Hearing Back from Law Firms, Assessment Centres & Interview Tips - 2019 - 2020

[NatAsh]

Hey everyone! Has anyone heard anything from Reed Smith re Assessment Centre invites? Has anyone also heard from Pinsents and Travers Smith?

I am still waiting to hear back from Pinsent too. It said on their website that the AC will take place during Aug so :/ not sure if the fact that we haven't heard is a good sign but...

Do update me if you hear back though please and I will do the same.

 

[ELA]

I've got my first TC interview next week.

Is there a page/thread somewhere that has a list of questions to prepare by any chance? I have ideas of course, but I'm wondering if there's somewhere I could find more.

Thanks

 

[Alice G]

I've got my first TC interview next week.

Is there a page/thread somewhere that has a list of questions to prepare by any chance? I have ideas of course, but I'm wondering if there's somewhere I could find more.

Thanks

Hey!! Take a look at this guide https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/175-training-contract-interview-questions-2/

I hope this helps!

 

[ELA]

Hey!! Take a look at this guide https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/175-training-contract-interview-questions-2/

I hope this helps!

Exactly what I was hoping for! You're so helpful, thank you

 

[Alice G]

Exactly what I was hoping for! You're so helpful, thank you

No worries at all!

 

[ELA]

Hey!! Take a look at this guide https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/175-training-contract-interview-questions-2/

I hope this helps!

Wow there are a lot on questions on this page Exceeded my expectations.

 

[Alice G]

Wow there are a lot on questions on this page Exceeded my expectations.

There are indeed!! Don’t be too daunted though. What I did was I copied all the questions in a word doc and wrote a sentence referring to what my answer would be should it come up/wrote the specific scenario I’d use for competency questions. It also really helps to flesh out the tricker ones in more depth though- maybe try formulating the structure of an answer for those rather than just a bullet point say.

I know there are so many but if you manage to write something down for each one, it’s likely you’ve really covered your back and will feel so confident in your answers going into the interview. Let me know if I can offer any further guidance on prep, more than happy to help where I can

 

[ELA]

There are indeed!! Don’t be too daunted though. What I did was I copied all the questions in a word doc and wrote a sentence referring to what my answer would be should it come up/wrote the specific scenario I’d use for competency questions. It also really helps to flesh out the trickier ones in more depth though- maybe try formulating the structure of an answer for those rather than just a bullet point say.

I know there are so many but if you manage to write something down for each one, it’s likely you’ve really covered your back and will feel so confident in your answers going into the interview. Let me know if I can offer any further guidance on prep, more than happy to help where I can

Yes, those are great ideas! I think I might do flashcards just because I like them. I think I will also practise actually saying some of the answers because I realised during my VS Skype interview that even though I had prepared questions on paper, it wasn't coming out quite the way I wanted. The interview is on Friday 16th so I feel like I have a lot of time. I'm mostly excited.

I think it's also training your brain to come up with answers to as broad a range of questions as possible, so as to be be able to respond to a question that is impossible to prepare. I had questions I was very unprepared for during the Skype interview, because they were so 'random', and I found that tricky.

 

[Jaysen]

Yes, those are great ideas! I think I might do flashcards just because I like them. I think I will also practise actually saying some of the answers because I realised during my VS Skype interview that even though I had prepared questions on paper, it wasn't coming out quite the way I wanted. The interview is on Friday 16th so I feel like I have a lot of time. I'm mostly excited.

I think it's also training your brain to come up with answers to as broad a range of questions as possible, so as to be be able to respond to a question that is impossible to prepare. I had questions I was very unprepared for during the Skype interview, because they were so 'random', and I found that tricky.

I think that's one of the best ways to prepare. Many candidates really know their stuff on paper, but it can be a struggle to articulate that aloud and in the pressure of an interview.

PS: The questions in that guide lean on the harder side, but in the real thing, you should get a combination of straightforward interview questions together with some harder ones!

 

[Brandon93]

Hi Jaysen, what do you think is the appropriate length of time candidates should spend when answering an interview question?

 

[LawGal]

Yes, yesterday I also received an AC invite from Freshfields, I think for me there were 4 slot options and the last one was on the 8th of August.

Hi,

How long did you have to complete the Watson Glaser test? Was it 30mins to complete 40 questions?
Also Freshfields said to complete it 'by Wednesday 7th August' - do you know if this is close of business or midnight on the 7th?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Naomi98]

Hi,

How long did you have to complete the Watson Glaser test? Was it 30mins to complete 40 questions?
Also Freshfields said to complete it 'by Wednesday 7th August' - do you know if this is close of business or midnight on the 7th?

Thanks in advance!

Yes it was 30mins 40 questions. Sorry I dont know about the deadline, I did mine two days before my deadline

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi,

How long did you have to complete the Watson Glaser test? Was it 30mins to complete 40 questions?
Also Freshfields said to complete it 'by Wednesday 7th August' - do you know if this is close of business or midnight on the 7th?

Thanks in advance!

Will be 23.59 - systems are typically not that sophisticated for specific hour cut offs.

I wouldn’t leave it that late though - your mental capacity that late at night isn’t going to go at its best (unless you’re nocturnal).

 

[AlexTor]

Has anyone heard from Cleary or Sidley Austin or has any experience of when they get back to you?

 

[Jaysen]

Hi Jaysen, what do you think is the appropriate length of time candidates should spend when answering an interview question?

Depends on the question (e.g. a competency answer will likely last longer than discussing your biggest weakness), as well as how quickly you speak. Most answers will probably be between 30 and 2 minutes. If it's less, that's OK as long as you check you're developing your answers properly. If it's more, you'll want to make sure what you're saying isn't dragging on unnecessarily.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Depends on the question (e.g. a competency answer will likely last longer than discussing your biggest weakness), as well as how quickly you speak. Most answers will probably be between 30 and 2 minutes. If it's less, that's OK as long as check you're developing your answers properly. If it's more, you'll want to make sure what you're saying isn't dragging on unnecessarily.

Candidates will typically feel like time is going a lot quicker than the interviewer too. So a candidate’s perception of what 30 seconds to 120 seconds might be is likely to be skewed.

But at the same time I wouldn’t worry to much about time. I’d worry more about quality, focus and structure.

 

[SD]

Hi all ! Has anyone heard back from Latham & Watkins ?

 

[Brandon93]

Candidates will typically feel like time is going a lot quicker than the interviewer too. So a candidate’s perception of what 30 seconds to 120 seconds might be is likely to be skewed.

But at the same time I wouldn’t worry to much about time. I’d worry more about quality, focus and structure.

Thank you to both of for your responses. That was very helpful. I know this may sound silly but the reason I asked was that when it comes to commercial awareness questions I don't know whether to keep it short and precise or spend time demonstrating I understand the topic I am talking about in depth. I'll appreciate any feedback on this, thanks again.

 

[Shane O'Hanlon]

Hey guys, anyone here get an AC with NRF ? Good bit past the deadline so I assume it's a rejection. Was surprised that they wouldn't have let me know...especially since I sent in my app the day applications open. Quite frustrating. Also still no news from Travers. Assume that's the same for everybody else as well.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Thank you to both of for your responses. That was very helpful. I know this may sound silly but the reason I asked was that when it comes to commercial awareness questions I don't know whether to keep it short and precise or spend time demonstrating I understand the topic I am talking about in depth. I'll appreciate any feedback on this, thanks again.

There’s no fixed answer to this - it really depends on the question. But typically with commercial awareness questions it is important to show your thinking - how you got to that conclusion, rather than just stating the conclusion. Just keep focus - where people go wrong is that they go off on a tangent as they try to show “too much” commercial awareness