No doubt it’s an odd one, as @Jessica Booker pointed out, and one that has taken me by surprise.Hey @Lopez2017
This is actually such a cute question!!!
I've never answered anything like this before in an application, but the question seems to be clearly geared towards gauging your creativity/personality - I think it's fine to have a playful, yet introspective response, giving them an indication of your values. It might also be worth looking at the firm's values to see if you can say something that might potentially align with it. Given the word count restriction (60!?), you also want ensure the advice is something that you can express in a concise way. I've taken a stab at this question below, though I'd be curious what @Jessica Booker and the other community assistants @Andrei Radu and @Amma Usman would say too.
"Unstructured time can actually be a good thing! Growing up as a child in the countryside, I learned to clean stables, cook, take spontaneous bike rides, and balance freedom with control. These are some of my happiest memories—a reminder of how essential it is to have time set aside for exploration, trying new things, and simple enjoyment."
All jokes aside, I wonder if it is getting at two fundamental aspects of life as a lawyer at Withers:
- the strong personal connections private client lawyers build with their clients and guiding them through often emotional issues (hence the childhood toy?)
- Withers is full-service: although the firm leans to private client, they are prepped to navigate their clients through the full spectrum of life’s challenges.
Still, not sure how that feeds into any answer. Maybe it is just a slightly silly question and they just want to see some personality!