23 Law Firm Receptionist Interview Questions and Answers

Law firm receptionists perform important work within an attorney’s office.

They make sure that all administrative issues are properly handled, and that trials are properly prepared.

This is why interviewers pay special attention to what interviewees say when asked questions during the interview process.

During the interview process for a law firm receptionist position, a hiring manager will ask the applicant about their special skills, and qualifications.

These would include knowledge of operating switchboards, and taking and recording messages, along with the ability to schedule appointments, and perform data entry work.

Other questions that an applicant may be asked will cover the applicant’s ability to handle research work.

Related: Law Firm Receptionist Resume Sample

A set of interview questions and answers particular to the Law Firm Receptionist position is provided here for reference purposes:

Law Firm Receptionist Interview Questions and Answers

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I am a trained law firm receptionist, with over 3 years of experience. I possess a solid background in working as a gatekeeper of a busy law firm. Working at the front end, ensuring that clients and visitors are properly handled is one of my greatest strengths.

2. What specific duties have you performed in a law firm receptionist capacity?

Over the years that I have worked as a law firm receptionist, I have performed many duties including greeting clients, scheduling appointments and handling the follow-up, answering telephone calls, and monitoring visitor access. Also, I have been busy maintaining and scheduling deliveries and providing general administration and clerical assistance.

3. What special skills do you possess which make you an excellent person to hire as a law firm receptionist?

I am an efficient individual, who has excellent knowledge of working at the front end. I possess well-placed organizational skills, and can effectively manage more than one task at a time. In addition, I am well-versed in handling security issues, and can effectively handle appointment systems quite well.

4. What do you know about legal research work?

I have been performing legal research work as part of my job for some time now. Looking through legal papers and precedents is a great strength. And I can effectively prepare documents for trials, by effectively researching previous cases.

5. What do you like most about working as a law firm receptionist?

I love the fact that there is so much to learn. I see new things every single day, and that makes my knowledge base strong.

6. What do you dislike about this work?

I love my work, so I cannot pinpoint anything that I dislike about it.

7. How do you handle the pressure associated with this work?

It is true that my work can pose great pressure. However, my organizational skills ensure that I do not succumb to the pressure and that when the going gets tough, I get going.

8. Why do you think you will fit perfectly into our organization?

I feel that I will fit right into your organization as I possess previous experience in this regard, and possess the right skill set, as you have highlighted.

9. What is your greatest strength?

My greatest strength is my ability to handle a large volume of work, without feeling that I am being pressurized.

10. What is your greatest weakness?

I feel that I work too much at times. This makes it difficult for me to relax, and I feel that I am on the brunt of burning out.

11. What are you doing to make sure that you overcome this weakness?

I am teaching myself to work as much as required and to go the extra mile only when required.

12. What is your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment is overhauling the law library and placing a system that made it easier to access resources.

13. Who was your favorite manager, and why?

My current boss is my favorite manager. This is because he does not micromanage, and makes sure that he teaches me to be independent.

14. What demotivates you?

I am a highly positive individual, who is not easy to demotivate. I cannot pinpoint much that demotivates me, to be honest.

15. What motivates you?

I am motivated when I achieve something big.

16. Why is our law firm interesting to you?

I am especially interested in working for you because I feel that my skills are best suited to your firm. I see how well you have done in the past and would like to be a contributing factor to your firm.

17. How do you handle conflict at work?

In the position that I work in, a conflict is never an option. I make sure that I do not become part of the conflict. When it can’t be helped, I ensure that I resolve issues as quickly as possible.

18. Why do you want to leave your current job?

I feel that I have learned as much as I could in my present place of work. Since I am someone who needs to grow continuously, I would like to move on to a position where I can learn more.

19. How would you react if you failed at something?

I do not take failure to heart. If I fail at something, I sit back and reflect on what has gone wrong. Then, I make sure that I do not repeat that mistake.

20. Tell me about a mistake that you made?

I was recently asked to prepare a legal document, on which I erroneously wrote the wrong client’s name. This became a big fiasco, and I was quite upset about the whole thing. Thankfully, I managed to correct the issue before the papers were admitted to court.

21. What are your plans for the future?

I am interested in learning more about legal administrative work, and eventually, finding a position as a legal administrator.

22. When can you join us if you are hired?

If I am hired, I can join you after 30 days of my notice to my present employer.

23. Do you have any questions for me?

Yes, I would love to know more about the firm’s work. I have heard that there is a witness protection program that you are launching, and I would like more details if possible.