Questions about your personality and experiences

• Tell me about yourself.
• What would you say is your key strength?
• What are your 3 weaknesses? 
• What is your greatest achievement?
• Tell me about other jobs you’ve had in the past?

Competency questions

• Why you?
• Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for someone.
• Tell me about a time you worked in a team.
• Tell me about a time you were innovative.
• Tell me about a time when you failed at something.
• Describe a time you went above and beyond to achieve a set goal. 

Motivation questions

• How did you become interested in commercial law?
• Why do you want to be a paralegal?
• Why do you want to work here?
• Why do you want to work in [practice area]?
• Why do you want to join this specific team?
• What do you know about the firm?
• What do you know about this team?
• What are your expectations regarding this role? [the candidate discussed gaining experience, learning, and qualifying]
• What do you know about the firm's values and what do these mean to you?
• Why have you applied for this role?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 
• Is it your ambition to qualify? 

Scenario-based questions 

• How do you handle client confidentiality?
• How do you organise your workload? 
• A partner set you a task due by close of business tomorrow, but then a senior associate approaches you with another task due for the same time. You cannot meet both deadlines. How do you react?

Paralegal-specific questions 

• What are your current roles and responsibilities as a paralegal?
• What did you do in your previous role?
• What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of being a paralegal?
• What do you think is the most important skill for a successful paralegal?
• What is your knowledge on legal innovation and how could this assist you as a paralegal?

Commercial and legal awareness questions

• Tell us about the legal market in [location of firm's office].
• What do you think is a current opportunity and threat to the legal sector?

Technical legal questions

• How would you look to enforce a judgment?
• What would you do if a claim form came in on a Friday dated 13 days prior when the partner is off for the day?

Advice from successful candidates

•  If you do not have legal work experience yet, think about what skills you can demonstrate through your non-legal experiences (part-time work, extra-curriculars, academic achievements) and how you could answer a situational question with reference to these. 
• Consider your motivations for applying to be a paralegal and why you want this particular role. Do you want to build legal experience doing trainee-level tasks to prepare for further career steps and to build confidence in working in a law firm?

Firms also often gave aspiring paralegals the opportunity to ask questions.