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Legal Case Study Interviews

Many commercial law firms require candidates to undertake a case study at the final interview stage.

There is not one single format, so it is advisable to ask the recruitment team what you can expect. Below are some general points and tips which have been put together from feedback from students who have gone through the process and what we have learned from law firms. 

Legal Case Study and Commercial Awareness Exercises

Bear in mind that recruiters are always trying to improve their processes so it is likely that they will find new ways to assess candidates each year. It is therefore unlikely that you will find comprehensive resources to practise legal case studies in the same type of ways that you might for management consultancy case studies (in the consulting industry, case studies are extremely well established and follow a broadly similar format during the interview).

Generally speaking legal case studies are not intended to test out technical legal skills – this is partly because they need to be fair to both law and non law students.  Instead they are more likely to test the skills required to be an effective lawyer within the world of (private practice) work. So focus your efforts on your specific law firm research, ways to demonstrate your motivation, and the practice of skills they are seeking rather than on preparing for specific types of exercises.

What Is Being Tested?

The following skills and attributes are likely to be tested throughout the interview process:

  • commercial awareness – for example, are you thinking about the client and the issues they may be facing? Are you thinking of the law firm as a business?
  • logical thinking - are you able to think in a structured way and use your common sense to arrive at a practical solution?
  • analytical skills - can you identify the key issues from a lot of information, perhaps under time pressure?
  • judgement - can you summarise the main points of the arguments and come to a conclusion given a certain set of facts?
  • time management - can you manage your time effectively? Can you prioritise information and activity? Will you get flustered if presented with a large volume of unfamiliar  information to read?
  • dealing with pressure  - can you work under time pressure and stay focused and effective? Can you deal with unfamiliar facts or people and stay calm?
  • resilience  - how do you respond to being challenged? How do you respond when something does not go your way or in the face of a difficult problem? Can you defend your point of view?
  • interpersonal skills. Are you confident in what you are saying, are you collaborative, can you develop a good rapport and productive working relationships, do you listen well, are you open to feedback, do you have a positive attitude?
  • communication.  Can you communicate equally effectively on paper (e.g. in writing a letter/email to a client) and face to face ( e.g. in making a presentation to a group)?  Are you clear? Do you think about the tone and the reader/ audience? Do you have a high standard of general literacy? Is your answer well structured, communicated in plain English and to the point?
  • negotiation skills - are you clear about what you are trying to achieve and what, if anything you are prepared to negotiate on?  If you are acting on behalf of someone, are they clear about what you are doing?
  • motivation – are you enjoying this even if you feel slightly nervous?

Types of Exercise and Tips for Managing Them

These exercises vary from firm to firm and can be part of an individual interview or a group exercise. The material could be given to you in any of the following formats:

  • a paragraph which may be about a current affairs issue or something specifically legal: read and then discuss
  • an article from, for example, the Financial Times : read and discuss/answer questions
  • a one or two page client scenario with a question posed at the end. For example, 'should this new client be taken on?'
  • Summary of the situation – could be in the form of an email or letter
  • Client or competitor strategy
  • Financial statements
  • Information about employees/equipment/other assets (property)
  • Contracts, leases, licences
  • Litigation, possible actions, non disclosure
  • Regulatory information

Tips for the paragraph and article exercises

  • Read carefully
  • Think about how you would summarise what the article is about in two or three sentences
  • Think about the argument/point of view that is being voiced throughout the article. What would be the counter argument if you had to make it?
  • Identify two or three key issues – think about political and economic aspects
  • There may not be an obvious connection to the law firm. The interviewer may be wanting to stretch you intellectually and see how you think, and find out whether you have an opinion that you are able to defend
  • If the article has been reproduced by the firm and is set out in numbered paragraphs, this is so that you can refer to the paragraphs by number in the discussion.

Tips for the client scenarios

Possible scenarios may include a client (or a potential client) who is considering merging or acquiring another company, or a client who is being acquired by a competitor or who is looking for some legal services. The amount of material and time you are given will determine the level of detail you are expected to cover.  In general it is advisable to cover as many aspects as you can broadly, rather than cover only one or two in great detail.

You may be asked a general question such as ‘what advice would you give to the client?’ or three or four specific questions. For the latter it is most important to address all the questions rather than focusing on the detail of one and ignoring others.

It is also very useful to have researched the firm carefully. By doing do you will know facts such as where the firm has offices located (useful when there are several jurisdictions involved in the scenario) and which practice areas it has (allowing you to suggest bringing in expertise from elsewhere in the firm if appropriate).

Tips for “bundle of document” exercises

Some firms will give you anything between 5 and 20 documents to read and answer one or more questions. You may be asked to give a short presentation followed by a discussion with the interviewer(s).

  • Read the question(s) carefully and follow instructions
  • Flick through quickly to establish the contents and make sure you look at the back page. You may even find an index to help you
  • Take a minute to plan your time and leave enough to produce a presentation or at least review your thoughts before the interview
  • Use a highlighter
  • Identify key elements relevant to the question(s)
  • Don’t forget to consider whether the deal should even be done. Is there a deal breaker? Is there another option?
  • Consider risks to the client and/or to the firm. For example are there any reputational issues associated for either party? Is there any “conflict of interest” for the firm?
  • Structure the presentation: beginning, middle and end which should be short summary with recommendations. Be close to the maximum time allowed
  • Be confident in your recommendations, even if you feel that your chosen line of argument is marginal. You can assess the pros and cons of a given situation, but conclude with “on balance, I recommend xyz”. Remember that solicitors are paid to make decisions and that clients need to trust their legal advisers to make them!
  • Consider your audience
  • Imagine this was actually a real situation at work where you were involved in working with this client – what would you really say to them?
  • Check your grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Preparation

Here are some suggestions to help make you feel ready and confident to tackle these exercises:

  • Make sure that you research the role of a solicitor carefully such that you have a realistic view of their daily work (in the relevant setting), their responsilbilites and activities and even an awareness of the SRA's Code of Conduct for legal service firms and individuals.
  • Have a clear idea of the firm’s practice areas, what type of work they specialise in, where their offices are located, how they differentiate themselves from their key competitors and the challenges that law firms face.
  • Read the firm’s annual report or review (and compare it to a competitor), follow their news on Twitter in the weeks ahead of the interview.
  • Be aware of what is happening in the legal world.
  • Keep up to date with current affairs including areas of business that interest you.
  • Learn some basic business language, have a broad understanding of mergers and acquisitions and how they are structured. Know how to read a balance sheet.
  • Be clear on the importance of technology for all businesses.
  • Practise reading business articles in a set time and then summarise the key points.
  • You may find it useful to become familiar with some basic analysis tools used in business such as SWOT and PESTLE as they may help you think of areas to consider in some responses.  Don't go overboard with these though as they might hinder your ability to write a clear and appropriate response if they are used incorrectly.
  • Complete some of the exercises that firms offer in their online work experience/online internship schemes. Many are listed on Forage.

Resources for Building Commercial Awareness

Good resources for City and global firms are:

All You Need To Know About The City by Chris Stoakes, and Commercial Law Handbook by Jake Schogger are useful preparation for understanding business terms, how deals work and general commercial awareness as it applies to the legal industry.

Useful websites include:

  • My experience on case study interview: How should you prepare for a case-study interview? - a Legal Case Study on LawCareers.Net
  • Chambers Student: Commercial Awareness Resources - Legal Blogs
  • Chambers Student: Legal industry trends
  • LawCareers.Net commercial awareness weekly round ups 
  • UK Government guidance on how to set up a business
  • BBC News: Business
  • How to Read a Balance Sheet (The Non-Boring Version)
  • Linklaters “Commercial Awareness” advice  
  • Virtual work experience programmes for several law firms including Linklaters, White & Case and Pinsent Masons are available on the Forage platform.
  • Warwick Place: news articles about challenges faced by law firms
  • legalfutures.co.uk – has a free newsletter rounding up key changes and news in the legal sector.
  • Our self directed learning information pages contain resources for free online courses 
  • Investopedia has a good dictionary for business terms.

