Paralegal Interview!! (1 Viewer)

[05er]

Aww, cool.

Bring back some photos of rad fashion; k?

 

[MaryJane]

No no sweetie what I mean is the position is for a law firm, but that law firm has hired a recruitment agency to find the staff for them.

They are acting on behalf of the company you will be working for.

Ah, I see... As you can tell, I really have my head screwed on tight

I was under the impression that all uni's have flexible timetables: there is always another tute you can go to, and you can listen to lectures online (which I do anyway). The ad said that they work around me, it made it almost seem like I could just work whenever I could make it in... We'll see how it goes.

I hope they dont ask me any of those behavioural questions: "What is the most stressful situation you've been in, and how did you handle it?" I'm sure I'd reply something stupid like "job interviews... trying to be calm" I'm so not professional!

 

[erawamai]

I hope they dont ask me any of those behavioural questions: "What is the most stressful situation you've been in, and how did you handle it?" I'm sure I'd reply something stupid like "job interviews... trying to be calm" I'm so not professional!

If you were, say, an orange how would you handle this situation?

ah yes good good. What if you were a Apple? Would that change your holistic perspective?

I don't care, I'm applying

They are only looking for A paralegal. As in the person who gets the job will have a property law mark of 89 and plenty of other impressive stuff to flash at BDW.

 

[MoonlightSonata]

They are only looking for A paralegal. As in the person who gets the job will have a property law mark of 89 and plenty of other impressive stuff to flash at BDW.

But I got an HD for my property essay

And an HD for my Mabo essay

 

[MaryJane]

Just letting you all know how the interview went.

Firstly, it was a joint interview with the HR manager and actual big boss of the company, which was a bit unexpected. But they were both really nice. The interview itself only lasted about 20 minutes, and then the big boss gave me a file about 10cm thick full of paperwork, and two Annual reports for Fugi Film (one of their clients) - one from Tokyo and one from Australia, and told me I had a 'little test'. This comment nearly gave me a heartattack because I thought they would only 'test' me if I got a second interview.

So the test was to write a supporting letter to the Dept. of Immigration (I then found out they specialise in immigration law) for a transfer for this employee of Fugi in Tokyo, to Australia. It was a bit daunting, but they gave me the employees CV, and with the Annual reports I pieced them together. It took 2 hours in total because I got the "blue screen of death" twice and lost all my work - bloody Microsoft!!

I was told to expect a call at the end of next week because they had other applicants to go through. I get a call 30 minutes later from the HR manager, telling me that the big boss was extremely impressed with my supporting letter, and asked me whether I'd like the job! I couldnt believe it!! I'm still waiting for it to all sink in. I cant wait to quit my retail job - I've already told all my friends, its so exciting!

Now I just hope there isnt a terrorist attack in the CBD

So thanks for all your words of support and encouragement guys and girls!

p.s. Moonlight, go for the job at BWD - You're a smart cookie yourself, and so I'm sure you'd be great! Their offices are so lovely and plush (I went there for a training thing for Client Interview earlier this year) so you can feel all rich and pompous!

 

[MiuMiu]

Congratulations that is awesome!

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Go in with some current cases to talk about

edit: oh... thats what I get for not reading the whole thread...

Good work

 

[charlie_charlie]

congrats

 

[Not-That-Bright]

It took 2 hours in total because I got the "blue screen of death" twice and lost all my work - bloody Microsoft!!

Perhaps that was a part of the test

 

[donkeydrop]

well done MaryJane

What is the pay like, if you dont mind me asking?

I get $18 working part-time (2 days) for small (about 15 employees) employment law firm.

 

[MaryJane]

I'm getting $16 an hour, so its a slight drop from retail. Its basically clerical award.

