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Hi,

Has anyone done the PSC online or in-person? Is either better - in terms of assessments and stuff? And how did you find it?

Many thanks!

Hi, I’ve done a few assessment days this cycle and been unsuccessful from all and the general feedback is that I’ve fallen down on the written exercise as I haven’t been analytical enough. Does anyone have any advice or examples of written case studies as I’m struggling to improve.

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
The assessment centre for the 2021 vacation scheme was run virtually. It lasted for three hours between 14.00-17.00, and was composed of three parts.

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
The written assessment was divided into three separate tasks. The first was a drafting exercise, where we were asked to proofread a fictitious email to a client for spelling and grammar mistakes. The other two tasks involved drafting a letter of claim and a claim form. We were able to work on the written tasks for the whole duration of the assessment centre, apart from during the times that had been allocated to the other tasks.

The second part of the assessment involved a 20 minute interview with a senior associate. This was predominantly a competency-based interview, although they did also ask about my motivations for pursuing a career in law as well as a few commercial questions.

The third part of the assessment involved a mock client interview. This was with a member of HR and a trainee solicitor who played the role of the client. I was given 10 minutes before the interview to read the task brief, which was about a page long. I then had 10 minutes to interview the client in order to ascertain the material facts. No prior legal knowledge was needed for this exercise.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

1. Written exercise: there is not much that can be done to prepare for this as the tasks change every year. The only thing I would advise is knowing the basic structure for various legal documents such as letters of claim and claim forms.
2. Interview: in order to prepare for the interview, I would research the firm as much as possible, paying particular attention to the recent merger. What has the firm gained from this? What direction will the firm take in light of it? I would also advise composing a table of common competency-based questions and memorising it. This is what I did and it definitely paid off.
3. Mock client interview: again, there is not much that can be done to prepare for this as you only get given the brief 10 minutes before the start of the interview. However, they do give you a topic in advance of the assessment on which the legal scenario will focus (mine was an employment issue). It is useful having an understanding of the basic legal issues at hand, although this is not essential. I would advise having a rough structure in mind for the interview, in order to ensure you cover the key points. Finally (and perhaps most obviously), make sure you smile and allow your personality to shine through.

Were you successful?
Yes

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
The interview lasted for an hour. I was interviewed by a member of HR and a partner.

They started by asking me about my academic experience. I was asked to talk about my non-law degree and why I had chosen to study a non-law related subject.

I was then asked to talk about how I found the GDL - which parts I enjoyed and which parts I didn't enjoy so much. I was then asked the generic questions - 'Why law?' and 'Why Withers?'. They probed me further on each of the answers I gave. They asked why I was interested in the international element of Withers' work in particular.

I was then asked a number of competency based questions. For example, I was asked to talk about a time in which I had broken the rules, as well as a time that I had to make a quick decision. I was also asked to give examples of specific situations where I had demonstrated teamwork and good organisation.

I was then asked a couple of commercial questions. I was given a hypothetical scenario about a foreign client who wanted to market a product in the UK and had to say how Withers' various legal teams could assist.

At the end of the interview I had the opportunity to ask some questions. I was then told I would find out the outcome in around a month.

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
In advance of the interview, I had to submit a written assessment which is very brief. Each answer only allows around 60 words.

I was then asked to complete numerical and verbal reasoning tests a week prior to the interview.

The final stage of the assessment was an interview which lasted for an hour.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

There is not much that can be done to prepare for the tests. However, for the interview, I would advise researching the firm as much as possible, particularly its international strategy. Also a good idea to have a good grasp of current affairs/key commercial issues in the news at the time.

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
April 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Training Contract 2023

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
Join the zoom link at 9am for a 10-min Graduate Recruitment team induction, 1 hour for group discussion, 30 minutes for group presentation, 40 minutes interview with a Partner and 40 minutes written task. The whole assessment centre finished at around 1pm.