Building Your Commercial Awareness Skills at Oxford

  • Attend skills sessions run by law firms online as well as those run by The Careers Service , the  Oxford Law Society , the Oxford Bar Society and the Law Faculty
  • The Oxford Strategy Challenge – ideal for building up team work, commercial awareness and skills in working with business clients. Run regularly throughout the year (online).
  • Insight into Strategy and Management  – a short course, run each term, to improve your business knowledge.
  • Develop your employability skills  – includes many ideas for building these at Oxford including practical suggestions for developing your “business awareness”.
  • Presentation and other assessment centre skills advice
  • CareerConnect VACANCIES
  • CareerConnect EVENTS
  • RELATED NEWS

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Mastering the Law Firm Interview: Tips and Strategies for Success

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By  Angelie Ala

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Mastering the Law Firm Interview: Tips and Strategies for Success

1. Research the Law Firm

  • Start browsing the firm's website to learn about its practice areas, size, locations, and notable clients. Pay attention to their mission statement and any news or press releases, as these can give you valuable insight into the firm's culture and recent accomplishments. Remember to check their blog or publications section, as these can provide additional information about their legal expertise and interests.
  • If possible, find out who will conduct your interview and look up their professional background on LinkedIn or the firm's website. Understanding their specialties, interests, and career paths can help you connect personally and leave a lasting impression. Knowing their accomplishments or recent publications can also be an excellent conversation starter.
  • Check the firm's social media accounts to understand its values, culture, and current events. This information can be helpful when answering questions about why you want to work there or what makes the firm unique. Social media can also offer insights into the firm's community involvement or pro bono work, showcasing its commitment to social responsibility.

2. Prepare Your Answers to Common Interview Questions

  • Expect questions that explore your past experiences and how you've handled certain situations, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Be prepared with specific examples and use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your response. Highlight your ability to work under pressure, manage deadlines, and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients.
  • Demonstrate your legal expertise by preparing answers to questions about current legal trends, recent cases, or any laws relevant to the firm's practice areas. Stay up-to-date with legal news, read relevant journals, and attend industry events to impress your interviewers with your industry knowledge.
  • Interviewers may ask about your career goals, work style, and reasons for choosing the firm. Be genuine and align your answers with the firm's values and culture. Share your passion for the law and explain how the firm's practice areas or culture align with your long-term goals.
  • You may be asked to analyze a hypothetical legal scenario during your interview. Approach these questions with a systematic and logical thought process, demonstrating your analytical skills and legal knowledge. Be sure to ask clarifying questions and think out loud to showcase your thought process.

3. Dress to Impress

  • Opt for a well-tailored suit in a neutral color, such as black, navy, or gray. Pair it with a white or light-colored dress shirt, a conservative tie, and polished dress shoes. Women should opt for a suit with a skirt or pants, a blouse, and closed-toe heels or flats.
  • Ensure your hair is clean, neat, and styled professionally. Keep makeup and jewelry minimal, and avoid strong fragrances. Trim and clean your nails, and consider removing any visible piercings to maintain a conservative appearance.

4. Master Your Body Language

  • Sit up straight and lean slightly forward to show engagement and interest. Avoid crossing your arms or slouching, which can signal defensiveness or disinterest.
  • Maintain appropriate eye contact throughout the interview to demonstrate confidence and attentiveness. However, don't stare; remember to blink and look away occasionally to avoid making the interviewer uncomfortable.
  • Use natural hand gestures to emphasize points but avoid fidgeting or touching your face. Keep your hands visible and relaxed on the table or in your lap.
  • Smile genuinely and show enthusiasm for the position and the firm. Keep your expressions positive and engaged throughout the conversation. Nod occasionally indicates you're actively listening and understanding the interviewer's points.

5. Ask Thoughtful Questions

  • Ask about the firm's core values, mentorship programs, or diversity initiatives to show your commitment to personal and professional growth within the organization. You may also ask about work-life balance or how the firm fosters a collaborative environment.
  • If you are interested in a particular practice area, ask about the firm's approach to that area, its clients, or any recent cases. This will showcase your genuine enthusiasm and legal knowledge. Inquire about opportunities for professional development within that practice area, such as training or mentoring programs.
  • Inquire about the firm's strategic vision or growth plans to demonstrate your interest in being a part of its long-term success. This can include questions about expanding practice areas, opening new offices, or exploring innovative legal services.

6. Navigate Tough Questions with Confidence

  • If you need a moment to think about your answer, pausing briefly is okay. It's better to provide a well-thought-out response than to rush into an answer you might regret.
  • If you don't know the answer to a question or lack experience in a specific area, be honest about it. Explain how you would approach learning the necessary information or skills, showcasing your adaptability and commitment to growth.
  • If asked about a negative experience or failure, frame your answer to highlight what you learned from the situation and how it has made you a better professional. Emphasize your resilience and ability to learn from setbacks.

7. Follow Up with a Thank You Note

  • Send your thank you note within 24 hours of the interview to show promptness and professionalism. Email is typically the most efficient and acceptable method, but a handwritten note can make a memorable impression if you have a strong rapport with the interviewer.
  • Personalize each note by mentioning specific topics you discussed with the interviewer or any unique connections you made. This will help the interviewer remember you and reinforce your genuine interest in the firm. If multiple people interviewed you, send individual notes to each person, addressing specific topics discussed with them.
  • Use the thank you note to briefly restate your enthusiasm for the position and your confidence in contributing to the firm's success. Highlight any unique skills or experiences that make you a strong fit for the firm.
  • If you feel there was a weak point in your interview or a question that you could have answered better, use the thank you note as an opportunity to address it. Provide a concise explanation or clarification to show your proactive approach and commitment to the position.

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  • 27 Law Firm Interview...

27 Law Firm Interview Questions (and Great Answers)

13 min read · Updated on October 23, 2023

Ken Chase

Learn how to answer these common law firm interview questions to separate yourself from the competition

Getting a job with a law firm can be difficult even in the best of times, thanks to the sheer volume of Lawyers in the country and an increasingly competitive jobs market. That's why it's so critical to know how to answer the most common law firm interview questions, to ensure that hiring managers can quickly identify you as a great candidate for their open position.

In this post, we'll consider 27 law firm interview questions and answers. Each of these answers can be used as guidance and inspiration to help you create your own responses, as you prepare for your next interview at a law firm.

1.     Why did you decide to pursue a legal career?

“My parents raised me to always try to do the right thing. During my younger years, though, I couldn't help but notice that life wasn't really all that fair, and the right thing was all too often an afterthought. Once I realized that the law was the only thing separating us from societies where the most powerful get to define what's right, there was only one career path that I could choose. To make any kind of real difference in a society based on the rule of law, I had to pursue a career in the legal profession.”

2.     What attracted you to our firm?

This question requires you to do your homework before the interview. Find out everything you can about the firm's primary area of expertise, vision, and mission. Then focus on something that aligns well with your own values. For example:

“I've been impressed by the firm's success in protecting its clients' First Amendment rights, and its broader commitment to all civil rights. Those key First Amendment rights have been a major interest of mine since my first year in law school and I've been eagerly looking for an opportunity to be part of a legal team that shares that commitment.”

3.     Which areas of the law do you find the most interesting?

Again, it is important to familiarize yourself with the firm's specialties before the interview. Then shape your answer to align with the firm's legal focus. If, for example, the firm handles a lot of criminal defenses, you could say:

“Criminal law is certainly one of the most challenging and interesting areas of legal thought. It's also one of the areas that I focused on in law school. The Constitution's guarantee that every defendant has access to effective legal counsel is one of the most critical civil rights protections. I know that this firm has been committed to providing that high level of legal defense for criminal defendants, and I believe that my own dedication to representing those clients will make me a valuable addition to the team.”

4.     What sets you apart from other candidates for this position?

“I can't speak to their qualifications or values, but I do know that one of my strongest attributes is my complete commitment to meeting every client's needs. For me, they're more than just a case number. Each client that I serve has a story to tell - and it's a story that matters to their families and their lives. I like to think that my ability to empathize with them and make their cause my own is one of my key strengths.”

5.     What experiences and skill development are you hoping to gain from this role?

“My hope is that I can further develop my research skills, while also gaining more experience working as part of a focused team. Though I do have some familiarity with [cite one of the firm's areas of expertise], I also know that continued exposure to that area of the law is going to provide me with invaluable knowledge and experience that will help me to grow as an Attorney.”

6.     Which traits do you think a lawyer needs to be effective?

“Obviously, you need to have command of the fundamentals - good communication skills, an analytical mind, and a firm grounding in legal principles. Given how fast the law has been evolving in recent years, however, I think that the ability to keep pace with those changes and adapt to the times is more important than ever before. In addition, I would add interpersonal skills to that mix, since we need to make sure that every client's experience is as positive as possible.”

7.     How would you rate your research skills?

“I've always taken pride in my attention to detail and unwillingness to cut corners. When I research case law, I don't just look for the first case that fits my client's needs, but trace that case backwards and forwards to identify the source of the law and ensure that no part of its principles have been subsequently overruled by more recent cases. Of course, everything starts with fact-gathering and identification of the legal issues involved in any case.”

8.     What was the most complex case you worked on?

“That would probably be the first case that I was tasked with leading. The Attorney who was leading the team had resigned to take another job, and I was thrust into the lead role with little warning. To make matters even more challenging, the client had rejected that Attorney's legal strategy, so we had to examine the case from scratch and develop a new approach. Ultimately, we obtained the buy-in we needed and went on to secure a fair settlement that met his needs.”

