17 Staff Attorney Interview Questions and Answers

Staff attorneys are the backbone of any legal team. They provide critical support to attorneys who are representing clients in court, preparing legal documents, and conducting legal research. Staff attorneys may also work with clients to provide legal advice and representation.

If you’re looking to become a staff attorney, you’ll need to be prepared to answer a range of interview questions. In this guide, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to answer common interview questions, as well as some sample questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working in a team setting?

Working as a staff attorney can involve collaborating with other attorneys and legal professionals. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable working in a team setting and that you have the interpersonal skills necessary for collaboration. In your answer, explain how you feel about teamwork and what makes it successful. Share an example of a time when you worked well with others on a project or task.

Example: “I am very comfortable working in a team setting. Throughout my career, I’ve had many opportunities to work collaboratively with other lawyers and legal professionals. For instance, at my previous job, I was part of a small legal team that handled all types of cases. We each took turns researching different aspects of our cases and presenting our findings to one another. This allowed us to learn from each other’s expertise and collaborate effectively.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a successful staff attorney?

This question can help interviewers understand your perspective on what it takes to be a successful attorney. When answering this question, you can discuss the qualities that have helped you succeed in your career so far and how they relate to the role of staff attorney.

Example: “I believe some of the most important qualities for a successful staff attorney are integrity, communication skills and problem-solving abilities. As a staff attorney, I would need to work with other attorneys and clients to solve problems and find solutions. These three qualities have helped me develop my legal knowledge and hone my research and writing skills. They also allow me to communicate effectively with others and build trust.”

How would you describe the role of a staff attorney in a law firm?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the role of a staff attorney and how it fits into the law firm. You can use this question as an opportunity to explain what you enjoy most about being a staff attorney, which may help your interviewer get a better sense of who you are as a professional.

Example: “As a staff attorney, I am responsible for researching cases, drafting documents and representing clients in court. In my experience, I find that working with clients on their legal issues is very rewarding because I feel like I’m making a difference in people’s lives. I also enjoy the challenge of research and writing, so I find that working as a staff attorney allows me to put my skills to good use.”

What is your experience with legal research? Can you give me an example?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the skills and experience necessary for this role. You can answer by describing a time when you used legal research to find information, organize it and create a report or presentation.

Example: “In my previous position as a staff attorney, I was responsible for researching state laws and regulations regarding business contracts. This included finding case law from other states and federal courts, which required me to use several databases and online resources to gather relevant information. In one instance, I found conflicting information between two cases in different states. I researched further and discovered that both cases were decided by the same judge at different times. After gathering all of this information, I created a presentation for my team on how to interpret these types of situations.”

Provide an example of a legal document you drafted and the purpose of that document.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your drafting skills and how you use them in the workplace. When answering, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of a legal document you drafted and what steps you took to create it.

Example: “In my last position as a staff attorney for a small law firm, I had to draft many different types of legal documents. One type of document I frequently drafted was wills. In these cases, I would meet with clients to discuss their wishes and then write up the will based on those discussions. After writing the will, I would have another lawyer review it before sending it out.”

If hired as a staff attorney, what would be your priorities during your first few weeks on the job?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are eager to get started and make a positive impact. Your answer should include your plan for learning about the company, meeting your colleagues and getting up to speed on current cases.

Example: “I would start by reviewing all of my new employee paperwork and training manuals. I’d also want to learn more about the company culture and meet my team members as soon as possible. Next, I would review any case files I was assigned so I could familiarize myself with them before our first meeting. Finally, I would be ready to take on new assignments at the beginning of each week.”

What would you do if you disagreed with a partner’s legal strategy during a case?

This question can help interviewers understand how you work with others and your ability to collaborate. Your answer should show that you are willing to communicate respectfully with your partner, even if you disagree with their strategy or opinion.

Example: “If I disagreed with a partner’s legal strategy during a case, I would first try to discuss my concerns with them in private. If they were unable to change their mind, I would explain why I think the strategy is not effective and offer an alternative approach. If they still refused to change their strategy, I would continue working on the case while looking for another attorney who could take over the case.”

How well do you communicate in written form? Can you provide an example from your previous job?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your writing skills and how you communicate with others in the workplace. To answer, consider providing an example of a time when you had to write something important for work and discuss what you wrote about and why it was important.

Example: “I have always been good at communicating in written form because I enjoy writing. In my previous position as a staff attorney, I often communicated with other attorneys and clients through email and memos. For instance, if I needed to send information to multiple people, I would create a memo that included all the relevant details and sent it out to everyone who needed it.”

Do you have experience preparing legal documents for court?

