When was your Travers Smith interview?
February 2018
What was it for?
Vacation Scheme
Please describe the interview process at Travers Smith.
I really enjoyed my interview. I think my experience was a little bit different to what I’ve seen around. On that day, I walked into the room and the 1st question the partner asked me (whilst I was still trying to sit down) was if I’ve been to other interviews. I said I’ve had several video interviews and we both lamented on how we hate the idea of basically talking to a computer screen during a video interview (small act of putting me at ease there).
Anyways, fast forward to some few minutes later and we’re basically having a conversation. I had prepared for commercial awareness questions, and the typical moral questions, but he barely asked me any of those (I literally had zero commercial awareness questions). I got asked what legislation I would implement, why law, why travers – typical questions. He also asked me one moral question which involved my client lying to the other party about the terms of a transaction (ie would you support your client even if you knew he was lying, and the other party didn’t know about this. When I said I wouldn’t, he went on to say that I was going to lose the client if I didn’t support him. I then said it was better to lose one client than to potentially lose many others if the situation came to light, and the firm’s reputation crumbled (I threw in Bell Pottinger there and he smiled). Morale of the story – lawyers always act with integrity no matter what!
I wish I could give you more, but the interview was only 30 minutes. One thing I would emphasise is that it was very much a conversation, an enjoyable one for that matter. When I gave an answer to a question, he asked follow-up questions. This means you can pretty much lead the interview. I also asked him a lot of questions during the interview – I asked him what he would do in the above scenario.
What advice would you give to future applicants for the Travers Smith interview?
I would say the best skill to have (which I believe applies to any interview) is empathy/emotional intelligence. When I got accepted to the scheme the day after my interview, I started to feel that the interview was ‘too easy’ – i.e how could I have gained a place on a vac scheme when I had no commercial awareness question and only one moral question. But I heard from people who had been interviewed too, and had a complete different experience. From my perspective, I think this was because I connected with the partner from the outset. Therefore, I would say relax, have FAITH in yourself, and believe that the job is already yours. Get a sense of the energy your interviewer is exuding and try to match that.
I would also advise people to prepare for everything – prepare for the unexpected, for commercial awareness questions, for moral questions, everything. I did prepare for everything, but I guess I was fortunate that day.
Next, do your research on the firm - know the little details. I remember I mentioned their new app for clients (in the employment department) and he seemed impressed, almost like he didn’t think I would know. He even said he was going back to tell his colleague that someone mentioned the app!
Finally, this is a little cheeky but if you’re being interviewed at your uni, try your best to pick one of the earliest slots. I was the first person he interviewed at my uni, and when I accidentally saw the list of people he had to interview, I put on my best show to set the bars high (imo). Also, people get tired during the day so try to get them at their best time.
To reiterate: you don’t have to be the loudest in the room, don’t try to be someone else, have the confidence to be yourself!
February 2018
What was it for?
Vacation Scheme
Please describe the interview process at Travers Smith.
I really enjoyed my interview. I think my experience was a little bit different to what I’ve seen around. On that day, I walked into the room and the 1st question the partner asked me (whilst I was still trying to sit down) was if I’ve been to other interviews. I said I’ve had several video interviews and we both lamented on how we hate the idea of basically talking to a computer screen during a video interview (small act of putting me at ease there).
Anyways, fast forward to some few minutes later and we’re basically having a conversation. I had prepared for commercial awareness questions, and the typical moral questions, but he barely asked me any of those (I literally had zero commercial awareness questions). I got asked what legislation I would implement, why law, why travers – typical questions. He also asked me one moral question which involved my client lying to the other party about the terms of a transaction (ie would you support your client even if you knew he was lying, and the other party didn’t know about this. When I said I wouldn’t, he went on to say that I was going to lose the client if I didn’t support him. I then said it was better to lose one client than to potentially lose many others if the situation came to light, and the firm’s reputation crumbled (I threw in Bell Pottinger there and he smiled). Morale of the story – lawyers always act with integrity no matter what!
I wish I could give you more, but the interview was only 30 minutes. One thing I would emphasise is that it was very much a conversation, an enjoyable one for that matter. When I gave an answer to a question, he asked follow-up questions. This means you can pretty much lead the interview. I also asked him a lot of questions during the interview – I asked him what he would do in the above scenario.
What advice would you give to future applicants for the Travers Smith interview?
I would say the best skill to have (which I believe applies to any interview) is empathy/emotional intelligence. When I got accepted to the scheme the day after my interview, I started to feel that the interview was ‘too easy’ – i.e how could I have gained a place on a vac scheme when I had no commercial awareness question and only one moral question. But I heard from people who had been interviewed too, and had a complete different experience. From my perspective, I think this was because I connected with the partner from the outset. Therefore, I would say relax, have FAITH in yourself, and believe that the job is already yours. Get a sense of the energy your interviewer is exuding and try to match that.
I would also advise people to prepare for everything – prepare for the unexpected, for commercial awareness questions, for moral questions, everything. I did prepare for everything, but I guess I was fortunate that day.
Next, do your research on the firm - know the little details. I remember I mentioned their new app for clients (in the employment department) and he seemed impressed, almost like he didn’t think I would know. He even said he was going back to tell his colleague that someone mentioned the app!
Finally, this is a little cheeky but if you’re being interviewed at your uni, try your best to pick one of the earliest slots. I was the first person he interviewed at my uni, and when I accidentally saw the list of people he had to interview, I put on my best show to set the bars high (imo). Also, people get tired during the day so try to get them at their best time.
To reiterate: you don’t have to be the loudest in the room, don’t try to be someone else, have the confidence to be yourself!
