The “Relaxed” Interview

Yes, I know what you’re thinking….how can anyone relax during an interview?

Honestly, preparation is the key.

1.     You’ve prepared yourself (skills);

2.     You’ve sent out your great cover letter and resume;

3.     You’ve networked, networked, networked;

4.     You’ve “checked out” the law firm (via www.martindale.com or www.findlaw.com or www.google.com)

5.     You have your “interview suit” ready to go.

Now, breathe.  Let’s take a look into the future.

You’ve received a telephone call from an administrator who thinks your skills could be used in his or her law firm.  Terrific!

Oh, no – now what?  You’ve actually got an interview.  Are you scared?  No problem.  It’s a “normal” reaction.  You’re headed into “unchartered” territory – somewhere you’ve never been before, although, my guess is that you have been on other interviews.  It’s normal to be nervous.

But, let’s look back at what you’ve accomplished.  Have you taught yourself some new skills?  Good for you.  Most people just “talk” about what they’re going to do.  You’re actually doing it.  Congratulations!

Not only have you learned new skills, but you’ve become a real detective.  You’ve learned how to extract information from the Internet.  This skill will come in handy when you land that first legal job.

So, it’s the day of the interview.  You sit in your car outside the law firm and wonder, “what am I doing here?”  “I have no right being here.”  Oh, yes you do.  You’ve worked hard.  You deserve it.

What’s the worst that can happen?  They won’t hire you.  Oh well.  On to the next firm.  I once sat in my car wondering if I was completely nuts for thinking someone would give me a legal job.  “Been there, done that”, as the saying goes.  You can do this.

Go into the interview to learn all that you can.  Think of it as going to “interview school”.

You shut the car off, grab a hard copy of your resume with your questions for the administrator (in a clean folder) and you walk into the reception area.

The receptionist greets you, you give her your name and you wait a few minutes before the administrator enters the reception area and greets you warmly.

The administrator proceeds to tell you about the job and then asks you to tell him or her about yourself.

(Don’t give the administrator your life story – this is not a Hallmark episode – just give an overview which should only take 2-3 minutes.)

Some of the Questions You Can Expect from the Administrator:

Why did you leave or why do you want to leave your current job?

The less said, the better.  If you’re seeking a better opportunity for yourself, say so.  Period.  Don’t be negative about the people at your current place of employment.  It will not place you in a “good light”.

What do you see as your strengths? 

Are you highly organized?  Are you a good people person?  What are your strengths?  Understand this about yourself before you go on an interview.

What do you see as your weakness?

How about, “I am a perfectionist and sometimes I drive myself too hard.”

Another good point, “I am extremely focused and need to relax more personally.”

Don’t say, “I just cannot get to work on time” or “I hate filing.”  Not good.

How do you feel about assisting others in the firm if needed?

An administrator appreciates an employee who is not above helping others within the firm.  That may mean emptying the dishwasher in the kitchen or perhaps making coffee.

Answering this questioning in a positive way will give the administrator a sense that you are willing to help where needed and do not see yourself as a “prima donna” , “prince” or “princess”.

Questions You Have Prepared for the Administrator:

Why is this position currently open?  

This is an important question to ask because the answer will give you insight into whether there is a problem at the firm.

Will I be meeting with the attorney(s) today?  How many attorneys will you be responsible for?

Be sure to always meet the attorney(s) you’ll be working for.  Of course, they’re sizing you up, but you’ll be doing the same thing.  Try not to accept a position where you will be assigned to more than 2 attorneys at one time.

What are the duties of this position?

Ask what a typical day would be like.  If the administrator doesn’t know, ask the attorneys you eventually interview with.

Is there overtime or working on Saturdays required?

There are law firms who require one or both.  This is obviously a very important question for you to ask, especially if your evenings and weekends are spent with family and friends and you would prefer not to work.

However, if you are trying to break into this field and an opportunity arises in a law firm that does require overtime or requires that you work regularly on Saturday, then it might be wise to take the position even if it’s only for a year in order for you to gain the necessary experience.

Most of the law firms I’ve worked with avoid overtime like the plague because it costs them too much.

Some law firms avoid paying overtime by renaming their legal secretaries “paralegals”.  This name change allows the firm to place paralegals in an “exempt” status and they can legally require you to work overtime with no additional pay.

What benefits come with this position?

Benefits could include  health insurance, vacation, 401k, life insurance, disability.  Wait until the end of your interview to ask this question if the administrator has not already provided this info.

Never ask for time off at the initial interview.  However, if you are offered a job and your daughter or son’s wedding is coming up, or some other family function that you absolutely cannot miss, ask if it is ok for a little bit of time off after you have been offered the job, not before.