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

1. Group Discussion: It involved a client pitch to a potential automotive client on behalf of the firm. No specific details of the company e.g. location, size were given therefore it was open to our own interpretation and assumption on what the potential client would look for. It was essentially an opportunity to demonstrate commercial awareness about this major industry that Gowling specialises in and the knowledge of Gowling's competitive edge. Assessors were present in the first 30 minutes of the group discussion to observe the discussion. Candidates would be discussing on our own without the assessors in the next 30 minutes, where we could spend the time on further research and discuss the presentation format etc.
2. Group Presentation: Following the 1-hour group discussion, the group of 6 participants were given 20 minutes to present. The assessors then asked questions directing to each candidate. The questions were challenging that looked for further elaboration on what the candidates presented, e.g. what challenges facing the industry and how the firm can support.
3. Partner Interview: The partner asker four competency-based questions e.g. example of team work, resilience.
4. Written Task: The main written task was about a scenario in planning approval for a property. The task involved summarising the requirements of the planning rules and advising the clients the next actions. The task was straight-forward but time pressured. There was also a separate, relatively smaller task of proof-reading.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

• Research: The is the final TC interview/assessment centre following the vacation scheme (whilst the AC for the VS was in similar format), therefore it would be crucial to research and understand the firm's strengths such as its sector-focused approach. Research the sectors / industries that the firm specialised to enhance commercial awareness that is relevant to the firm's work. Doing a SWOT analysis on the sector would be helpful to understand the challenges facing the companies / firm.
• Presentation: Be clear and concise in the presentation as the time given was really short. The follow-up questions could be challenging, take some time to think before answering may help to form a better / structured answer and stay calm. Interview: The interview involved standard competency-based questions, therefore it was fairly easy to prepare for this part. Research what competencies the firm looks for in their trainees e.g. resilience, creative thinking and think about the most suitable examples. Answer with the STAR approach with more specific details especially in "Action".
• Written task: Plan the use of time on the written task, e.g. 10 minutes to skim through the documents, 15 minutes to write the advice note and 5 minutes to proof-read. As the task did not require prior legal knowledge, there was not much preparation required, however, it would be helpful to look at how a client advice not is structured e.g. with an executive summary and conclusion.

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Direct Training Contract 2022

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
9:30-9:45 - intro
9:45-10:15 - networking
10:15-10:45 - presentation
10:45-11:45 - group exercise
11:45-12:45 - interview

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

1. Presentation - 10 minute pre-prepared presentation on a "topic that is of interest to you". Followed by approximately 10 minutes of informal style Q&A on the topic which felt more like a general chat.
2. Group exercise - the group of 4/5 applicants was given 3 company profiles and asked to pitch one to a potential investor. 10-15 minutes to prepare and discuss as a group before a 5-10 minute presentation to the assessors. Assessors then asked questions as the 'investors', and finally asked us how we'd felt the exercise had gone and how well we had worked as a team. Interview - strengths-based interview with a partner and graduate recruiter.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

1. Presentation - prepare well but do not learn a script. Anticipate questions that you might be asked, including around the general topic as the assessor won't necessarily be an expert in your area of choice!
2. Group exercise - pay close attention to the instructions and don't be afraid to ask clarification questions before the exercise begins! Read quickly to make sure you can skim all the materials in the time given. Build on things others have said in the discussion/preparation time. Be self-aware to ensure you can address how well you have worked as a team at the end. Interview - relax and be yourself! Give specific examples as much as possible.

Were you successful?
Yes

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Spring Vacation Scheme

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
16:00 - join zoom call with senior associate and senior graduate recruitment member.

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
5 minutes - brief introduction given by associate and graduate recruitment
55 minutes - one of one interview with associate and graduate recruitment each asking questions

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

1. I advise them to know their application and what their unique selling points are.
2. Have a general list of competencies you can use to answer questions (teamwork, communication, leadership)
3. It will feel a little unnatural and scripted because it is over Zoom, but try to relax and answer honestly.
4. Listen to the question carefully and then give your response. Do not anticipate questions and then give an answer.
5. Understand the actual role of trainees and how you fit into the team.
6. Understand why Shearman is different to other firms. Be able to compare and contrast similar firms.
7. Try to maintain focus throughout. It is only one interview for an hour, unlike other assessment processes.

Were you successful?
Yes

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Spring Vacation Scheme

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
(we were split up into different groups, so timings differed depending on if you were in group A or B)
9:30 Arrival
10:00 Talk from Graduate Recruitment
11:00 Case Study
12:30 Partner Interview
14:00 Break
14:30 Negotiation
16:00 Close

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

Case Study
- We basically had to make a presentation to the CEO of a company based on reading the fact file and what the company wants to achieve.
- You had 20-30 mins to read through 8 pages of documents and then 20 mins to present and have a discussion with a senior associate.
- I only got 2 follow up questions based on my presentation. The associate and I spent the last 15 mins or so chatting about law and their work.