 

[charlie_charlie]

Ooooh Ooooh (I'm going to be hijacking some of Mary Jane's thread here...) I just got an interview for some work experience in a law firm too. Unfortunately I have no idea what the work experience actually consists of, how long its going to be, whether it is going to be paid, and I just made a fool out of myself on the phone with the law firm guy....So Mary Jane could you PLEASE offer some tips for the interview that you did and so that I can redeem myself because I can just see the guy thinking 'stupid stupid girl' now.... :'(

Bascially, I dont even know what I'm going to do; he asked me what I was interested in doing, and I had to stumble out an answer saying "oh, well I'm interesting in maybe doing case note practice , or maybe a somewhat paralegal type role"....

What DO law students do in law firms? Particuarly 1st year law students who havent even officially passed their first semester of law. ???

 

[MaryJane]

Congrats Charlie Charlie!

I wouldnt call myself an expert on this now, perhaps ms. 12 could help too?

How did you make a fool of yourself on the phone?

I'd say if it is work experience you wont get paid... Did the ad mention anything about renumeration, or did it say 'n/a'? Still, work experience is hard to come by, especially in first year, so I'd say accept it if its offered to you! In the interview, maybe you could mention whether there is an opportunity for the role to be extended into the semester? You might find that it might be able to, and they might make you a paid employee.

You might also find that because its work experience, they might not 'test' you like they did me, because they arent going to pay you... does that make sense? In my interview they asked me what subjects I've done at uni, which ones appealed to me and why, what electives I'm planning on doing, and what I want to practise. If you dont really have an idea of what you want to do re: practise, tell them that. I think its pretty reasonable not to expect a first year student to have specific ideas in mind. Are there any areas you're interested in? I personally wouldnt say you want to become a professional paralegal - you can do that through TAFE! If you have a general idea of what kinda interests you, tell them, but also say that you'll need more experience, both academic and practical, before you make such an informed decision.

What you do in the firm, well, that will all depend on where they put you. What kind of firm is it? Look at their website to get some background on them so you can ask them questions - show them that you took an active interest in their company. If its a small practise, you might be filing, photocopying etc. as work experience. If its a paralegal position (and they would have specified in the job description what it was) you'll be doing similar things to me I suppose: drafting correspondence for clients and things like that.

When is the interview?

Oh, and wear a suit!

 

[charlie_charlie]

How did you make a fool of yourself on the phone?

Well, it was rather kinda jumbled cos I got a mind block at the worst possible time, so I kinda blah-ed out who I was, so it wasn't that professional, so he was all "ok, first thing you should do is not talk like this, you should know who you are talking to"*cringe*

I'd say if it is work experience you wont get paid... Did the ad mention anything about renumeration, or did it say 'n/a'? Still, work experience is hard to come by, especially in first year, so I'd say accept it if its offered to you! In the interview, maybe you could mention whether there is an opportunity for the role to be extended into the semester? You might find that it might be able to, and they might make you a paid employee.

Well, its actually my friend's uncle, and he did experience with him in Yr 11 or something, so he called up his uncle, and so I called him today. But the problem was that I didn't know what he did or didn't say to him, so it was rather question-y and tentative in my conversation with him. I don't know how long its going to be, or how short, whether it is a week, two weeks...

Well, he asked me questions of what I do, and why I would want to do this work experience. It wasn't my best representation of myself though; I was a bit b-sy in my comments, hopefully I can go in with a better idea on Tuesday mornign 9am arghh! I just said I wanted to do kind of a paralegal position, just to get an idea of the law, and to improve some of those kind of legal skills - I said something about case notes etc, but really, I don't actually have much idea about what to do in law, and I mentioned that I haven't actually started doing any substantive law subjects.

What you do in the firm, well, that will all depend on where they put you. What kind of firm is it? Look at their website to get some background on them so you can ask them questions - show them that you took an active interest in their company. If its a small practise, you might be filing, photocopying etc. as work experience. If its a paralegal position (and they would have specified in the job description what it was) you'll be doing similar things to me I suppose: drafting correspondence for clients and things like that.

Again, I don't know much about what they want me to do, I know when my friend did it in Yr11, he was mainly talking to people and following them around, photocopying and listening in on a few interviews. Seems to be a fairly big firm though from the website, cos it talks about how they have affilations with international firms.

Oh, and wear a suit!

