Essential Judicial Clerk Interview Preparation Guide

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☛ 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

☛ 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.

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.

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.

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.

A paralegal needs to use tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive and confidential issues and situations. Provide a specific example.

Focus on what you can do for the organization - your legal knowledge, abilities, legal experience and skills.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

I am an individual with high attention to detail. I check and recheck my work continuously and make sure that there are no errors.

☛ 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.

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.

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.

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.

☛ 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.

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.

☛ 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.