Partner Interview
- Joined at my allocated slot via Zoom and waited in the waiting room.
- Interview lasted 50 minutes, with 5 mins for questions.

Negotiation
- The negotiation was not a 'typical M&A' deal where X buys Y. But knowledge of M&A negotiations will come in handy.
- We were in a group of 4. We had 30 mins or so to read through a client brief. We were then split into two - with two working for one client and one working for the other side.
- We were put into break out rooms and had to discuss the points with our partner. A senior associate was also in the break out room and was assessing our discussion.
- After 30 mins we were moved back to the main room to negotiate with the other side. Grad Rec and associates were assessing the negotiation.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

Case study
1) Try to sound like you know what you are talking about. Project your voice and be engaging (use hand gestures and vary the tone of your voice). Analyse why you chose the option you did, and why the other options are not good for the client.
2) Bring in wider news stories if possible or applicable but do not try to force it. Partner

Interview
1) Be prepared to be interrogated. Try not to take it personally, I think everyone had similar interviews based on discussions.
2) Have a broader understanding about the topics you have spoken about in your application (for example if you mention an M&A deal - understand why companies merge, SPACs, IPOs, current M&A deals and the role of lawyers in facilitating these deals).
3) Try to build rapport with your interviewers. I really struggled with this.

Negotiation
1) Come up with a plan with your partner as to how you will tackle the negotiation.
2) Listen carefully to what is being said and respond accordingly.
3) You will have points in your brief that the other side won't, so it is important to remember this!
4) Always keep track of time - grad rec will only tell you when you have one minute remaining.
5) Confirm where you have gotten to after you discuss a key point. (e.g. 'So to confirm, we have agreed on a purchase price of £1 million'.) It was very easy to forget what we had agreed.

Were you successful?
Yes

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
January 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.

8:45 am arrival, Introduction from recruitment
9:15 writing task one hour followed by 10-15 minutes of questions from partners regarding the written task
11:00-12:30 interview with 2 partners
12:30-2pm talk and Q&A with trainees 2pm end

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

Written task - roughly one hour to read through everything (case study on a fictional business), write a memo on which business strategy I chose (which location should X open its new business), why, strengths and weaknesses of all the options, had to back up choices with the information provided Followed by 10-15 minutes of 2 partners acting as if they were the CEO of the fictional business and asked me questions about the case study. What would happen if X happened etc.

20 minutes break

Followed by one hour interview -company, situation based, commercial and motivation questions Trainee Q&A

As it was online, some people had the partner interview before the written task.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

• Ensure you know how law firms function as businesses
• Be more enthusiastic with answers
• When talking about experiences, make sure you relate back to how you would act as a trainee

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
13.00 Group exercise with graduate development
Break
14.00 commercial awareness exercise with partners
Break
15.00 competency interview with associates

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

Group exercise: 10 min to read through, 3 pages of material 2 of which is generic and 1 is specific to you. There are then set questions you need to talk through with teammates in about 30 min. 10 min presentation afterwards to graduate development who will ask 1 or 2 questions.

Commercial awareness exercise: 20 min to read through, have 3 sections each with 5 questions. Mine was about a start up trying to scale up. 30 min of questioning by partners.

Competency interview: 1 hr of questions by associates which includes 'why law' and 'why TW'

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.
Case study:
- Be sure to go into a lot of depth. The partner will challenge you and it's important that you stand your ground.
- You will be doing the talking most of the time, my interviewer had a complete poker face
- Useful to read up on the start up/tech/venture capital space

Competency:
- Fairly standard interview, but do prepare to be asked motivation questions as well. For that it is important to see areas where they have an advantage over their tech rivals
- Can be quite conversational but don't drop your guard, as they will be assessing you on things like how succinctly you can answer their questions

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
November 2020

Please specify what the interview was for.
Winter Vacation Scheme 2020

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
13.00 case study interview, 15.00 competency/scenario interview, 14.00 trainee Q&A

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

Case study - 40 min to read through M&A case study with 5 questions to address. It is very time pressured with about 10-20 pages to read through. It also covers a lot of different areas such as employment and supplier. Partner interviewer will then go through the 5 questions and may expand on them.

