Legal Interview Prep

Resolving noncriminal legal disputes, often through lawsuits.

Civil Litigation

Party bringing a lawsuit/party responding to it.

Plaintiff/defendant

Formal document setting out claims or defenses.

Pleading

Process of exchanging case information and evidence.

Deposition

Formal request asking the court to rule or act.

Motion

Case schedule or record/date by which an action must occur.

Docket/deadline

Submitting documents to a court electronically.

E-filing

Legal protections and professional duties governing sensitive information.

Privilege/confidentiality

Organizing exhibits, witnesses, schedules, and materials for trial

Trial preparation

How would you handle multiple deadlines or attorneys?

I’d start by asking each attorney about the actual deadline and what’s needed, and check it against what’s already on my plate. If one is clearly due first, I’d start there and let the other attorney know where I am and when to expect theirs. If both are truly urgent, I’d bring it to them or a supervising attorney so they can decide the priority, since they know a case better than I do. I’d focus on one task at a time so the work stays accurate, and I’d keep both updated on timing.

Are you planning to go to law school?

Law school is something I have considered because of my interest in the legal field and my political science background. However, right now I am not focused on attending law school. Right now, I really want to gain practical experience and develop a better understanding of how the legal profession works. I’m focused on being able to  build my professional skills, take on responsibilities, and contribute to a firm where I can continue to grow.

If you noticed an error in a document an attorney had already reviewed, what would you do?

I’d flag it right away, before the document went out or was filed. I’d also bring it to the attorney directly, or raise it in a private email, and point to the exact spot and just politely mention “I noticed this may be an error, would you like me to correct it? I wouldn’t change anything on my own unless they asked me to fix it, then I’d fix it right away and let them know when it was done.

What would you do if an attorney asked you to do something you didn’t know how to do?

I’d be upfront that I haven’t done it before, because guessing could cause an error. I’d tell them I can get it done and ask for a quick example or the best place to look. I’d check any templates or prior files first, then ask a specific question if I was still stuck. I’d then take notes so I’d know the process for next time, and I’d have the attorney check my first attempt. I feel comfortable learning new tools as I have been teaching myself legal software like NetDocuments and in past roles have kept a notebook with running notes that I look over at the end of each day and the following morning so I can learn quickly.

You don’t have direct legal experience. Why should we hire you?

That’s true, but I’ve been preparing and trying to learn on my own. I’ve been learning NetDocuments and the day-to-day work of legal support from my mom, who was a legal secretary for many years. I also bring habits that carry over: as an RA and working at the food pantry, I handled confidential matters with discretion and organized records. I’ve learned to stay professional under pressure, especially working at Disney, and my academic background has strengthened my research and writing capabilities. I take feedback seriously and welcome it and I want to become someone attorneys can depend on.

Why should I trust you with important work?

I take responsibilities seriously, communicate when something is unclear and own my mistakes. I know legal deadlines and confidential documents require careful work and judgement.

What have you been doing since graduating?

Since graduating, I traveled with the City of Angeles Community Choir and performed at Carnegie Hall. I’ve also been learning about legal support work from my mom, who was a legal secretary for many years, and she's introduced me to the day to day responsibilities and some of the software. I’ve recently been learning NetDocuments, and I’ve been focused on finding a supporting role where I can put that to use.

Tell me about yourself…

I recently graduated from Pepperdine with a B.A. in Political Science and have always been interested in the legal field. My mother was a legal secretary for many years, so I grew up seeing how much attorneys depend on the people supporting them, and I want to be that support. My experience as a Resident Advisor and a food pantry volunteer taught me to handle confidential information, keep accurate records, and manage deadlines, and my work at Disney taught me to stay calm in a fast-paced environment. I’m looking for a support role where I can learn and be dependable, and that’s why I’m excited about this opportunity.

Why Lopez Law/this firm?

I’m interested in Lopez Law because of its litigation work over many different areas, but especially construction and business. I’m also interested and eager to learn how a litigation team manages complex matters and contribute through dependable support.

Tell me a time you handled multiple deadlines/priorities…

At the food pantry and with Adaptive Skating HTX, I often had deadlines land in the same week. I started each week by writing out my commitments and ranking them by urgency and impact. Filing pantry records came first, because the organization depended on accurate documentation. I drafted social media posts ahead of time so a busy week wouldn’t delay them, and I presented them to the board for feedback before they went out. Whatever time was left went to coaching and student scheduling. That routine helped me meet my deadlines consistently, and it taught me that planning ahead and communicating early keeps things from falling through the cracks.

Three words to describe you:

Reliable, professional, honest

What are your strengths?

Fast learner, clear and accurate communicator, very disciplined

What experience prepares you for this role?

While I’m early in my career, I’ve built the core skills this role needs. As an administrative volunteer I was responsible for organizing documents and keeping information accurate on my own. I learned through Chipotle and Disney how to juggle competing priorities calmly while maintaining consistency and communicate early with my team members, and my coaching position gave me experience with scheduling, meeting set deadlines, handling confidential matters reliably, and keeping multiple people informed. I also bring strong writing and proofreading skills through my academic background, and I’m eager to learn and master the firm’s systems.