Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced Legal Assistant/Legal Secretary with many successful years behind you, having strong interview skills is essential to making the right moves in your career. 

Here are some key points to help prepare Legal Assistants & Legal Secretaries for your up-and-coming interview:

Do your research

1. Look at their website and department/team.
2. Know your CV and take a copy with you for reference.
3. What’s the size of the company?
4. What accreditations/awards do they have?
5. What opportunities do they offer for training and development?

Plan your journey

1. Plan out your route and allow for traffic.
2. Plan where you’re going to park.
3. Allow extra time so you can arrive five to ten minutes before your interview is scheduled.

Read the job spec

1. What do you know about this job?
2. Why is this role particularly of interest to you?
3. What skills and experience can you use to your best advantage in this role.
4. Think about what makes you the right candidate for this job.

Prepare what you’ll take with you

1. Take a notebook and pen.
2. A copy of your CV.
3. Your notes about the company and the job.
4. A list of questions.
5. Copy of references or testimonial/appraisal.

When you arrive

1. Turn off your mobile phone.
2. Report to reception, give your name and tell them who you’ve come to meet.
3. Remember to SMILE.
4. Give a firm handshake.

During the interview

Answering Questions

1. You will be asked questions based on your CV and experience as a Legal Assistant/Legal Secretary to date.
2. Listen carefully to make sure you have understood the question. If you’re unsure ask for clarification.
3. Answer questions truthfully, and positively. It’s ok to pause to consider your answer first.
4. Keep your answers concise and to the point, expanding on relevant information.
5. Keep to the point. Don’t ramble onto a different subject, forgetting what the question was.

Answering Competency-based Questions

Your interviewer will be looking for you to demonstrate certain competencies required for this legal job and may ask you competency-based questions, for example:

• Tell me about a time when you’ve gone the extra mile for a client?
• Tell me about a time when teamwork has worked well for you?
• Give me an example of when you’ve had to work to a tight deadline?

At the end of the interview

1. Thank the interviewer for their time.
2. Ask them what the next stage of the process is.
3. Ask if they have any reservations at this point that you could then give reassurance on.

It is important to always remember that an interview is a platform for a potential employer to gain information about you but just as important for you to question the firm and assess if this is the right move for you.

Legal Support vacancies & how can eNL Legal Recruitment can help you?

Since 1999, eNL Legal recruitment has provided insight, guidance and support to clients and candidates to support the legal recruitment process. We are a leading, legal recruitment business able to assist you on your journey to finding a new legal position, offering a personalised, tailored, and confidential service.

Our friendly, experienced team all have a strong knowledge-based approach to matching the right candidates with the right clients and roles. Our strategic and commercial focus can be depended upon to deliver straight-forward and practical advice which will achieve positive end results.

To see a full list of our current Legal Assistant/Legal Secretary vacancies please click here.

How Much Does Someone Earn in a Legal Support role?

Take a look at our annual Salary Survey here to gain more of an understanding of the salary you can expect to earn based on location and sector.