gauge their abilities.
Take notes. Take notes of what skills and qualities the candidate says during the interview. You should also take notes on their answers to the technical and behavioral interview questions. This will help you later on when it comes time to evaluate them.
If you’re scouting for a job as a legal secretary, following the tips outlined in this article and taking Zippia’s best career advice will help you prepare for a successful interview and bring you one step closer to getting hired and leading a fulfilling secretarial career in law.