Over the past few months, I went through the process of applying and interviewing for paralegal and paralegal-adjacent positions at several law firms. As a Law Career Community Intern at the Center for Career Advancement, I’ve had the opportunity to think a lot about how Bucknell students approach the legal job search. After going through the process myself, I’ve gathered some insights that might help other pre-law students navigate it as well.
Below are some of my biggest takeaways from interviewing with law firms and preparing to transition into a legal role next year.
- Interviews are largely a “vibe check”
By the time you reach the interview stage, you’ve already cleared a major hurdle. Your GPA, coursework and experiences have demonstrated that you have the academic ability to succeed in the role. At that point, interviewers are trying to learn the things that they can’t see on your résumé.
They want to know:
- Do you have personality?
- Would you contribute positively to the office culture?
- Can you think on your feet?
- How do you communicate and interact with others?
In other words, they’re trying to imagine what it would actually be like to work with you in the office each day.
- Prepare for common interview questions
Across my interviews, several themes kept appearing in the questions I was asked.
Some of the most common prompts included:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Tell me about a time you failed and how you overcame it.
- Tell me about a time something unexpected happened. What did you do in response?
- Describe how you work in team settings. What role do you typically play in a group?
- How do you prioritize competing deadlines?
One strategy that helped me structure my responses was the STARR method, which helps you clearly explain your experiences while demonstrating your impact.
- Situation: Set the context by briefly summarizing the background, challenge or problem.
- Task: Describe your responsibility in that situation.
- Action: Explain specifically what you did, using clear action verbs.
- Result: Share the outcome and highlight the impact of your actions.
- Relate: Connect the experience back to the role you’re applying for and explain how it prepares you to succeed in that position.
Using this structure helps ensure that you don’t just tell a story – you demonstrate how your past experiences translate into skills that will help you succeed in the role.
- Do your homework on the firm
Before interviews, I researched each firm carefully. I looked into practice areas, recent cases and major news involving the firm. Being able to reference a recent case or initiative demonstrates genuine interest and shows that you’ve taken the time to learn about the organization.
- Collaboration matters more than you might think
One thing I didn’t fully anticipate going into the process was how much emphasis firms place on teamwork. Paralegals rarely work in isolation. You’ll be coordinating with attorneys, other paralegals and administrative staff while juggling multiple tasks at once.
In one of my interviews, candidates were placed in breakout rooms and asked to work together to schedule a busy day in the office. At the end, we presented our schedule as a group. The goal wasn’t necessarily to find the “perfect schedule”; it was to demonstrate how we communicated, collaborated and approached the problem as a team.
Being able to show that you work well with others, and that you communicate clearly in group settings, is incredibly valuable.
- Time management is strongly emphasized
Another skill that came up repeatedly was managing competing deadlines. Law firms move quickly, and you may be responsible for several projects at the same time.
Interviewers often want to hear how you:
- Prioritize urgent versus less urgent tasks
- Stay organized when juggling multiple responsibilities
- Maintain attention to detail under pressure
Even experiences from coursework, internships or campus organizations can provide strong examples of how you’ve handled multiple tasks at once.
- My biggest piece of advice: connect with Bucknell’s alumni network
If there’s one piece of advice I would emphasize to any Bucknell student interested in the legal field, it would be to reach out to Bucknell alumni on LinkedIn.
Before applying to firms, I searched LinkedIn for Bucknell graduates working at those organizations and sent short messages introducing myself and asking if they’d be willing to share their experiences. I was honestly amazed by how responsive people were – nearly everyone I contacted replied. Alumni answered questions, connected me with relevant HR contacts and even scheduled phone or Zoom calls to talk about their careers and offer advice during the application process.
In fact, the position I’ll be working in next year is one that I learned about directly from a Bucknell alum who I reached out to on LinkedIn. Bucknell has an incredibly strong and supportive alumni network, so take advantage of it!
Final Thoughts
The legal job search can feel intimidating at first, but it’s also an opportunity to reflect on your experiences and develop skills that will serve you well in law school and beyond. Remember that interviews aren’t just about proving you’re qualified, but also about showing who you are and how you would contribute to a team.
If you’re starting the process yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out to Bucknellians who have been in your shoes. You never know where one message might lead.
