Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult client or attorney
Theme: Experience Role: Legal Secretary Function: Legal
Interview Question for Legal Secretary: See sample answers, motivations & red flags for this common interview question. About Legal Secretary: Performs administrative tasks such as managing schedules, organizing files, and preparing legal documents. This role falls within the Legal function of a firm. See other interview questions & further information for this role here
Sample Answer
Example response for question delving into Experience with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence
- Difficult Client: Example response detailing a difficult client
- Difficult Attorney: Example response detailing a difficult attorney
Underlying Motivations
What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question
- Conflict resolution skills: Assessing how well you handle difficult situations and individuals
- Communication skills: Evaluating your ability to effectively communicate and manage expectations
- Problem-solving abilities: Determining your approach to resolving challenging client or attorney issues
- Professionalism & composure: Observing how you maintain professionalism and composure in challenging interactions
Potential Minefields
How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags
- Blaming the client or attorney: Avoid blaming the difficult client or attorney for the situation. Instead, focus on how you effectively managed the situation and maintained professionalism
- Lack of problem-solving skills: Avoid giving an example where you were unable to find a solution or resolve the issue. Instead, highlight your ability to handle difficult situations and find effective solutions
- Lack of communication skills: Avoid mentioning instances where miscommunication or lack of communication worsened the situation. Instead, emphasize your strong communication skills and how you effectively communicated with the difficult client or attorney
- Lack of patience or empathy: Avoid showing impatience or a lack of empathy towards the difficult client or attorney. Instead, demonstrate your ability to remain patient, understanding, and empathetic while dealing with challenging individuals