9.     Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult client.

“One client who was involved in a property dispute refused to provide us with the accurate information we needed to properly represent their interests. We ended up being forced to hire an outside Investigator to figure out what was going on. In the end, we discovered that our client had no legal grounds to stand on. The partner who had agreed to take on the case ultimately moved to part ways with the client.”

10.  Describe your ideal work environment.

“While I am flexible enough to adapt to any work environment, I do prefer a culture that fosters collaboration and team support. Before my time in law school, I spent most of my youth playing football and baseball, which taught me the value of teamwork. That appreciation for working together as a team is something that I've carried over into my legal career.”

11.  Tell me about your most recent court filing or legal memorandum.

“My most recent brief was for a case involving [describe the case briefly]. The filing focused on [provide a brief description of the issues your brief addressed] and attempted to convince the court to [detail the outcome that you were seeking]. If you would like to look at it, I have a copy of the brief with me, as well as some other legal documents I've prepared to give you a better idea of my legal writing skills.”

12.  What's your typical courtroom strategy?

“In most cases, I prefer a straightforward, assertive approach that lays out the facts and law in a clear way that the Judge and jury can easily understand. I'm zealous in my representation and have found that bold presentations are an essential part of that courtroom strategy. In addition, I always make sure that my team is taking notes during the opposing Counsel's presentation, so that we can effectively counter their arguments.”

13.  Tell me about your biggest success as a lawyer.

“I'm especially proud of the [legal issue] cases we brought on behalf of [client or client group]. The cases involved a serious issue that impacts many people, and it was an honor to be part of the team that argued that issue. I'd be thrilled to bring that same level of dedication to your team.”

14.  What do you want your career to look like five years from today?

“My hope is that I will have developed a reputation for providing the type of effective counsel that this firm's clients have come to expect. Given the firm's broad portfolio of legal services, I also expect that I will have had ample opportunity to research and argue a wide range of issues before the courts. Most importantly, I look forward to being seen as a leader in our profession.”

15.  Describe your biggest weakness to me.

“One weakness   that I identified early in my career is my natural tendency to pursue losing causes beyond the point at which I should concede defeat. That's something that I've been working to overcome by listening to my team's feedback. During tough cases, I tend to seek that feedback to ensure that I'm maintaining realistic expectations.”

16.  How do you organize your workload?

“Great question! Personally, I rely on a detailed calendar app and task management tools to help me stay organized and on schedule. In addition, I focus on a solid system for prioritizing tasks and use a variety of different templates to standardize and simplify common tasks. I also use time blocks to manage my daily routine and ensure that I meet my priorities each day, week, and month.”

17.  Did you have a favorite course in law school?

“My favorite class was criminal law, since I found the evolution of that branch of law to be fascinating. We also had an opportunity to work directly with the Innocence Project and contributed research and briefs to a case that helped free an innocent man from prison. That was one class that I'll never forget!”

18.  Tell me about a time when you failed to get the court ruling you expected.

“It was several years ago in a divorce custody case. I was representing the wife and was convinced that we'd provided all the evidence and legal arguments needed to secure her primary custody rights. The Judge saw things differently, however, as opposing Counsel had provided evidence that our client had intentionally hidden from us. That case taught me to challenge client information, to ensure that everything is verified at our end before we ever go into court.”

19.  What process do you use to develop trust with clients?

“In my experience, rapport needs to be developed before you can gain anyone's trust. I typically start with our initial interview and employ every active and reflective listening skill I possess to put the client at ease and reassure them that I'm on their side and understand their problem. From that point on, I communicate our strategy, expectations, and processes, so that they are never unsure about how their case is proceeding.”

20.  What's your process for dealing with cases that conflict with your personal values?

“My personal values are very important to me, but there are times when cases conflict with those internal needs. When that happens, I remind myself to remain detached so that I can separate my beliefs from the client's needs.”

21.  What do you think about the Supreme Court's recent ruling on________?

Make sure that you stay up to date on major court cases, so that you can offer some type of opinion about them. For example, you might respond to question about a free speech case by saying:

“The Court's ruling in [case name] is certainly worthy of note and I tend to agree with the broad stance on protected speech that the majority outlined in its opinion. It will be interesting to see how that case impacts lower court speech rulings in the coming months and years.”

22.  Describe a time when you needed to convince members of your team to adopt your viewpoint on a case.

“That has happened on more than one occasion, and there have been times when others have worked to convince me to adopt their point of view. One instance that comes to mind involved a case that seemed to involve two conflicting legal principles. My research identified a case that was similar but not exactly on point, so it took several hours of meetings to run through the relevant case law with everyone and convince them to adopt that strategy.”

23.  Tell me about your experience in moot court and the issue that you were advocating.

“We participated in a moot court defamation case that involved a man who was falsely accused of embezzling funds, and was trying to get news websites to delete stories that named him as an alleged criminal. My side was arguing that he should have the same “right to be forgotten” that the citizens of many European nations enjoy. The other side argued that the First Amendment's free press protections trumped that right.”

24.  What did your clinical program focus on?

“I chose corporate law, mainly because it was not one of my favorite areas of legal expertise and I wanted to ensure that I was forced to learn about it. It ended up being very interesting, however, and expanded my understanding of the law's real-world impact on the free enterprise system.”

25.  What motivates you?

“I'm inspired by the generations of legal giants, who laid the foundation of our current legal system and traditions, and in awe of the impact they've had on creating our modern civilization. I try to think about that historic work daily to ensure that I remain motivated to meet the high bar they set for great client representation and making a positive impact on the world.”

26.  How do you handle pressure?

“I went into the legal profession expecting pressure and the job has certainly met those expectations! Personally, though, I thrive in high pressure   environments and am at my best when under severe time constraints or when I'm forced to juggle competing priorities. Fortunately, I have a healthy life away from the office, filled with stress-reduction activities and diversions that help me to unplug from the job when I'm at home.”

27.  How do you define success in a legal case?

“Obviously, winning is always the goal. But I understand that cases don't always go our way. As a result, I define success by how well I've advocated for my client, whether we've made the best possible argument to the court and done everything ethically possible to ensure that their needs have been met. Even when a case is lost, I can still feel like we did our best if the client walks away satisfied with our effort.”

Learn how to answer these common law firm interview questions to ace your next interview

Law firm interview questions can take a variety of forms, so it's important to do your homework and learn as much as you can about the company before you go to your interview. With the right preparation, you can ensure that you always have a solid answer to every question and make the best possible impression on your interviewer.

Do you want to take your interview preparation efforts to the next level? Contact us today to find out how our expert interview coaching services can help!

Recommended reading:

How to Answer “What Can You Bring to the Company?”

5 Interview Skills That Will Get You Hired

How to Answer “What Are Your Career Aspirations?”

Related Articles:

How to Prepare for a Software Engineering Job Interview

27 Financial Analyst Interview Questions (with Great Answers)

27 Supervisor Interview Questions (and Great Answers)

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9 questions you might be asked in a law interview

Interviewing for a job in a field as prestigious and competitive as law can be nerve wracking. Preparation is key so practice and polish your answers to these common law interview questions

The type of interview you'll face when applying for a law job really depends on the firm and the role you've applied for, but   candidates can often expect to face a telephone or video interview and a panel interview , which may be conducted by a combination of graduate recruitment and fee-earning colleagues.

Jack Yusuf, trainee solicitor at White & Case explains the three types of questions you'll come up against in a training contract job interview:

  • Motivational questions - where the interviewer will ask you to provide your personal reasons for becoming a commercial lawyer and for applying to the particular firm in question.
  • Competency questions - the interviewer will ask you to provide examples to show you have the specific attributes required of a trainee solicitor.
  • Commercial awareness questions - questions on commercial topics to better understand your level of commercial awareness.

When interviewing for training contracts you might also face a case study scenario, in which you'll review several documents and then present back to the panel on risks and opportunities facing the potential client.

Just like in all job interviews, it pays to be prepared. Take a look at the following example questions and discover how to answer them.

1. Why do you want to become a solicitor?

This sounds like an easy opening, but it throws many candidates off their stride.

When answering, consider the type of firm you're interviewing for. 'Commercial law firms want to know that you have a genuine and specific interest in commercial work, not just legal work generally,' advises Jack. 'Interviewers also want to know that you truly understand what the role entails.'

Look at the firm's main website - not just their recruitment website, as it often contains useful information about the sectors that the firm is active in.

This question can be phrased in number of ways, such as:

  • why choose a career in law?
  • why have you applied to us?

'Be specific and personal in your answer and provide examples of experiences that shaped your interests. Conversely, avoid general descriptors (e.g. 'fast-paced' or 'intellectually stimulating') that could apply to numerous other professions,' adds Jack.

Questions about why you chose the  type of law  you'd like to practice are also common, so be prepared to explain your choice.

