Can anyone explain how it makes practical sense (from an applicant and recruitment perspective), that law firms ask for written answers (at times 2000+ words in length) – only to have a test straight after which determines whether your application is read.
I understand there are exceptions as some firms look at the test result and written answers holistically (
Freshfields is a great example), but for many the test is just a criteria for your application to be read – leading to a lot of wasted time for the applicant who can spend up to a week drafting answers to questions. For the recruiter, having a number questions in the first stage means less high quality applicants can be bothered to apply.
Does it not make sense, as companies in other sectors are starting to do, to have a a short application form which can be filled in <30 mins (to assess eligibility), followed by a test, which if you pass you can then submit written answers to questions?
I don't think this will happen in the near future, but I am yet to see an argument to why the process is structured this way.