Competency interview - 5 detailed scenarios/competency questions read out by an associate then ask what your responses would be.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

• Case study: This is the one where you can prep, do practice case studies as this is very time limited. Partner had a 'favourite question', so possibly reuse some parts of a case study?
• Competency interview: This is very relaxed, associate will introduce themselves and you will have opportunities to ask them questions.

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
March 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
The assessments took place on different days. Firstly, there was a Watson Glaser test. The next step was a 45 minute interview with HR. The final step was a 1.5 hour written assessment.

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
The written case study was 1.5 hours to read through a bundle of documents and write a business report outlining the main risks and opportunities.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

For the interview, if you mention that you're interested in a particular practice area, make sure you can back up that you're interested in it (e.g. be able to discuss the trends happening in that area).

With the written assessment, try and make some effective links back to Stephenson Harwood's work throughout. It's quite tight for time, so make sure to keep an eye on the clock and cover all areas.

Were you successful?
Yes

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
January 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
CMS Academy

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
1-1:15pm - Welcome and tech check
1:15-1:30pm - Welcome, general introductions
1:30-2:15pm - Case study prep
2:15-2:30pm - Tech check and break (called off individually when interviewers were ready)
2:30-3:30pm - Case study presentation, questions and interview
3:30-3:45pm - Wait for interviewees to return, enter group assessment rooms
3:45-4:30pm - Group assessment

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

Case study - 45 mins to read through materials, make notes and prep presentation. Materials included a variety of emails/online news articles/information about a company and you were tasked to make a decision if we should act for this client and give a 10 minute presentation to the partner.

Case study presentation - 10 min presentation. Partner didn't mind if it was much longer or shorter. Asked a few questions after the presentation.

Partner interview - List of competency and motivational questions about why you want to work for CMS, explore what interests you and your previous experiences. Nothing too hard and no trick questions.

Group assessment - Given 30 mins to look at the brief document and then talk as a group to prepare a 10 min presentation. The brief was extremely short and the task was quite open-ended so can really go off in any direction.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

Do not underestimate the group task! It was extra difficult to manage the team and build rapport due to being on MS Teams. The task goes very quickly and its so important to take charge when the team goes off piste (this was my downfall). Also ensure your contributions to the group are meaningful and helpful.

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
January 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
2:45-3 pm Meeting with Graduate Recruitment
3-3:30 pm Partner Interview
3:30-4 pm Partner Interview
4-4:30 pm Trainee Q&A

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

Meeting with Graduate Recruitment: This was a very informal chat and mostly consisted of questions that were not assessed (e.g. whether you require a visa to work, whether you intend to do a Masters before the LPC etc). However, there were a few standard motivational questions towards the end, and I was asked to compare and contrast the firms I had applied to and outline how Sullivan & Cromwell stands out from them.

Partner Interview x2: There were two successive interviews with one partner which followed a similar structure. Both were pretty conversational and a lot less formal than what you would expect during an interview. The first partner started off with a few questions about how I was adjusting to studying remotely, how I kept in touch with my peers, what kind of activities I undertook during lockdown and then they asked me some more specific questions about my CV. The second partner had a more traditional approach and asked me the standard motivational questions plus a few questions about my degree and modules I enjoy. Both partners spent the last 10 minutes of the interview on questions I had for them.

Trainee Q&A: This was very informal too and the trainee said that nothing gets reported back to graduate recruitment (although I took this with a pinch of salt). The trainee did not ask me anything, they only answered mine.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

Meeting with Graduate Recruitment: Spend a long time thinking about why S&C and how the firm is different from other US firms that focus on transactional work. Make sure you have an application strategy that you can explain (i.e. don't come across as someone who has applied to firms that have nothing in common). They really pride themselves on the fact that despite being a small firm with less offices than their competitors, their clients are equally high-profile, so a tip would be to focus on this.

Partner Interviews: Unlike most firms, S&C does not grill candidates on commercial awareness. They take that as a given for everyone who makes it to interview stage (this year they only invited 16 people out of 500+ applicants), so what they really care about is whether you would fit into the firm's culture. Don't be afraid to show your personality or talk passionately about experiences that are not law-related. Make sure you know your CV and Cover Letter by heart and can expand on any experience you mentioned there. Try to be as relaxed as possible and go along with the informal style of the interview. Have the confidence to make jokes and ask interesting questions. They let you take charge of your interview so make sure you guide it towards the areas that you are most comfortable discussing.