Highlight your breadth of  legal work experience  and identify which specific element led you to pursue a career in your chosen specialism and why. Give details of the experience you've sought in your preferred field and how this has strengthened your interest in this area of law.

Vacation schemes  aren't the only experience of value, so be sure to mention periods of work shadowing and relevant extracurricular activities. For example, you could use your experience volunteering with a victim's rights charity to demonstrate your passion for criminal law, your captaincy of a university sports team to show your interest in sports law or your creation and management of a local event, such as a fashion show or music or arts festival, to show your commerciality.

Gain an insight into  the reality of working in law .

2. Have you applied to other firms?

This isn't a trick question. Be honest and specific in your answer.

Name two or three other firms that you've applied to, with a common reason why - such as they all share a similar culture, or they guarantee all trainees an international secondment. This demonstrates consistency in your applications. It shows the employer that you're committed to your field and determined to build a career in a certain practice area.

Don't be afraid to mention an application to a competitor firm. If you impress with the rest of your interview, this may work in your favour as recruiters are unlikely to want a talented candidate working for the competition.

3. What attracted you to this firm?

'The interviewer is looking to see that you have researched the firm and truly want to work there,' says Jack. 'Be specific to the firm and evidence your interest with any experience - for example, did you speak to a member of the firm at a university law fair? Attend an open day? Reach out to someone on LinkedIn? Did you attend a legal event where the firm presented?'

Also draw on experiences such as insight days and any work experience that confirmed they were the right firm for you.

Are there any benefits, initiatives, employee networks or schemes on offer unique to the firm that set them apart from their competitors? Bear in mind that answering 'Because you pay higher trainee salaries' is unlikely to impress.

Further demonstrate your knowledge by mentioning a couple of recent cases of interest or express a wish to work with specific clients.

You may also be asked:

  • What do you know about our firm?
  • Why do you want to work for us over our competitors?

Read up on  top UK law firms then search for law jobs .

4. How would you make yourself stand out as a trainee?

Where  training contracts  are concerned there are far more applicants than places, so this is your opportunity to highlight your unique selling points and make clear what you could bring to the firm.

Identify key strengths and experiences using real, relevant examples. Don't just say that you're a great problem solver; instead tell the interviewer how you demonstrated this skill in a student mooting competition. 'Try to pick examples from a varied range of experiences, whether from your academic studies, legal work experience, employment, or extra-curricular activities,' adds Jack.

This is also a good time to demonstrate how the culture and values of the firm fit with your own. Are there any social or charity events that you'd be keen to get involved in? Are there any organisational sports teams you'd like to join? Would you like to play a role and make your mark on employee networks such as LGBTQ+, women's or ethnicity groups? Are there any gaps in the firm's social offering that you could fill?

5. If you could bring any law into force what would it be and why?

Another variation of this question is 'which law would you like to change and why?' Questions like this test your legislative knowledge, as well as provide an insight into your judicial opinions. Your response will also highlight the areas of law you're passionate about.

Avoid choosing anything too controversial. Picking a law or legal issue that has recently been in the news is a good option, as it demonstrates that your legal knowledge is up to date. Alternatively, choose to introduce a law that would directly benefit the firm or its clients.

6. Give an example of a time you used your ability to negotiate.

In a law interview demonstrating your knowledge of the firm is all well and good, but you also need to show that you're qualified for the job. This is where  strength  and  competency-based questions come in.

These questions require you to give relevant examples of a time that you have demonstrated the necessary skills and competencies, and are a common feature of all  job interviews .

Where possible use examples from your legal work experience, but don't be afraid to draw on your time at university, extracurricular activities, gap year experience or part-time work.

Use the STAR (situation, task, action and result) method to structure your answer.

Other skills and competency-based questions include:

  • Tell us about a time you worked as a team.
  • Give an example of a time you dealt with conflict and how you resolved this.
  • What achievement are you most proud of?
  • How would your friends describe you?

7. In a client meeting your supervisor gives incorrect advice. What do you do?

Similar questions include:

  • You're alone in the office and a client calls demanding instant advice. What do you do?
  • What would you do if three partners all came to you with work they wanted doing by 5pm?
  • What would you do if a client asked you to do something that was legal but morally questionable?

While questions centred on a dilemma can be uncomfortable to answer, they're asked to test your situational judgement.

The best way to prepare for these types of questions is to read the  Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct , which states that all trainees and solicitors must act with integrity and in the best interests of each client. It also states that you should provide a proper standard of service to clients and behave in a way that maintains the trust that the public places in you. Any behaviour that contradicts this code of conduct requires action.

8. Can you talk us through a current issue affecting law firms?

When asked, legal recruiters say that commercial awareness is one of the most important skills  that a candidate can possess.

Your response needs to prove that you have an understanding of industry, regulatory, economic, cultural and social issues, as well as company identity and structure.

To tackle questions surrounding commercial awareness watch the news and read newspapers daily. Sign up to legal newsletters and set up notification alerts on you phone to receive the latest business news. Check firm websites and follow their social media accounts.

Alternatively, you may be asked:

  • What are the main challenges facing city law firms today?
  • What recent legal stories have caught your eye and how are they progressing?

9. Which three historical figures would you invite to a dinner party and why?

Not all candidates come up against off-the-wall questions, but some firms use them to get to know an interviewee better and to test how they think on their feet.

In the majority of instances there is no right or wrong answer - so don't panic. Recruiters simply want to hear how you think through an issue.

Talk through your response to demonstrate logical thinking and conversational ability and back it up with an explanation.

Similar types of questions include:

  • If you were stranded on a desert island what five items would you take and why?
  • Define religion.
  • How many cars are there in the UK?

Law firm interview tips

A good way to round up your interview is by taking the opportunity to ask some questions of your own. Ask questions that demonstrate your interest in progression and building a long-term career with the firm. For example, ask about the kind of responsibility given to trainees, skills that the interviewer has found important in previous trainees and any plans the firm has for expansion or investment over the next few years. When it comes to asking more general questions, see  7 good questions to ask at an interview .

The best advice is to remember that interviews are all about people. While this is your opportunity to discover if you'd like to work for the firm, the interviewer is trying to find out if you'd be a valuable addition to their team. The interviewer is working out whether they want to work with you. They're trying to figure out if you'll be worth the investment. Would they be happy to work with you every day? Can they put you in front of a client? Don't be intimidated. Be positive and be yourself.

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Law Firm Insights

Welcome to the Law Firms page! Here, you can find extra information about various law firms, as well as case studies and interviews with current solicitors and trainees.

  • Deciding on Law
  • How to Become a Lawyer
  • Areas of Law
  • Solicitor vs Barrister
  • What is a Solicitor
  • Becoming a Barrister
  • Legal Executive
  • What Is A Legal Secretary?
  • How to Become a Judge
  • Legal Apprenticeships
  • Studying Law at University
  • Law at Oxbridge
  • Studying Law Abroad
  • Personal Statement
  • Law Research Techniques & Resources
  • Commercial Awareness
  • Law Work Experience

Vacation Schemes

  • Law Courses
  • Non-Law Students
  • PGDL (Conversion)
  • Bar Training Guide

Training Contracts

  • Law Firm Applications

Pupillage: a Guide for Aspiring Barristers

  • Magic Circle Law Firms
  • What Are The Top American Law Firms In London?
  • Allen & Overy: Internship Insight
  • Clifford Chance: Top Tips
  • Clifford Chance Interview
  • Linklaters: Top Tips
  • Freshfields: Top Tips
  • Bird & Bird: Diversity
  • Bird & Bird: Case Study
  • Dentons: Apprenticeships
  • Gibson Dunn: Trainee Case Study
  • Herbert Smith: Trainees
  • Hogan Lovells Training Contract Insights
  • Penningtons: 1st Year Trainee Diary
  • Penningtons: 2nd Year Trainee Diary
  • Simmons & Simmons
  • Networking Guide
  • Diversity In Law

Baker McKenzie

baker mckenzie

Baker McKenzie is the second-largest law firm in the world by number of employees and also revenue.

You can take a look at their training contract application calendar here:

Bird & Bird

Bird and Bird

Bird & Bird are a top law firm with over 1200 legal advisors globally and specialising in business sectors with technological components.

You can read about their amazing Bursary Programme, encouraging more diversity in the legal sphere.

Alternatively, we have a case study from a participant in their Bursary and Pioneer Programmes.

case study law firm interview

Dentons is actually the world’s largest law firm by number of lawyers, working in commercial law.

They’ve recently launched an innovative apprenticeship scheme for aspiring solicitors.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Freshfields

Freshfields is a multinational law firm that was founded in over 250 years ago! They are one of the 5 members of the Magic Circle.

A trainee from Freshfields gave us an overview of her training contract and what advice she’d share.

