how to successfully interview for california state attorney position

by Trevion Larkin 9 min read

In order to gain employment with the California Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice (DOJ), you must follow several steps, in accordance with the California State Civil Service process. These steps are as follows: Examination Becoming reachable on a list Locating a vacant position Participating in a hiring interview

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What is the interview process like for a state attorney?

These steps are as follows: Examination Becoming reachable on a list Locating a vacant position Participating in a hiring interview Passing Medical Examinations (if required) In order to gain employment with the California Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice (DOJ), you must follow several steps, in accordance with the California State Civil Service

Are in-person interviews showing up for the state of California?

Jan 18, 2022 · Application. I interviewed at State of California. Interview. Fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled start of the interview, you receive technical questions to review. Then you go into the interview and have to answer these technical questions in front of a panel. Plus supplemental behavior questions.

How do you prepare for an interview as an attorney?

Jul 29, 2014 · Behavioral / competency-based interview guides: First level supervisor | Text Only (RTF). Second level supervisor | Text Only (RTF). Manager | Text Only (RTF). Executive | Text Only (RTF). For additional information on behavioral interviewing and how to use these interview guides, view the Power Point presentation provided to the California Network of Learning …

How do I list my legal experience in a job interview?

Jan 01, 2016 · Interview. For a state agency I thought the interview process was quite smooth. I was introduced to the position by a recruiter. I then got list eligibility and applied for the job. Not long after that I took a skills assessment, and about a week after I was contacted for an interview.

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How do I prepare for a government lawyer interview?

Just remember the interviewer is looking for work related strengths In Government Attorney. Mention a number of them such as being a good motivator, problem solver, performing well under pressure, being loyal, having a positive attitude, eager to learn, taking initiative, and attention to detail.

How do you prepare for a state interview?

Do'sResearch the organization.Study the duty statement (job description) and prepare how your skills align with the position.Prepare your responses to the critical skills of the job which are outlined in the duty statement (job description) by using the STAR method. ... Anticipate possible interview questions.More items...

What questions are not asked in an interview in California?

Illegal Interview Questionsrace,religious creed,color,national origin,ancestry,physical disability (including HIV-positive status) or mental disability,medical condition (specifically cancer-related conditions and genetic characteristics),marital status,More items...

What are the 5 interview tips?

5 tips for a successful job interview1) Be punctual at your interview. It is mandatory to be on time at a job interview. ... 2) Do your research on the company. ... 3) Don't forget about nonverbal communication. ... 4) Be polite with everyone. ... 5) Be prepared for your interview.

What are the 3 best questions to ask in an interview?

Top 3 Questions You Should Ask in Every Job InterviewIs this a new role or has this role existed previously with your company? ... Who are the main people and groups I'd be collaborating with? ... What are some of the paths you see in your company for the person who holds this position?

What you should not say in an interview?

30 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview“So, Tell Me What You Do Around Here” Rule #1 of interviewing: Do your research. ... “Ugh, My Last Company…” ... “I Didn't Get Along With My Boss” ... 4. “ ... “I'll Do Whatever” ... “I Know I Don't Have Much Experience, But...” ... “It's on My Resume” ... “Yes!More items...

What can you ask in an interview in California?

Questions to applicant's race, color, or sexual orientation. complexion, color of eyes, hair or sexual orientation. information which is otherwise illegal to ask, e.g , marital status, age, residency, etc.

What employers Cannot ask in an interview?

Illegal Interview QuestionsAge or genetic information.Birthplace, country of origin or citizenship.Disability.Gender, sex or sexual orientation.Marital status, family, or pregnancy.Race, color, or ethnicity.Religion.Nov 17, 2021

What questions are illegal in an EEOC interview?

EEOC Guide To Illegal Interview Questions: What You Can't AskRace. Example: What Is Your Race? or What Nationality Are You? ... Height & Weight. ... Financial Information. ... Religious Affiliation Or Beliefs. ... Citizenship. ... Marital Status or Number Of Children. ... Disability and Medical Conditions. ... NYC Only: Salary History.

How can I introduce myself during interview?

2:415:53How To Introduce Yourself In An Interview! (The BEST ANSWER!)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNumber one talk about the skills and qualities you have that are a match for the role you areMoreNumber one talk about the skills and qualities you have that are a match for the role you are applying.

What are the dos and don'ts during interview session?

Take responsibility for your decisions and your actions. Don't make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or others). Don't falsify application materials or answers to interview questions. Don't treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice.

What are good signs in an interview?

11 Signs your interview went wellYou were in the interview for longer than expected. ... The interview felt conversational. ... You are told what you would be doing in this role. ... The interviewer seemed engaged. ... You feel sold on the company and the role. ... Your questions are answered in full.More items...

Interviews for Top Jobs at State of California

Your trust is our top concern, so companies can't alter or remove interviews.

Office Technician Interview

Panel interview, 7 questions loosely based on the duty statement. They cannot ask follow up questions so be detailed with your answers. The more detail you provide the better they score your interview.

Construction Supervisor, I T Manager Interview

Fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled start of the interview, you receive technical questions to review. Then you go into the interview and have to answer these technical questions in front of a panel. Plus supplemental behavior questions.

Environmental Intern Interview

You are given 5 questions and have 20 minutes to answer. The panelist won't say much because they are taking notes, so don't stress out. Afterward, ask them questions as well.

Attorney III Interview

Painful, boring, three person tag team asking the same questions in different ways. Made me wait for almost 30 minutes for the interview to begin. People in cubicles looked miserable.

Associate Governmental Program Analyst (AGPA) Interview

A hiring employees contact me via email to set up an interview. Once I filled necessary forms, I got back with a scheduled time for an interview. 30-minute interview on the phone with a supervisor and a nurse facilitator. About 10 questions were asked.

