Jobs in the legal profession provide employees with a stable income, competitive benefits, and career opportunities. Want to learn about what is involved in getting hired for a legal job? We can help you prepare for every aspect of the hiring process, from the initial application to assessment tests, to interviews.
What Is the Hiring Process in the Law and Legal Services Industry?
- Complete an application and submit your resume and cover letter. If you have contacts at the firm that you are applying to, ask them to refer you. Employers don't want to take a chance on a bad hire, and being referred removes some of the uncertainty from the hiring process. List any relevant professional qualifications in your resume, and be sure to mention how many years of experience you have in your cover letter.
- Take pre-employment tests: Before being invited for an interview, many law firms ask candidates to complete tests as part of their pre-employment screening. They are looking for individuals that pay attention to detail and have good writing and computer skills. It is also important to be friendly and personable, as you will be working closely with attorneys and valued clients. To ensure that they are hiring the best candidates, many law firms use aptitude tests and personality tests. Aptitude tests evaluate your cognitive abilities, such as logical reasoning skills, verbal reasoning skills, and clerical skills. Personality tests classify candidates according to their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Although the use of personality tests in pre-employment screening is controversial, it is increasingly common, so you should learn about these tests in order to know how to answer questions appropriately.
- Record a video interview: Some law firms use video interviews to interview candidates before choosing who to invite for an in-person interview.
- Complete a short phone interview: The purpose of this interview is mainly to verify the information that you provided in your application and/or video interview. You will be asked about your resume, your skills, and your availability. You may be asked why you want to leave your current position and what you are looking for in a new job.
- Complete an in-person interview: The in-person interview is a crucial part of the hiring process. First, your physical appearance is important—since you will be dealing with clients, you must appear professional and polished. Second, you will be evaluated for your ability to speak clearly and convey messages succinctly. Third, since you will be working closely with attorneys, you should have a good rapport with your interviewer as you may be working with them in the future.
Tips for Your Legal Interview
These are some of the top skills that interviewers are looking for in employees at law firms. Be sure to emphasize these in your resume and cover letter:
- Writing skills
- Oral communication skills
- Computer skills
- Attention to detail
- Organization
- Multi-tasking
- Teamwork
What Will I Be Asked in Interviews?
Below you can find some of the most common interview questions asked at interviews for law jobs.
- Tell me about how you organize your time in order to deal with several tasks that must all be completed in a short while.
- What relevant experience do you have?
- Why do you want to work for this law firm in particular?
- How do you research, analyze, and solve complex issues?
- Tell me about a time that you had to resolve a conflict with a coworker.
- Are you detail-oriented?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Top Jobs at Law Firms
Besides lawyers, there are many other jobs at law firms:
- Administrative assistant
- Office clerk
- Legal assistant
- Case assistant
- Project assistant