We also conducted an interview with a member of the Freshfields graduate recruitment team about training contracts.

Here, Freshfields gave their top advice for applying for training contracts.

Gibson Dunn

case study law firm interview

Gibson Dunn is a global law firm that’s based predominately in America, and is renowned for its litigation practise.

A trainee from Gibson Dunn, but based in London, spoke to us about his vacation scheme and his experiences working for an American law firm in the UK.

Herbert Smith Freehills

Herbert Smith Freehills

Herbert Smith Freehills is an international law firm formed from the merging of UK-based Herbert Smith with Australian-based Freehills.

We caught up with two trainees from Herbert Smith Freehills, who discussed training contracts and their lives as trainee solicitors.

We also spoke to a representative at Herbert Smith Freehills who offered us some advice about what they look for in their candidates.

Hogan Lovells

case study law firm interview

Hogan Lovells is a multinational firm with headquarters both in London and Washington D.C.

It specialises in “government regulatory, litigation and arbitration, corporate, finance, and intellectual property”.

Read the top insights from four trainees currently at Hogan Lovells with our guide Hogan Lovells: Trainee Insights !

Penningtons Manches

Penningtons Manches LLP

Penningtons Manches is a UK law firm who specialise in “dispute resolution, corporate and commercial, real estate, private client and family”.

Two trainee solicitors talk us through a typical day as part of their training contracts.

Read first-year-trainee Eva’s account here:

Or take a look at KC’s second-year diary here:

Simmons & Simmons

case study law firm interview

Simmons & Simmons is a global practise with 21 offices across the world.

Three trainees from Simmons & Simmons gave us brief insights into what it’s like working for such a huge law firm.

A fourth seat trainee also gave us an insight into training contract applications.

Finally, you can find two vacation scheme case studies for Simmons & Simmons.

Taylor Vinters

case study law firm interview

Taylor Vinters is an international law firm with offices in London, Cambridge and Singapore.

Their HR Manager revealed the crucial advice on obtaining a training contract.

She also shared her top tips with us.

Take a look at Taylor Vinter’s Life as a trainee at Taylor Vinters video:

Law Firm Opportunities

Law Firm Directory

Explore key stats, training opportunities and more with our detailed law firm listings.

Stay ahead of the game and keep track of upcoming training contract deadlines.

Keep track of the latest deadlines & get your foot in the door of a top law firm.

Law Firm Open Days

Don't miss an opportunity to meet law firms & register for upcoming open days.

What Are The Magic Circle Law Firms?

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47 case interview examples (from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

Case interview examples - McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.

One of the best ways to prepare for   case interviews  at firms like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, is by studying case interview examples. 

There are a lot of free sample cases out there, but it's really hard to know where to start. So in this article, we have listed all the best free case examples available, in one place.

The below list of resources includes interactive case interview samples provided by consulting firms, video case interview demonstrations, case books, and materials developed by the team here at IGotAnOffer. Let's continue to the list.

  • McKinsey examples
  • BCG examples
  • Bain examples
  • Deloitte examples
  • Other firms' examples
  • Case books from consulting clubs
  • Case interview preparation

Click here to practise 1-on-1 with MBB ex-interviewers

1. mckinsey case interview examples.

  • Beautify case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Diconsa case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Electro-light case interview (McKinsey website)
  • GlobaPharm case interview (McKinsey website)
  • National Education case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Talbot Trucks case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Shops Corporation case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Conservation Forever case interview (McKinsey website)
  • McKinsey case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
  • McKinsey live case interview extract (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

2. BCG case interview examples

  • Foods Inc and GenCo case samples  (BCG website)
  • Chateau Boomerang written case interview  (BCG website)
  • BCG case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
  • Written cases guide (by IGotAnOffer)
  • BCG live case interview extract (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

3. Bain case interview examples

  • CoffeeCo practice case (Bain website)
  • FashionCo practice case (Bain website)
  • Associate Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
  • Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
  • Written case interview tips (Bain website)
  • Bain case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)
  • Bain case mock interview with ex-Bain manager (below)

4. Deloitte case interview examples

  • Engagement Strategy practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Recreation Unlimited practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Strategic Vision practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Retail Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
  • Finance Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
  • Talent Management practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Enterprise Resource Management practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Footloose written case  (by Deloitte)
  • Deloitte case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

5. Accenture case interview examples

  • Case interview workbook (by Accenture)
  • Accenture case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

6. OC&C case interview examples

  • Leisure Club case example (by OC&C)
  • Imported Spirits case example (by OC&C)

7. Oliver Wyman case interview examples

  • Wumbleworld case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
  • Aqualine case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
  • Oliver Wyman case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

8. A.T. Kearney case interview examples

  • Promotion planning case question (A.T. Kearney website)
  • Consulting case book and examples (by A.T. Kearney)
  • AT Kearney case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

9. Strategy& / PWC case interview examples

  • Presentation overview with sample questions (by Strategy& / PWC)
  • Strategy& / PWC case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

10. L.E.K. Consulting case interview examples

  • Case interview example video walkthrough   (L.E.K. website)
  • Market sizing case example video walkthrough  (L.E.K. website)

11. Roland Berger case interview examples

  • Transit oriented development case webinar part 1  (Roland Berger website)
  • Transit oriented development case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
  • 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 1   (Roland Berger website)
  • 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
  • Roland Berger case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)

12. Capital One case interview examples

  • Case interview example video walkthrough  (Capital One website)
  • Capital One case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

13. Consulting clubs case interview examples

  • Berkeley case book (2006)
  • Columbia case book (2006)
  • Darden case book (2012)
  • Darden case book (2018)
  • Duke case book (2010)
  • Duke case book (2014)
  • ESADE case book (2011)
  • Goizueta case book (2006)
  • Illinois case book (2015)
  • LBS case book (2006)
  • MIT case book (2001)
  • Notre Dame case book (2017)
  • Ross case book (2010)
  • Wharton case book (2010)

Practice with experts

Using case interview examples is a key part of your interview preparation, but it isn’t enough.

At some point you’ll want to practise with friends or family who can give some useful feedback. However, if you really want the best possible preparation for your case interview, you'll also want to work with ex-consultants who have experience running interviews at McKinsey, Bain, BCG, etc.

If you know anyone who fits that description, fantastic! But for most of us, it's tough to find the right connections to make this happen. And it might also be difficult to practice multiple hours with that person unless you know them really well.

Here's the good news. We've already made the connections for you. We’ve created a coaching service where you can do mock case interviews 1-on-1 with ex-interviewers from MBB firms . Start scheduling sessions today!

The IGotAnOffer team

Interview coach and candidate conduct a video call

18 Tips to Successfully Interview at a Law Firm

Here's how lawyers can make the best case for themselves in the job interview.

Successfully Interview at a Law Firm

young woman arrives at her interview , resume under her arm greeting her interviewer

Getty Images

Be polite and warm to everyone, from the receptionist to the partner.

For a successful law interview, lawyers may benefit from tips on how to best make the case for themselves – why they’d be right for this firm. Particularly, since the way they approach meetings in their practice of law can backfire in an interview. A job interview isn’t a deposition, after all.

Here are 18 tips for successfully interviewing at a law firm.

The Interview Is About Them, Not You

Most candidates think interviews are about them, but “it’s about the employer. It’s not about you,” says Tony Waller, assistant dean for career development at the University of Georgia School of Law.

The real, if unsaid, questions an interviewer asks are: “Are you a good investment for the firm?” “Can we put you in front of clients?” and “Will you turn out quality work product for us?” says Waller, who currently serves as president of the National Association for Law Placement.

Sell How You Help the Firm

The best candidates explain how hiring them fulfills the firm’s needs, now and in the future, Waller says.

Waller is amazed by how often recruiters report that, when they asked a candidate where they wanted to be in five years, the candidate said they wanted to be working somewhere else.

Pass 'the Airport Test'

Law firms largely decide if an attorney is capable by their resume, so interviews are less about ability and more about determining someone’s fit within the firm culture. The firm wants to know what a candidate would be like during long workweeks, Waller says.

Thus, the interview is “the airport test.” The interviewers wonder, “Would you want to be with this person when you were stranded in the Minneapolis airport during a snowstorm?” says Lauren Rivera, the Peter G. Peterson Chair in Corporate Ethics at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

It’s (Usually) a Conversation, Not a Deposition 

Candidates who grew up in families that didn’t regularly discuss business or law often go to interviews expecting them to be formal and hierarchical, according to Rivera, who studies how people’s backgrounds impact law firm hiring.

However, most law firm interviews are unstructured conversations, so candidates do better expecting a free-wheeling dialogue.

“They take you on a journey, and go along for the ride,” Rivera says.

Do Your Homework: Research the Interviewer and the Firm

When a candidate knows about the firm, is familiar with its matters and can discuss a law review article written by the interviewer, they prove their interest in a job at this firm, Waller explains.

