This is an interesting question and to be honest I’ve never come across something like this so whatever I say subsequently is just honestly how I’d try to approach this if I was answering.
I think it’s important to make an effort with everyone in an organisation and this is something I’d address in the question. Partners are important people and you can learn a lot from them but secretaries, personal assistants, HR/learning and development, IT technicians, PSLs, library staff, mail room staff and catering staff (and many others!) all massively contribute towards a firm and its success. This is something I personally feel very strongly about and I think it’s really important for everyone, regardless of their role, to feel valued and celebrated in an organisation.
I’d also be inclined to highlight how important it is to make an effort with your trainee cohort. They’ll be your support system and the people who will most likely help you out if you need it so think it’s important to invest time in building these relationships. I’d probably do this by making sure I check in with people for coffee and schedule lunches to make sure I know how people are getting on and hope it gives people a chance to say if they need some help etc.
I would also maybe say about making relationships in my different teams as I move through seats and with my supervisors especially. They’ll be the ones giving you feedback and really helping to shape you into a good trainee so that you can succeed as an NQ. I’d really want to have a strong relationship with my supervisor as I’d always want them to feel comfortable giving me feedback, both positive and negative and I really value trust and honesty. I’d really try to cultivate that open and honest relationship with a supervisor from the outset.
I guess I touched on strategy with coffee and lunches etc but maybe just consider the best and most appropriate ways you could get to know people and nurture relationships beyond this too. I also think that is tough as strategy can depend on the person so you might have one strategy for a first seat supervisor which might differ to your second seat supervisor as they might be very different characters. I think these nuances are important to note in responses like this if possible and if you have the words to as they show how you appreciate the need to be adaptable.
I hope this helps you in some way and gives some guidance but I’d try to answer this as authentically as possible and what you think you’d truly do as a trainee in this situation
I don’t think there are right and wrong answers as such here but they’re probably trying to gauge your personality and your approach to these sorts of things