Interview guides

Legal Assistants and Clerks

Hire detail-driven legal pros skilled in organization and compliance.

Litigation

Procedures & Compliance

  • What areas of litigation are you most familiar with (e.g., corporate commercial, tort, construction, personal injury)?
  • How familiar are you with the Rules of Civil Procedure and e-filing systems?
  • What courts have you filed with (small claims, superior, appeal, supreme)?

Document Preparation

  • What experience do you have drafting pleadings, affidavits, motion records, or bills of costs?
  • How do you prepare undertakings and track limitation dates?

Trial Support

  • Describe your role in trial preparation (summaries, chronologies, exhibits).
  • How have you supported lawyers during discovery, hearings, or trials?
Corporate / Business Law

Governance & Filings

  • Are you familiar with OnCorp, Industry Canada, or electronic filing portals?
  • What experience do you have with the Canada Business Corporations Act and provincial equivalents?

Transactions & Records

  • Describe your experience maintaining corporate minute books and drafting resolutions.
  • Have you assisted with incorporations, reorganizations, mergers, or acquisitions?
  • Do you have experience preparing closing books and due diligence materials?

Securities & Compliance

  • Have you been exposed to securities regulations, IPOs, or board governance?
  • How do you track changes and redlines in corporate contracts?
Family Law

Matters & Documentation

  • How familiar are you with the Divorce Act, Family Law legislation, and provincial Marriage Acts?
  • Have you drafted or assisted with separation, marriage, or cohabitation agreements?
  • What experience do you have with DivorceMate?

Client Interaction

  • How have you assisted with sensitive files (custody, property division, spousal support)?
  • Do you have experience coordinating mediation or obtaining vital records (marriage, birth certificates)?
Real Estate Law

Systems & Transactions

  • How familiar are you with Conveyancer and Teraview?
  • Have you worked in commercial or residential real estate? Which do you prefer?
  • Do you have experience with refinancing, condominium law, or landlord/tenant matters?

Closings

  • Describe your role in preparing for and supporting closings.
  • How many files did you manage during peak seasons?
  • Share a time when a closing went wrong. How did you handle it?
Intellectual Property Law

Patents, Trademarks & Copyright

  • What experience do you have with patents, trademarks, and copyright filings?
  • Have you prepared IP correspondence under the Patent Cooperation Treaty?

Technology & Media

  • How familiar are you with licensing, anti-spam legislation, and digital content rights?
  • Have you liaised with foreign associates or conducted extensive IP searches?
Soft Skills for Legal Professionals

Communication Skills

Verbal Communication

  • Tell me about a time you had to explain a complex legal process to a client with little legal knowledge. How did you ensure they understood?
  • Give an example of how you’ve handled a difficult phone call or in-person conversation with a client or opposing counsel.

Written Communication

  • What types of legal correspondence or documents have you drafted or proofread? How do you ensure accuracy and tone?
  • Have you used AI tools (e.g., Harvey AI, Microsoft Copilot, Grammarly) to draft or refine legal documents? How do you review and fact-check them?

Attention to Detail & Accuracy

  • Share an example where your attention to detail prevented a mistake in a legal file.
  • What’s your process for ensuring documents are error-free before submission (e.g., court filings, contracts, wills)?
  • How do you manage critical dates (limitation periods, court deadlines) and avoid oversight?

Client Interaction & Professionalism

  • What qualities should a legal assistant or clerk demonstrate when dealing with clients, especially in sensitive matters (e.g., family, estates)?
  • Tell me about a time you supported a client under stress. How did you balance empathy with professionalism?
  • How do you establish trust and confidentiality with clients?

Problem-Solving & Judgment

  • Describe a situation where you had conflicting urgent requests from multiple lawyers. How did you prioritize?
  • How do you handle incomplete or unclear instructions from counsel?
  • Tell me about a time you had to resolve an unexpected issue with a court, registry, or client at the last minute.

Collaboration & Teamwork

  • How do you balance supporting multiple lawyers with different working styles?
  • Tell me about a time you helped a colleague meet a deadline or managed workload redistribution in a busy season.
  • How do you navigate conflict in a legal team environment?

Adaptability & Stress Management

  • Share an example of how you managed sudden changes (last-minute filings, adjourned hearings, urgent closings).
  • How do you stay composed under tight deadlines or high-pressure situations?
  • How do you adapt when learning new legal technology or procedures?

Ethics & Integrity

  • How do you handle situations where a client asks for information you cannot provide?
  • Tell me about a time you had to uphold confidentiality in a challenging situation.
  • How do you ensure ethical compliance when balancing efficiency with accuracy?
Software & Technology Knowledge

Legal Software

  • What practice management or legal software are you proficient in (PCLaw, Clio, ActionStep, Primafact, Kira)?
  • What specialized platforms have you used:
    • Real Estate: Conveyancer, Teraview
    • Estates: Estate-a-Base
    • Family: DivorceMate
    • Corporate: Fast Company
    • Litigation: Summation iBlaze, CaseLines

Productivity Tools

  • How advanced is your proficiency in Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint?
  • Have you used Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or cloud-based collaboration platforms for file management?

AI & Automation

  • Have you used AI-powered tools for document review, contract analysis, or e-discovery (e.g., RelativityOne, Everlaw, Harvey AI)?
  • How do you validate AI-generated drafts or research to ensure accuracy?
  • Have you used AI transcription or summarization tools for hearings or discovery prep?
  • How do you see AI reshaping the role of legal assistants and clerks in the next 3–5 years?
Wills & Estates

Drafting & Documentation

  • Have you assisted with wills, codicils, or powers of attorney?
  • What estate administration documents have you prepared (applications for certificates, asset inventories)?
  • Do you have experience drafting trusts (inter vivos, testamentary, Henson, insurance)?

Client Support

  • Have you acted as a witness for wills or POAs?
  • How do you handle sensitive estate matters with grieving families?

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