“That can be a game-changer,” he says.

By contrast, an unprepared candidate asks about practice areas the firm doesn’t have, Rivera says.

Practice, Practice, Practice 

While it sounds paradoxical, the best way to sound natural is to practice the interview with a partner. Practice helps a candidate chat about their experience more conversationally, Rivera explains.

And everyone asks, “Tell me about yourself,” so candidates should practice their answer until they can kick off the interview in the right direction, Waller says.

Bring Paper Copies of Your Resume

Bring at least two copies of your resume, cover letter and writing samples. And bring them in a professional portfolio. (Waller keeps a stack of portfolios for law students who don’t have them.)

It’s an indicator of how prepared you are, Waller explains.

Turn Off the Phone  

Ideally, turn it off and leave it outside of the interview, Rivera says.

Be Polite 

Maintain eye contact with the interviewer .

“Eye contact is one of the biggest ways someone shows they are confident and establishes a sense of connection,” Rivera says.

While this may be difficult for some candidates, most interviewers interpret a lack of eye contact as a signal that someone lacks interest or confidence.

Taking Notes Is Fine  

It’s acceptable to take notes, but ask the interviewer if they mind before doing so.

Use a paper notebook. If a candidate uses a phone, the interviewer may suspect the candidate is texting a friend, Waller explains.

Start Out Strong – First Impressions Count 

“There’s data to suggest that interviewers decide if they are going to hire you within two minutes,” Rivera says.

“Start off with your best ability. Appear friendly, confident but not cocky,” she says. And be aware of nonverbal communication.

Make a Personal Connection 

Find a connection with the interviewer. It could be about work or a shared school, but it can be more personal. Seeing sports memorabilia on the wall can lead to a discussion of a candidate’s love of baseball, Rivera says.

“It sounds really simple, but the issue is ‘Do I want to work with you?’” she explains.

Mention Extracurriculars

When candidates include extracurriculars on a resume, they get more callbacks, according to Rivera’s experiments.

Activities suggesting an affluent background – especially lacrosse – are more likely to win an interview. But other hobbies can be an asset, if the candidate is specific about why it’s of interest, Rivera says. It’s a chance to show off personality and passion. And who knows? The interviewer may love to read and do the New York Times "Spelling Bee," too.

Be Authentic and Honest

Candidates sometimes lie to impress an interviewer. That’s a mistake.

Interviewers ask follow-up questions to spot-check someone’s claims, Rivera warns.

And it’s difficult to keep straight which partner heard the candidate was a par golfer and which believes they’re a wine connoisseur.

It’s better to accurately present yourself from the get-go.

“The law is a hard job, and our most authentic selves come out under those conditions,” Waller explains.

When Prompted, Ask Thoughtful Questions 

Never say, “I don’t have any questions” when the interviewer asks for them at the meeting’s end.

Instead, have questions tailored to the interviewer, asking about their practice, a matter or their experience.

With thoughtful questions, the candidate leaves an interviewer reflecting on the candidate’s engagement in the firm’s work, Waller says.

Turn a Virtual Meeting Into a Home Run

For virtual meetings, Rivera suggests these strategies:

  • Have a stable connection.
  • Choose a nondistracting background.
  • Shut off calendars, email and anything with alerts that interrupt a conversation.
  • Raise the camera to eye level and look at the lens for virtual eye contact.
  • Expect the interviewer to be late, since interviewers schedule virtual meetings back-to-back. Be early, calm and ready as they get up to speed.

Take the Long View

  Most candidates see interviews as transactional and “I got the job or I didn’t.”

That’s a missed opportunity, according to Waller.

With a positive exchange, even if they didn’t get the job, a candidate can consider the interviewer as a new connection within their network, Waller says. And their paths will likely cross again.

How to Find Continuing Legal Education

Ashley Merryman Nov. 1, 2023

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Tags: law , law school , Interviewing , Applying

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  • Autumn Term events schedule
  • Student Voice
  • You've got this
  • LSE Volunteer Centre
  • Key information
  • School Voice
  • My Skills and Opportunities
  • Student Wellbeing Service
  • PhD Academy
  • LSE Careers
  • Student Services Centre
  • Timetable publication information
  • Students living in halls
  • Faith Centre

Legal case studies and written exercises

As part of the recruitment process, in this kind of exercise you are given a set of papers relating to a particular situation and asked to make recommendations in a brief report. The firm will pick a case study relevant to the work they do. You are provided with a large amount of factual information. 

The most common written exercise is writing a letter to a client on whether or not to proceed with a business proposal, once you have read the relevant documents. You may be asked to present advice to the client (usually played by a partner) or answer questions on the case. You are being tested on your ability to: 

  • Analyse information
  • Think clearly and logically
  • Exercise your judgement
  • Express yourself on paper/ present yourself to a client

Examples of exercises

  • Investment project - given a bundle of documents including letter from the bank, background information on accounts. Should the client invest?
  • Write a report summarising the information given about an energy firm wanting to take over an urban community regeneration scheme. Look at the strengths, risks, obstacles to scheme and suggestions about whether it should move forward.
  • Given a lengthy consultant's report with half an hour to read and then draft a presentation recommending whether to go ahead on buying the company - followed by questions.
  • The client, a steel company, is losing money due to a rival. There's also a proceeding against your client. The rival company is thinking of merging with / acquiring your client's company. Look at the extract of a contract between the client and the steel supplier and advise your client of the pros and cons regarding the proceeding.
  • Given an accident and medical report and photos - written answers to a series of questions.
  • Proposed M&A - pick out the relevant parts to read and then present to the interviewers on what you feel is the correct course of action.
  • Legal interpretation question based on fictional health and safety legislation.
  • Interpret a section of the mental health act - answer questions from the interviewer.
  • Employment service contract - review in order to answer 10 set questions.
  • Five passages to rewrite in layman's terms.
  • Draft a letter of complaint to a local electrical store regarding faulty goods.
  • Read a case study on police ill treatment and then draft a report on the legal matters arising from it.

Individual tasks

Candidates generally work independently on such an exercise and their recommendation or decision is usually to be communicated in the form of a brief written report and/or a presentation made to the assessors. Ensure your thought processes are clearly articulated and available for the scrutiny of the assessors. Of paramount importance, if the brief requires a decision to be made, ensure that a decision is made and articulated.

Group tasks

You may be asked to do a case study as a group. It is likely to be along the lines of the first two exercises in the example with information given to the group to sift through and pull out the key facts. At the end the group will be asked to present to the interviewers, outlining the issues involved and key recommendations and then take questions as a group.

Letter drafting criteria

If in the exercise you are involved in drafting a letter, as part of the assessment the interviewer will check that it:

  • Protects the interests of the client
  • Meets the client's objectives
  • Addresses all relevant factual and legal issues
  • Identifies relevant options
  • Is logically organised
  • Is consistent and coherent
  • Is clear and concise

Other preparation

In addition to the general preparation your course provides, you could also:

  • Find out what sort of cases your employer specialises in
  • Practice a Watson Glaser test, a critical reasoning test often used by firms at assessment centres
  • Practice 'skim' reading which is an important skill. This feedback from a candidate demonstrates this: 'The exercise was very time-pressured and I made the mistake of reading all of the information given before starting to write anything down. I got the impression that not all of the info was supposed to be relevant and that they were testing our ability to sift through written material to extract the most important things.'

Don't focus on the technicalities

Non-law students often do well on these exercises as they do not have the relevant knowledge of the law and so focus on sifting the information, whereas law students often get too involved with trying to understand the information in legal terms.

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How to prepare for a law firm assessment centre.

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We are a team of qualified lawyers from US, Magic Circle and Silver Circle law firms law firms.  We publish articles like this one every fortnight to give you the inside scoop on how to secure your training contract.

With years of experience analysing and reviewing documents for some of the world's most sophisticated clients, we've channeled the same level of care and attention into curating our database of successful applications to world's best commercial law firms.

Introduction to training contract assessment centres

Law firm assessment centres are daunting events, but they are the final hurdle that you need to clear to secure a vacation scheme or training contract.  

This article explains how to prepare for the two most common assessment centre exercises at commercial law firms.  We will cover:

  • Competency / motivational interviews which focus on whether you have the right skills and attitude to succeed on your training contract
  • Commercial case studies which test your ability to think logically and deal with common commercial topics

You may encounter additional tests which form part of the recruitment process at your assessment centre (e.g. group exercises, written exercises, psychometric tests or negotiation exercises). We plan to release other articles covering common topics like how to succeed in group exercises at assessment days shortly.

Competency / Motivational Interview

This interview is by far the most common kind of assessment you will face at law firm assessment centres. Although they vary in time, length and structure, most candidates will have to answer competency and motivational interview questions.