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
March 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Spring Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
3 pm Arrival
3-3:20 pm Interview with Two Partners
3:20-3:45 pm Case Study Interview with Two Partners
3:45-4 pm Questions for Partners

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
Partner Interview: The interview only lasted for around 20 minutes and consisted of classic motivational questions. The partners explicitly stated that they were expecting these questions to be well-prepared in advance. They picked up on some minor details I mentioned in my answers and asked me further questions about them, so make sure that you can back up each experience with additional information (e.g. as part of my 'why commercial law' answer, I mentioned an M&A case study I had done during an Open Day. I was asked to say more about this case study and I had to recall the specific deal and its implications).

Case Study Interview: This followed immediately after the partner interview and the interviewers were the same. It was a verbal case study with no time to prepare in advance and the interview lasted for around 25 minutes. The case study appeared on the screen and the interviewers asked questions about how the client should be advised in that situation. They gave me time to think and there was no set answer for most of the questions - they were rather interested in hearing my thought process, and they guided me throughout.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

Partner Interview: The most important thing is to prepare the standard motivational questions in detail and to think about any follow-ups that might be asked. Try to stand out from the others by providing unique personal examples to strengthen your motivations. They are interested in getting to know you as a person, and if there is anything that catches their eye, this could lead to a very interesting conversation.

Case Study Interview: I found Alice's M&A case study webinar to be extremely useful for this exercise. You will need to use the law firm department technique when answering the questions. They want to check your understanding of how law firms operate and more specifically, how different departments interact on a deal. I would also recommend reading up on all of the firm's practice areas in London and not just the main ones, and show an awareness of their importance during the case study. Make sure that you take the time to structure your answers before saying them out loud - they take a lot of notes on what you say and you need to make sure that your answer is easy to follow. Make sure you prepare informed questions for the partners - they put a lot of emphasis on this, so try to go beyond very basic questions such as 'Why did you choose Willkie?'.

Were you successful?
Yes

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
January 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Work Experience Scheme

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
10.40am - case study given
11am - interview

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
There was only 1 interview. 20 minutes before the interview, candidates are given a case study and 3 basic questions on the case. The interview lasted for about 35 minutes after.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.
Guide the case study questions on the themes you feel the most comfortable in - if you talk more on a point you have prepared the interviewers will expand on that more. Be ready to be flexible, the case study interview felt like a debate, the interviewers questioned all my opinions and I had to be ready to defend them or concede (with explanation) rather than sticking to my original plan.

My interview didn't actually ask much about the firm, but more about my motivations for law, commercial law and the career of a solicitor. Be prepared for these questions!

Were you successful?
Yes

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
January 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.

1. Arrival, introduction and ice-breakers (around 25-30 minutes)
2. Networking with trainees (around 25-30 minutes)
3. Interview with a partner and senior solicitor (45 minutes)
4. Group exercise (around 45 minutes - 1 hour)
5. Written exercise (around 30-45 minutes)

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
Interview:
- 50:50 case study and competency.
- I was given a loan agreement, along with another sheet containing relevant info, to look at before the interview. I was not given specific questions to prepare, but I had to note down issues the client was facing.

Group exercise:
- Candidates were split into groups of around 7-8. We were all given a sheet which contained a fictitious M&A scenario. Each candidate was assessed by one associate who observed everything from the beginning until the end of the group exercise.
- As a group, we had to discuss due diligence issues of a fictitious M&A deal (from the perspectives of both the buyer and the seller)
- After the group discussion, we were split into smaller teams to prepare for the negotiation. We were told who we were acting for - buyer or seller. I was put with another candidate and we had to discuss which issues to concede on, which issues to be more firm on, negotiation strategy, etc.
- We all then reconvened and had to negotiate. The negotiation lasted approximately 25-30 minutes.

Written exercise:
- I was given a scenario involving a share buyback scheme for a private equity client. Without giving away too much information, I had to summarise to the client how many shares they can obtain. There was simple maths involved.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

Interview:
- This interview is much more focused on how accurately and concisely you interpret and convey your interpretation/views. I wouldn't focus too much on reading commercial news stories (I wasn't asked a single commercial question). Instead, familiarising yourself with basic contractual terms and the structure of a contract would be much more helpful.
- Have great answers to the typical questions above prepared. It would be very useful if you research their international strategy, their D&I framework and perhaps a deal they worked on.