Senior Water REsource Control Engineer Interview

Fill out experience and test form detailing exact areas of knowledge. Very long and in depth form asking for specific details of many areas of experience and asking one to explain about their particular experience and to rate what you consider your level of experience. Whether expert moderate etc.

Can you please name a Supreme Court case that impacts your practice of law on a daily basis?

The purpose of this question is not necessarily to test the substance of the answer but more the fact that the candidate has an answer. This is indicative of the fact that they are informed and see the larger picture. So much of what a lawyer does relies on having strong background knowledge of the law.

Can you give an example of where you have chosen to involve yourself in the broader legal community?

Lawyers that network and do the “extra-curricular” activities are generally better informed about recent developments than other attorneys. In addition, networking helps a lawyer build a reputation in the legal sector. Attorneys who have better connections with other attorneys benefit from getting referrals of business from those other attorneys.

How do you handle a disagreement with a superior over a legal matter?

Disagreements happen in the practice of law. Two attorneys can reach different opinions about an issue and both can be correct. It is even more difficult when one of the attorneys works for the other. Part of being a successful lawyer is learning how to make one’s voice heard without being overbearing.

Can you elaborate on a situation where you were unsuccessful and how you handled it?

You should get a sense of how the lawyer handles adversity because there is quite a bit of it in the legal profession. A good lawyer will learn from failure and make the necessary adjustments so it does not happen again in the future. Every lawyer will experience failure at some point.

What aspect of the daily job of being a lawyer interests you the most?

Every lawyer has strengths and weaknesses. Some attorneys do things better than others. This question will test what a lawyer believes that they are good at and what interests them. If they indicate that they dislike a critical basic area of the job, it can help you determine where they would be a good fit in your company.

Have you ever worked on a case that was hard not to take home with you? How did you handle the situation?

Depending on the type of law they practice, lawyers may have to work on cases that evoke emotions like those in family cases or criminal trials. This question allows an interviewer to gauge a candidate's ability to maintain their mental health when working on particularly difficult cases.

5 Attorney Interview Questions & Answers

1. As an attorney, you will need to deal with clients in a way that makes them feel comfortable disclosing personal and often uncomfortable information with you. How do you plan on maintaining your professionalism?

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At MyPerfectResume, we are passionate about two things: sharing our knowledge about the workforce and providing exceptional tools to help jobseekers get ahead. Thanks to our well-rounded assemblage of experts, we offer industry-specific resume and cover letter writing tips and career advice for almost every job.

What is a state attorney?

State attorneys are responsible for conducting legal research and courtroom litigation. State attorneys litigate a variety of matters, including traffic matters, criminal cases, white collar crime and other specialized areas of law. The majority of questions you can expect in a state attorney interview will involve your legal education ...

What do you need to know before an interview?

Your employer will want to know what type of trials you've handled, your experience questioning and deposing witnesses, and your proficiency in drafting legal documents. Before your interview, check to see if your employer requires a legal writing sample.

Why do employers ask hypothetical questions?

In order to assess your legal prowess and your ability to think on your feet, your potential employer may ask you hypothetical questions regarding legal situations. Common fact patterns will involve the type of everyday cases you can expect to see as a state attorney.

What is the California hiring culture?

The state of California strives to build a high performance culture that aligns individual performance to the organization’s strategic plan. This makes hiring decisions critical—departments and agencies must hire the right person with the right skills for the right job. Hiring decisions impact the organization for years—positively or negatively. Managers need a systematic, objective approach when making their hiring decisions.

What is behavior based interviewing?

Many organizations, public and private, have begun using behavior-based interviewing, a structured approach that focuses on looking at past performance to predict success in future performance. The goal of this information is to provide basic information on how to effectively plan and conduct behavioral interviews.

How many parts are there in an interview?

There are generally three parts to an interview: the opening, the body, the closing.

What is a rating in a job?

Rating – a comparison of a candidate’s education, experience, awards, and performance against a set of job-related evaluation criteria to assess his/her ability to successfully perform in the position being filled

What are the skills that are critical to a job?

However, in most jobs personal and interpersonal behaviors, such as paying attention to detail, being self-motivated, or getting along with others, can be the critical job skills. These interpersonal skills often go hand in hand with your organizational environment.

Tell me about a time when you took charge of a meeting. Was the outcome a positive one?

The interviewer would like to know that you have the confidence to lead a meeting successfully. Think about a time when you have driven a meeting - big or small. This example could be a phone meeting, a lunch and learn, or a large client presentation.

At United States Attorney's Office we have many local competitors. In your opinion, what makes us stand out from the crowd?

It is crucial that you research United States Attorney's Office before your interview and be sure to learn about their business landscape. Who are their competitors? What are customers saying online? Check out some favorite review sites to get an idea of what the public is saying about United States Attorney's Office vs. their local competitors.

When have you contributed to an effort to obtain a corporate goal?

Engaged employees are always the most productive. Assure the interviewer that you are capable of being an involved team member by assisting, in some way, to the end goal of the corporation.

How did you maintain a good relationship with your most recent boss?

The interviewer wants to know that you are capable of maintaining a harmonious relationship with those who are considered your leaders.

Many of the management and higher level roles with United States Attorney's Office require a Degree in Business or similar. Please walk me through your post-secondary education

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Tell me why you are the right fit for United States Attorney's Office, and this position

plus coaches for one-on-one support, so you can interview more confidently.

Looking at your resume, it seems there are certain skills necessary for this position that do not stand out. How do you think you will be able to compensate for these missing skills?

plus coaches for one-on-one support, so you can interview more confidently.

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