  • Competency questions focus on your skills. These questions are open-ended (e.g. ‘tell me about a time when
’) and then state a situation or a particular skill. For example, ‘tell me about a time when you demonstrated good teamwork’.
  • Motivational questions are questions which relate to your motivations or commitment towards a career in commercial law or the law firm you are interviewing at. Such questions may be phrased as follows: ‘why do you want to pursue a career in commercial law?’, or ‘why do you want to train at [ insert firm here ]?’.

Many candidates find these kinds of questions challenging. They are personal in nature and require preparation in advance.  It’s unlikely that you can improvise an answer of sufficient quality on the spot. The aim is prepare so effectively that your answer ticks all of the boxes on your interviewer’s marking scheme while sounding completely natural.

Preparation

It's worth over-indexing on preparation before your assessment day.

The first step is to prepare a table of competency/motivational questions: write down typical questions on the left-hand side and leave space for your answers in the right-hand column.  

You should write out your answers in full. However, we would suggest putting a word limit of 400 words per answer. The average person speaks at approximately 150 words per minute. This means that a 400 word answer would take you just over 2.5 minutes to get through. It’s important to speak at a pace that is easy to follow, so a 2.5 minute answer should take about three minutes to deliver at interview.

By writing out your answers, you are able to formulate a strong, logical structure and provide yourself with a safety net should your mind suddenly go blank in the interview.

For illustrative purposes only, it may look something like this:

Example of format to use when preparing answers for interview

Naturally, your table will have far more rows that the one above. We would recommend that you prepare answers for the following basic competencies:

  • Teamwork and leadership skills
  • Organisation and time management
  • Communication skills (including examples of dealing with difficult people/persuasion/negotiation)
  • Entrepreneurship/innovation
  • Determination/motivation
  • Dealing with a set-back/failure
  • Adaptability/flexibility

After you have prepared your answers, you may then want to transition to flashcards. Write the question on one side, and a bullet point version of your answer on the other side. Mix up the cards and test yourself on them until you can confidently answer the questions with responses that range from one to three minutes long.

Application

When you are in the real interview, it is unlikely that it will be a robotic question-and-answer process. Your interviewer is likely to adopt a conversational tone and expect that you do the same.  Notwithstanding your thorough preparation, it is important that you deliver your answers in a natural manner

Once you know your answers off by heart, you should take some small liberties with the script you have prepared. This will allow your tone to be more natural and appear more spontaneous. This is an old actors’ trick: you must know your lines so well that you are able to act as though that they are coming to your head in the moment, just like the character in the scene would have happen to them.

Some interviewers will ask you direct questions, whilst some will amend the questions, which will force you to change your answer in the moment. However, so long as you have done your preparation, you need not worry – you already have the answers in your head.  All you need to do is shuffle the content around to provide an appropriate response.

For example, your interviewer may ask you ‘tell me about a time when you have demonstrated strong organisational skills’. You may give your response, and the interviewer replies with, ‘that is great – but what about when that does not work out? How do you deal with that?’. This question is technically a follow-up question about your organisational skills but alludes to your ability to deal with set-backs and failure.

Consequently, you should answer with a response that transitions from your organisational answer to your set-backs answer. Again, if you have done your preparation, this will come naturally as you will not be trying to quickly make up a retort on the spot.

Case Study / Presentation Exercise

Pen on paper with the words "tackling case studies"

One of the most challenging assessments that candidates face at assessment centres is the case study/presentation exercise. This assessment is a test of your comprehension skills, commercial awareness and your application of technical knowledge.  It differs to group exercises because it's usually 1-1, rather than alongside other candidates.

The exercise will usually involve you receiving a bundle of documents to review over the course of 30-45 minutes. You will probably receive some prompts and questions within the documents and, at the end of the allotted time, you will relay your findings to a partner over the course of a 5-15 minute presentation.

Like mock exam papers, the best way to prepare for a case study is to carry out practice tests before your assessment day.  The NCL practice case study is our own custom case study that covers many of the areas that law firms will assess you on.  By itself, though, that’s not enough – you need feedback on improvement points and visibility of what the best answers involve.  Our case study therefore includes step-by-step commentary with a model answer and an explanation of the concepts employed.

Other than the NCL case study, there are some other ways to supplement your knowledge. Crucially, you should be looking to build your technical knowledge. By technical knowledge we mean your financial, commercial, and legal knowledge. This includes topics like:

  • Acquisition structure (sale purchase or asset purchase).
  • Acquisition financing (debt or equity).
  • Representations, warranties and indemnities.

Alongside this, you will also need to have broader commercial acumen. You will be expected to analyse a situation and consider whether it makes good commercial sense. For example, you may be asked whether your client, an e-commerce business, should acquire a high-street retailer who only has bricks-and-mortar stores. If your client only wants to expand its online presence, the acquisition seems like a bad idea. Furthermore, bring in your knowledge of current affairs: the pandemic has accelerated the decline of the high-street. Hence, even if your client wants to have a physical presence, you may want to advise them on the risks of pursuing that objective.

Building your commercial awareness and technical knowledge is a staightforward but time-consuming process.  We recommend the following actions:

  • Listen to the Financial Times News Briefing podcast every morning. It's about 10 minutes long and gives an excellent summary of the most important commercial news stories
  • Read the Financial Times or the Economist's business section as much as possible
  • Read the same legal press that the law firm partners read. Legal Business is particularly insightful
  • Watch one hour of Bloomberg TV a day (it is free for one hour each day). This is more advanced but will give you an excellent insight into financial matters and provide you with some top-level analysis
  • Read some basic introductory books on commercial concepts (e.g. Stoakes’ ‘All you need to know about the City’)
  • Use Investopedia to look up concepts you do not understand and to build some deeper knowledge
  • Take online courses on commercial concepts (like private equity) on platforms like Coursera or edX

Once you have amassed a decent amount of knowledge, it is vital that you put it to the test in a practice case study/presentation exercise.  Testing yourself against a practice case study exercise is the best way to know whether you at the appropriate level to succeed or if more work is required.

After you have used the practice case study materials, you will be able to identify gaps in your knowledge and thoroughly prepared for the actual assessment. Then, all that remains is to do the real thing!

This article has summarised the two main kinds of assessment you are likely to face at a law firm assessment centre. The first is the competency/motivational interview. To prepare for this, we recommend drafting a question-and-answer table, writing flashcards, and rehearsing answers.

The second assessment is the case study/presentation exercise. To prepare for this, we strongly recommend getting a hold of our practice case study exercise and practicing. We also recommend, in tandem, building your commercial awareness and technical knowledge by reading, listening, and watching a variety of media that is designed to educate you on a broad range of commercial and financial concepts.

Get your copy of case study/presentation assessment here .  Remember, unlike others, our case study exercise comes with a detailed commentary which walks you through the exercise, provides model answers, and explains the relevant commercial concepts.

We hope you found this article useful – if you did, please share it with other candidates who might find it helpful!

So, what next?

If you are ready to move from research to action, you should look at our application database BEFORE you put pen to paper on your applications. You wouldn't walk into an exam hall without carefully reviewing past papers.  It's exactly the same with applications to law firms. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

Most candidates read a few well-intentioned but obvious articles on how to apply to law firms.  Most candidates then spend a couple of hours writing an application before optimistically submitting it.  But most candidates don't even get an interview.  Every year, thousands of candidates are part of the 90% that are rejected at first round.

Join us as part of the successful 10% instead. Let us give you an unfair advantage: through our comprehensive analysis of successful applications to every major law firm, our qualified lawyers will break down the ingredients of a phenomenal application.  We will help you beat the odds, secure your interview and then avoid final-round failure at your assessment centre.

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Hearings on Trump's criminal cases in New York and Georgia

By Kara Scannell , Lauren del Valle , Jeremy Herb , Zachary Cohen , Jason Morris, Nick Valencia , Kristina Sgueglia, Dan Berman , Tori B. Powell and Matt Meyer , CNN

Here are key takeaways from Fani Willis' stunning testimony

From CNN's Marshall Cohen, Devan Cole, Holmes Lybrand and Katelyn Polantz

The Georgia election subversion case against  Donald Trump and 14 of his allies took a stunning turn Thursday when two top prosecutors testified under oath about their romantic relationship at a hearing triggered by allegations of self-dealing that have the potential to derail the entire effort.

The all-day hearing escalated steadily throughout the day, culminating with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis taking the witness stand for a combative brawl with defense attorneys that drew several rebukes from the judge.