This question can help interviewers understand your experience with the legal process and how you might fit into their organization. Use examples from past work to explain what documents you prepared for court, including any unique or challenging cases that required extra attention.

Example: “In my last position as a staff attorney, I helped prepare all of our clients’ paperwork for court. This included gathering evidence, organizing client information and creating detailed reports on case progress. In one instance, we had a client who was being evicted from his home because he fell behind on mortgage payments. We were able to provide enough evidence to show the judge that the client’s financial situation improved after falling ill, which allowed him to stay in his home.”

When working with a team of lawyers, how do you handle constructive criticism from others?

When working with a team of lawyers, it’s important to be able to handle constructive criticism from others. This question helps employers understand how you react to feedback and whether you can take on board what others say about your work. In your answer, try to show that you are open to receiving feedback and willing to improve your skills.

Example: “I am always grateful for constructive criticism because it allows me to learn more about my mistakes and make improvements. I find that when someone gives me feedback, I listen carefully and ask questions if I don’t understand the issue or advice they’re giving me. Then, I use their feedback to help me reflect on my own performance and think about ways I can do better in the future.”

We want to improve our case management processes. Can you provide an example of a strategy you would use to do so?

Case management is an important part of being a staff attorney. Your interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your case management skills and how you would improve their current processes. In your answer, explain the steps you would take to implement new strategies for managing cases.

Example: “I recently worked with a client who was having trouble keeping track of all the documents they needed to submit in court. I created a system where my client could upload all their documents into one central location. This allowed them to keep track of everything they had submitted and what still needed to be done. It also helped me stay organized when it came time to file paperwork.”

Describe your experience with legal research databases.

This question can help interviewers understand your experience with the legal research databases they use. You can describe how you used a database to find information for cases and what types of information you found in these databases.

Example: “I have extensive experience using LexisNexis, Westlaw and Fastcase. I typically use LexisNexis when researching case law because it has an extensive collection of court decisions from state and federal courts. I also use this database to search for relevant articles on topics like constitutional law and civil rights. In my last role, I used Westlaw to look up statutes and regulations that were related to cases we worked on. I would use Fastcase to find recent news stories about current events or issues that could be useful in our cases.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for a staff attorney position?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a strong understanding of what it takes to be successful in this role. You can use your answer to highlight your relevant experience, skills and qualifications for the position.

Example: “I am passionate about advocating for those who are less fortunate than themselves. I believe that everyone deserves equal access to justice, which is why I chose to pursue a career as a lawyer. In my previous roles, I’ve helped clients with family law issues, including divorce proceedings, child custody cases and adoption procedures. I also understand how important it is to work well with others, so I always make sure to communicate clearly with my team members.”

Which law schools did you attend, and what were your graduation credentials like?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your educational background and how you’ve progressed in your career. It’s important to highlight the skills you learned while attending law school, such as critical thinking, research and communication.

Example: “I attended Harvard Law School where I graduated with honors. While there, I was on the editorial board of the law journal and participated in several mock trial competitions. My team won first place at the state level competition my senior year.”

What do you think are the biggest challenges for staff attorneys?

This question can help interviewers understand your perspective on the role of a staff attorney. They may ask this question to see if you have experience with some of these challenges and how you overcame them. In your answer, try to identify two or three challenges that you’ve experienced in your career as a staff attorney. Explain what you did to overcome those challenges.

Example: “The biggest challenge for me is managing my time effectively. I find it challenging to balance all of my responsibilities while also meeting deadlines. To solve this problem, I use several organizational tools like project management software and calendars. These tools allow me to stay organized and prioritize my work so I can meet important deadlines.”

How often do you make recommendations on legal strategy as a staff attorney?

This question can help interviewers understand how you approach your work and the extent of your responsibilities. Your answer should show that you are willing to take on more responsibility when necessary, but also that you know when to ask for help from a supervisor or partner attorney.

Example: “I make recommendations on legal strategy as often as I need to in order to ensure my cases have the best chance at success. However, I always try to discuss any major strategic decisions with my supervisors before making them so they can provide input and guidance. This helps me avoid making mistakes that could cost our firm money or clients.”

There is a conflict between two attorneys on your team. How do you handle it?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle interpersonal conflicts and your ability to resolve them. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you helped two colleagues work through their differences and maintain a positive working relationship.

Example: “In my previous role as an associate attorney, I had the opportunity to supervise two other attorneys on my team. One of these attorneys was very detail-oriented while the other preferred to take a more creative approach to problem solving. At first, they would often disagree about how to best complete assignments. However, we were able to come up with a compromise where the detail-oriented attorney could provide feedback on the creative attorney’s work before it went out to clients.”