Interview Tips from a Legal Recruiter How to Make a Great Impression — In Person or on Video By Crystal Cornett

After spending more than 20 years working in the legal industry and the last several years in legal recruiting, I’ve been on both sides of the interview process. I’ve been the nervous candidate trying to make a great impression, and I’ve also been the recruiter preparing candidates for interviews and hearing feedback afterward.

One thing I can tell you is that interviews are not only about having the right experience on your résumé. How you prepare, communicate, and present yourself can make a huge difference.

Whether you’re interviewing for your first paralegal position, looking for your next opportunity, or trying to move into a more senior role, here are some of the things I recommend before your next interview.

Your Interview With the Recruiter Counts Too

One thing candidates sometimes forget is that your interview with the recruiter is still an interview. Whether you’re speaking with an agency recruiter or someone who recruits directly for the firm, treat that conversation with the same professionalism you would in an interview with the employer.

Be on time for scheduled phone and video calls, be prepared to talk about your experience, and remember that the impression you make matters. Your recruiter may be the person introducing you to the hiring team and advocating for you throughout the process.

You should absolutely be honest with your recruiter — that’s how we learn what you’re really looking for and whether an opportunity is a good fit. But there’s a difference between being honest and becoming too comfortable.

And please don’t bash your current or former employer. I completely understand that sometimes there’s a very good reason you’re looking for a new job, but an interview isn’t the place to unload all of it. Keep your explanation professional, then shift the conversation to what you’re looking for in your next opportunity.

Your recruiter is there to help you put your best foot forward, so start making that impression from the very first conversation.

Before the Interview — Do Your Homework
Please research the firm or company before you interview.

You don’t need to memorize the entire website, but you should know what they do, what practice areas they handle, where their offices are located, and, most importantly, what position you’re interviewing for.

If you know who you’ll be meeting with, look them up too. Read their firm bio and take a look at their LinkedIn profile. Knowing a little about the people you’re meeting can make the conversation feel much more natural.

Also, read the job description again before the interview. Think about your experience and have a few specific examples ready that show why you can do the job.

In-Person Interview Tips:

Dress Like You Want the Job

Even though many legal offices have become more casual, an interview is not the time to test just how casual they are.

Unless you’re specifically told otherwise, I recommend professional business attire. You can always adjust later once you understand the firm’s culture.

Make sure everything is clean, fits well, and makes you feel confident. You don’t want to spend the interview worrying about your outfit.

Arrive Early — But Not Too Early
Aim to arrive at the building about 10–15 minutes early. Give yourself extra time for traffic, parking, security, elevators and figuring out exactly where the office is.

But there is such a thing as arriving too early. Walking into a law firm 30 or 40 minutes before your interview can actually create an awkward situation for the receptionist and interviewer.

If you’re extremely early, sit in your car or find somewhere nearby to wait.

Bring Your Résumé

Yes, they already have it.

Bring copies anyway.

I recommend bringing several clean copies of your résumé in a folder or portfolio, along with a notepad and pen. If references, writing samples, or other documents are relevant to the position, have those available too.

Being prepared never hurts.

Remember That Your Interview Starts Before You Sit Down

Be polite to everyone you encounter — the receptionist, legal assistants, paralegals, and anyone else you meet along the way.
In a law firm, people talk.

The person greeting you at the front desk may not be making the hiring decision, but that doesn’t mean their impression of you won’t make its way back to the person who is.

Be friendly, professional, and respectful from the moment you walk through the door.

Pay Attention to Your Body Language

Smile. Make eye contact. Sit up straight. Try not to cross your arms or fidget constantly.

And yes, nerves are completely normal.

You don’t have to pretend you’re not nervous. Most interviewers understand. Take a second before answering a question if you need to. A thoughtful pause is much better than rushing into an answer because you’re afraid of silence.

Video Interview Tips:

Video interviews may feel more casual because you’re sitting at home, but treat them exactly like an in-person interview.

Test Everything Beforehand

Do not wait until two minutes before your interview to discover that your microphone doesn’t work or your computer suddenly needs an update.

Test your camera, microphone, internet connection, and whatever platform you’ll be using ahead of time. If possible, do a quick test call with someone.

Then log in a few minutes early on interview day.

Look at What’s Behind You

Your background doesn’t need to look like a staged office, but it should be clean and free of distractions.

Find a quiet area with good lighting and position your camera at eye level. You want the interviewer to see your face clearly without looking up your nose or staring at a ceiling fan behind you.

Also, look at your screen before the interview and see exactly what the interviewer will see.

You’d be surprised what we notice.

Eliminate Distractions

Silence your phone. Turn off computer notifications. Close unnecessary browser tabs and let everyone in your house know that you’re interviewing.

Pets and children occasionally make surprise appearances — life happens — but do what you can beforehand to minimize interruptions.

Look at the Camera

This one takes practice.

When we’re on video, our natural instinct is to look at the person’s face on the screen. But looking into the camera creates the appearance of eye contact.

You don’t have to stare into it the entire interview, but try to look at the camera while you’re answering important questions.

Notes Are Fine — Reading a Script Is Not

One advantage of a video interview is that you can keep a few notes nearby.

Write down a few reminders about your experience, accomplishments, and questions you want to ask. Just don’t turn the interview into a reading exercise.

If your eyes keep moving to the same spot every time you’re asked a question, the interviewer will probably figure out what’s happening.

Tips for Every Interview:

Have Examples Ready

Don’t just say, “I’m very organized.” Show them.

Maybe you managed a large litigation docket, coordinated discovery deadlines across dozens of cases, helped prepare for trial or created a system that made your department more efficient.

Specific examples are much more memorable than generic answers.

Prepare Questions to Ask

Almost every interview ends with some version of, “Do you have any questions for us?”

Please don’t say no.

You are interviewing them too.

Ask what success looks like in the position. Ask about the team you’ll be working with. Ask why the position is open, what the day-to-day responsibilities look like, or what they enjoy about working there.

Your questions should help you decide whether this is somewhere you actually want to work.

Be Yourself

You don’t need to become a completely different person for an interview.

Professional doesn’t mean robotic.

Let your personality come through. Be engaged, ask questions, and have a conversation. Firms aren’t only considering whether you have the skills to do the job. They’re also thinking about whether they can see themselves working with you every day.

Send the Thank-You Email

After the interview, send a short thank-you email.

It doesn’t need to be an essay. Thank them for their time, mention something specific you enjoyed discussing, and reiterate your interest in the position.

If you interviewed with several people and have their contact information, send individual notes rather than one generic message to everyone.

One Last Piece of Advice
Try to remember that an interview isn't only about convincing someone to hire you. You're trying to determine whether the opportunity is right for you, too. Pay attention to how you're treated during the process. Ask the questions that matter to you. Learn as much as you can about the position, the people you'll be working with, and the expectations of the role.

And if you don't get the job, don't automatically assume you did something wrong. Sometimes another candidate simply has experience that more closely matches what the employer needs at that particular moment.

Prepare well, be professional, be yourself, and give them a reason to remember you.

Good luck on your next interview!

About the Author: Crystal Cornett is the Founder of Paralegals Connect and has more than 20 years of experience in the legal industry, including several years in legal recruiting. She created Paralegals Connect in 2013 as a support group for paralegals and legal professionals to learn, connect, and support one another.