Legal Secretary Interview Questions

"To keep client and case information private, I ensure to file everything in our secure database or filing cabinets. Our office and computers have multiple modes of authentication, so filing cases away ensures that no one outside of our office can get to them. I also ensure I never talk about clients or their cases outside of the workplace and if I need to call a client, I will do so in a private setting."

"Since I worked with three attorneys in my previous role, I'm used to supporting multiple colleagues at once. I take detailed notes about each attorney's needs and deadlines and prioritise the tasks that are due first. For example, if an attorney needs something done right away, I'll focus my attention on that. I also keep a detailed to-do list that I update constantly so I never forget any tasks."

"In my previous role, I supported four attorneys with any administrative tasks they needed. This included scheduling appointments, preparing correspondences and legal documents, taking notes in court andmeetings and setting up a filing system. I was always busy but really enjoyed being able to help the attorneys as much as possible."

"In my previous role, I used Ghostpractise for time tracking, billing, case management and other legal administrative tasks. I also used Microsoft Office to prepare legal documents and spreadsheets for attorneys. I would be happy to learn how to use any other software or programmes you prefer as well."

"To prepare a legal document, I will type it out based on the attorney's requirements. I will then make collated copies to send to every party involved. I go through each set of copies to ensure I have everything I need. Then, I will bind the documents together to organise them. Finally, I will keep a copy for my attorney, then package and address the rest to be delivered."

"To ensure attorneys meet their deadlines, I send out reminders. I'm usually present in their meetings to take notes, so I write down their deadlines and keep track of them in my calendar. Having both of us keeping track of these deadlines ensures the attorneys always meet them. I also try to take on any administrative work they need so they can focus on meeting their deadlines."

"I understand that clients who are seeking legal help can be anxious, so that may come out as impatience or anger. When this happens, I try to reassure the client and let them know their attorney will be with them soon. I offer to get them a drink or magazine while they wait to help distract them from the situation."

"I have been a legal secretary for eight years, so I have worked with every type of legal document. I have prepared briefs, interrogatories, affidavits, appeals, deeds, patents, subpoenas and wills. I know everything that should be in these documents, and can prepare them accurately and efficiently."

"I haven't tested my typing speed in a while, but the last time I checked, it was 60 words per minute with an accuracy rate of 91%. I have been typing out a lot of documents since then, so I believe my rate could have improved."

"In my previous role, I would transcribe case notes, meetings, court proceedings, and dictated reports for attorneys. To streamline the process, we would use transcription software to transcribe audio recordings and I would go through the document to make sure it was accurate. But if it was a live meeting, I would transcribe the proceedings on the spot."

"I have an interest in family and immigration law. My family immigrated to Canada10 years ago, and a talented lawyer helped us to do so. Since then, I have always had an interest in this area. That is why I wanted to pursue a career with your law firm, as I know you're one of the best immigration lawyers in Vancouver. I also believe I can learn a lot from you as I hope to be an immigration lawyer myself one day to help people like me and my family."

"I have a diploma in legal office administration from Centennial College. In the two-year course, I learned about different legal office environments, areas of law, legal terminology and how to complete common administrative tasks. I interned at a law office while I was still in school and when I graduated, they hired me as a legal secretary. I have been working with them for five years now."

"As soon as the printer broke, I would have called a repair technician to come in and fix it as soon as they could. In the meantime, I would go to another department or neighbouring office and ask to use their printer. This is not a long-term solution, but it will get my attorneys the documents they need on time."

"To improve my knowledge and skills, I take relevant courses in my spare time. For example, I recently completed a wills and estates course from Reeves College to learn more about preparing these documents. I also enjoy reading law magazines, such as Canadian Lawyer Magazine and Slaw Magazine, to keep updated with industry news. I often refer to Canada's Department of Justice website as well to be informed of any new laws."

"In my previous role, I implemented a new filing system. It was quite an old law firm, so they only had paper documents. I created an electronic filing system with two-step authentication to protect our files. I then created electronic documents out of all the paper files. This was time-consuming, but made accessing the files and finding specific documents much faster. The attorneys loved it as well as they could access the files from home on an encrypted platform."