These are key takeaways:

  • Willis' defiant afternoon: Things quickly went off the rails. Willis didn’t act much like a traditional witness on the stand and was more like a prosecutor, arguing with the defense attorneys, raising objections, making legal arguments and even having exchanges with Judge Scott McAfee . She even raised her voice at one point. This led to a few rebukes from McAfee. Willis repeatedly accused some of the defense attorneys of peddling lies – before and after the judge’s admonishment.
  • Willis says she's not on trial: Willis seized several opportunities to defend herself. “You think I’m on trial,” Willis said, in her sharpest pushback of the day. “These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020,” she added, pointing toward the table of attorneys representing defendants in the criminal case. “I’m not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial.” She later slammed the defense attorneys, calling them “confused” and “intrusive.”
  • When did the relationship start? On the stand, prosecutor Nathan Wade stuck to his earlier claim – in a sworn affidavit submitted to the court – that his romantic relationship with Willis began in early 2022 and that they split travel and vacation expenses. But Robin Bryant-Yeartie, a former friend of Willis and Fulton County employee, contradicted that claim , testifying that she had “no doubt” that the Willis-Wade affair began in late 2019. Notably, that would be before Willis hired Wade to lead the Trump probe in late 2021.
  • Wade and Willis describe using cash for reimbursements: Wade and Willis have offered a simple explanation for why there’s essentially no paper trail to back up his claims they split expenses: Willis used cash .
  • When did the relationship end? There was also a dispute over when the relationship ended, and whether it had any impact on the decision to seek the massive RICO indictment against Trump and others last August. Both said the relationship ended in summer 2023. Willis implied that the physical component ended earlier in the summer, but that the two had a “tough conversation” that fully ended things afterward.
  • Huge distraction from Trump's charges: Nothing that happened Thursday undercut the factual allegations against Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, or the other GOP allies who are accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election. But the hearing shifted the conversation away from those allegation and away from Trump’s legal woes for now.

Trump reacts to Willis' testimony in Georgia

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday reacted to c and her lead prosecutor on the 2020 election case, Nathan Wade.

“FANI NEVER PAID CASH. SHE GOT FREE TRIPS AND OTHER THINGS FROM HER LOVER, WITH THE EXORBITANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY SHE AUTHORIZED TO BE PAID TO HIM. A GIANT SCAM. WITCH HUNT!!!”  Trump posted  on Truth Social. 

Wade and Willis pushed back against allegations from the defense that Willis was essentially getting kickbacks from Wade in the form of vacations. They said they split expenses and that Willis reimbursed Wade in cash for certain things.

Georgia judge says no ruling will be issued tomorrow in case over whether to dismiss Willis

From CNN’s Holmes Lybrand

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee looks on during a hearing at the Fulton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 15, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee said he would not issue any rulings Friday after the evidentiary hearing on efforts to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election subversion case. 

“I’m not ruling on any of this tomorrow,” McAfee said in closing the hearing Thursday. “This is something that’s going to be taken under advisement on all aspects.”  

McAfee also raised the possibility of scheduling final arguments from the parties at a later date. 

“My goal, my hope is perhaps we can just close the evidence tomorrow, and we can take it from there,” McAfee said.

Willis woke up "ready to testify," bishop who prayed with her before court says

From CNN's Nick Valencia and Devon Sayers

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis woke up Thursday morning "ready to testify," according to the African Methodist Episcopal bishop who says he prayed with her before today’s hearing.

Bishop Reginald Jackson told CNN he met with Willis earlier this morning before court began to "offer her words of encouragement," and they prayed together.

"She seemed comfortable. She seemed eager to address," Jackson said.  "I had the feeling this morning that she was ready for this. It's been going on for over a month, these efforts to destroy her reputation,” he added. “She wanted to meet it head on.” 

When the bishop spoke to Willis this morning before court, he said he told Willis "to keep praying and that the people have her back. I really believe they do."

Hearing ends for the day and Willis will continue testimony Friday 

From CNN's Holmes Lybrand and Dan Berman

The first day of an evidentiary hearing over whether to dismiss Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election subversion case has concluded after Willis and her top prosecutor, Nathan Wade, testified over their relationships and payments they made during vacations together.

The district attorney's testimony will continue Friday at 9 a.m. ET, with Willis starting with under cross examination from District Attorney lawyer Anna Cross.

Defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who is leading the removal effort, said she plans to call two more witnesses after that.  

Cross also said she had three to four witnesses to call tomorrow, which she estimated would take four to five hours.

Willis: "I'm not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial"

From CNN's Devan Cole

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case on Thursday in Atlanta.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis pushed back forcefully on Thursday as she engaged in a tense back and forth with a defense attorney seeking to disqualify her from the 2020 election interference case she’s brought against Donald Trump and others.

“You've been intrusive into people's personal lives. You're confused,” she told Ashleigh Merchant, an attorney for defendant Mike Roman.

“You think I'm on trial. These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020,” she added, pointing toward the table of attorneys representing defendants in the criminal case.

Willis says Wade made sexist remarks during relationship

From CNN’s Devan Cole and Marshall Cohen

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case on Thursday in Atlanta.

In an extraordinary moment in court Thursday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testified about sexist behavior from Nathan Wade, the top prosecutor on the election interference case with whom she once had a romantic relationship.

“It's interesting that we're here about this money. Mr. Wade is used to women that, as he told me one time: 'The only thing a woman can do for him is make him a sandwich,'” she testified as she faced tough questioning from defense attorney Steve Sadow, who represents Donald Trump, about whether their romantic relationship ended last summer because of the forthcoming indictment against the former president and his allies. 

“We would have brutal arguments about the fact that I am your equal," she continued. "I don't need anything from a man — a man is not a plan. A man is a companion. And so there was tension always in our relationship, which is why I would give him his money back. I don't need anybody to foot my bills. The only man who's ever foot my bills completely is my daddy.” 

The defense attorneys have zeroed in on the timing of when the Willis-Wade relationship ended because it's critical to their self-dealing allegations against Willis.

In court filings, defendant Mike Roman's team argued that Willis would be incentivized to bring an indictment because it would prolong the case, and keep the money flowing to Wade. And, according to their theory, back to her as well, through vacations and other gifts.

Willis said on the stand that their break-up had “absolutely nothing” to do with the indictment.

Fulton County judge admonishes parties to remain professional

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee looks on during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse on February 15, in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee admonished parties in court on Thursday after heated exchanges between District Attorney Fani Willis and the defense attorney trying to get her removed from the Georgia election subversion case. 

“We all know what professionalism looks like,” McAfee said. “We won’t talk over each other. And from there, we’ll get through this.”

The judge took a brief break during Willis’ testimony after she raised her voice in court, holding up several motions filed by defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant and declaring: “It is a lie.” 

Merchant was asking if the top prosecutor she hired to investigate Trump had ever visited Willis “at the place you lay your head?”

“So let’s be clear because you’ve lied in this,” Willis said, pointing to copies she held of the filings. Willis, continuing to point at the copies, added, “right here, I think you lied right here.”

Willis details trips she took with top prosecutor in Trump case

District Attorney Fani Willis detailed vacations and trips she took with prosecutor Nathan Wade, who she hired to investigate Donald Trump and others for election interference in Georgia, saying she would pay cash for everything.

“When I travel I always pay cash,” Willis said of the trips with Wade, saying that she paid Wade back for certain travel and excursions during the trips.

Willis has been accused of financially benefitting from hiring Wade, who defense attorneys say paid for vacations for the two. The vacations, according to Willis, included trips to Aruba, the Bahamas Belize as well as Napa Valley where they attended wine tastings.

“He likes wine, I don’t really like wine to be honest with you,” Willis said. “I like Grey Goose.” 

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    Legal case studies and written exercises Legal case studies and written exercises As part of the recruitment process, in this kind of exercise you are given a set of papers relating to a particular situation and asked to make recommendations in a brief report. The firm will pick a case study relevant to the work they do.

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    Strong candidates will support their points in case study interviews with real-life examples. so, if you recognise a competition concern in a case study you might want to reference something like the failed Sainsburys/Asda merger to substantiate and strengthen a point. 2. Look at the departments in law firms and understand what each of them does.

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    As a reminder, Commercial Law Academy offers 20 in-depth courses, covering: insights into legal careers, firm profiles and interview insights, expert advice on writing applications and tackling psychometric tests, dozens of example (verified) successful cover letters and applications, resources to help you prepare for interviews and internships, example interview case studies, practical ...

  20. How to Prepare for a Law Firm Assessment Centre

    Commercial case studies which test your ability to think logically and deal with common commercial topics You may encounter additional tests which form part of the recruitment process at your assessment centre (e.g. group exercises, written exercises, psychometric tests or negotiation exercises).

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  24. Mock Interview

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  27. Case Studies, Interviews and Vacation Scheme Resources

    Written Case Study 1 - Legal Analysis Based on a real written exercise, this mock case study will help you prepare for your law firm assessment centres. Written Case Study 2 - Mergers and Acquisitions Our second mock case study is based on a real mergers and acquisitions written assessment. Subscribe