Will do
Should I wear heels or are flats ok? I think the closest thing I have to heels though are a pair of Mary Janes teehee. At least office-y type heels.

I don't know, I'm just kind of nervous about it and after my phone conversations I'm a bit paranoid that I've made a bad impression on him...

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Flirt with him.
Point to a picture of his family and say "oh, is that ur wife?"
If he says no.
You are in.

 

[MaryJane]

Well, it was rather kinda jumbled cos I got a mind block at the worst possible time, so I kinda blah-ed out who I was, so it wasn't that professional, so he was all "ok, first thing you should do is not talk like this, you should know who you are talking to"*cringe*

He really said that? Wow, some people can be rude and blunt... Is he a bit up himself?

I just said I wanted to do kind of a paralegal position, just to get an idea of the law, and to improve some of those kind of legal skills - I said something about case notes etc, but really, I don't actually have much idea about what to do in law, and I mentioned that I haven't actually started doing any substantive law subjects.

That sounded good, that you want to be a paralegal to gain experience in substantive law practise. I'm not really sure what he's going to expect from you, and you may end up just doing what your friend did with him.

It seems though that its proper work experience, which means no pay, especially if you approached him. In the interview, ask him how long would the work go for: the whole summer break? Or ask your friend.. how long was he there for?

I wore heels because I like my legs in heels - plus it makes me grow so I dont look so short!

I don't know, I'm just kind of nervous about it and after my phone conversations I'm a bit paranoid that I've made a bad impression on him...

If you did make a bad impression, thats ok. Although I'd say he probably understands that you're just a young student with little experience.. or at least I think thats how most people would have interpreted it. Just be really professional, ask appropriate questions, and show some of your personality.

Maybe you could ask your friend what he's like as a person?

 

[charlie_charlie]

It seems though that its proper work experience, which means no pay, especially if you approached him. In the interview, ask him how long would the work go for: the whole summer break? Or ask your friend.. how long was he there for?

I wore heels because I like my legs in heels - plus it makes me grow so I dont look so short!

If you did make a bad impression, thats ok. Although I'd say he probably understands that you're just a young student with little experience.. or at least I think thats how most people would have interpreted it. Just be really professional, ask appropriate questions, and show some of your personality.

Maybe you could ask your friend what he's like as a person?

I'm short too!!!! Heeeeeellllls!

Well I hope that he'll go for the "young student with little experience" line; my friend said he was really nice, but its his uncle, so I would be a bit worried if he didn't say that!

I know from the website he specialises in IP. But how do you ask 'appropriate' questions? My last interview was for a bookstore, which was easy cos I just talked about Harry Potter and Mr Darcy. But I always feel awkward asking about what the firm does - or thats how I felt when I did accounting cadetships scholarships (dont ask why I considered accounting ) - but how do you do appropriate questions? I feel awkward breaking the 'superior' barrier of above. If that makes sense...

 

[charlie_charlie]

Flirt with him.
Point to a picture of his family and say "oh, is that ur wife?"
If he says no.
You are in.

So that means...I'll be having an affair with a fatherly figure... :S

 

[Not-That-Bright]

He sounds like a real jerk,
Stroke that ego.

 

[MaryJane]

I know from the website he specialises in IP. But how do you ask 'appropriate' questions? My last interview was for a bookstore, which was easy cos I just talked about Harry Potter and Mr Darcy. But I always feel awkward asking about what the firm does - or thats how I felt when I did accounting cadetships scholarships (dont ask why I considered accounting ) - but how do you do appropriate questions? I feel awkward breaking the 'superior' barrier of above. If that makes sense...

Hmm.. not having any knowledge whatsoever on IP (although I'm going to do it as an elective), I'd just stick to more general questions about the firm: how many employees, do they specialise in anything other than IP, what sorts of legislation is associated with IP etc etc...

... And it seems that not-that-bright may have the Electron complex - the male version of Electra . But then again Charlie, if you like a bit of Mr. Darcy (and all girls do), maybe an older man - a loaded older man (see, even more like Mr. Darcy) - wouldnt be so bad!