Written exercise:
- Condense all the information very quickly. I felt that trying to understand the scenario was more difficult than actually writing it out. Read everything carefully from the start and double check your math! Attention to detail is probably one of the key things they assess for this exercise.
- Write appropriately
- it was a letter to a client, so make sure that you write in relatively layman's terms, rather than using highly technical language.

Group exercise:
- Work cooperatively with the others, but be original in your ideas.
- Practice negotiating with a friend
- if you can't do this, there are a couple videos on YouTube of mock negotiations.
- Know the different issues and concerns that a buyer and seller respectively have in an M&A transaction (for example, a buyer would want a lower purchase price, but a seller would want to push the purchase price as high as they can)
- Try to be as strategic as possible with every issue and clearly plan your strategy with your co-negotiator.

Were you successful?
Yes

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
March 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Spring/Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
8.30 - 9.30am: welcome session with grad rec
9.30 - 10.15am: meeting with mentor (1 to 2 candidates with 1 member of the firm. They allocate you a mentor based on your preferred practice area, as stated on your application form)
10.15 - 10.30am: break
10.30am - 1.00pm: introduction to the firm's practice areas
1.30 - 2.00pm: break
2.00 - 7.00pm: interview on a news article (you will be assigned a 30 minutes slot within this time period)

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

• Welcome session: grad rec first ran us through the schedule and answered any question that we had. We were then joined by a partner who gave us a brief introduction to the firm and also answered questions from candidates.
• Meeting with mentor: an informal chat with a member of the firm. Nothing to prepare for really, just be engaged and be enthusiastic.
• Introduction to the firm's practice areas: representatives from each practice area were given 15 minutes to give us an introduction and answer questions from the audience. Given the time constraint, I believe they only allowed 2 questions per practice area.
• Article interview: you will be assigned a 30-minute slot beforehand. 1 hour before your actual interview, you will be emailed the article and have that 1 hour to prepare for it (grad rec recommends spending 45 minutes on it. The extra 15 minutes is for you to print the article out, where necessary, and to just refresh your mind). This is followed by a 30-minute interview with 2 senior lawyers, during which they ask you questions about the article and you can also ask them questions at the end.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

1. Meeting with mentor: depending on staff availability, you might get a 1:1 or 2:1 session with the mentor assigned. My mentor was really nice and friendly so I felt comfortable to ask any question that I had.
2. Introduction to the firm's practice areas: this was obviously a very long session so grad rec explicitly stated that candidates could just turn their cameras on and participate in sessions that they were interested in, and could switch their cameras off for the rest. From what I have gathered, those who didn't ask any question or engaged much were still offered a place whereas those who did ask questions weren't necessarily offered a place on the vac scheme. So I'd trust what grad rec has said and just take your camera off where appropriate.
3. Interview: I have never done an article interview before so this did throw me off. I did not know what to expect nor was I aware of how I should have structured my answer appropriately. My biggest tips is hence to practise doing article interviews and find out what such type of interview is like. This will help you a lot with your thinking process and the way you analyse the article on the day (I didn't and really regret it!).
4. Overall: it was definitely a pretty long and draining day so I'd get a good rest the night before. I'd also say that the day provided me with really great insight into what the firm is like, how the culture is like and what the people are like. Not everyone necessarily can picture themselves working at the firm and that is absolutely fine. It is an amazing opportunity to really get to know the firm, and probably for you to think more deeply about where you'd like to work at.

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Direct Training Contract

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.

1. 10-15 minute Graduate Recruitment Welcome
2. (around) 30 minute Written Exercise
3. 75 minute Commercial Interview with 1 Partner and 1 Senior Associate

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

Written Exercise: - You are given approximately 30 minutes to read a short article (4-5 pages) on an article by Clifford Chance. The topic will generally require some wider knowledge of commercial trends - ESG, Tech, etc. - You have to write an email to a client, summarising the key issues of the article - all within the 30 minutes given to you.

Commercial Interview: - 75 minutes - they do not discuss your written response with you, but will discuss wider issues relating to the article you will have just read during the written exercise. It is generally a 50:50 split between commercial and competency/motivation questions.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

Written exercise advice:
- Practice writing client emails, memos and reports. I felt that practicing helped me get on with the task way quicker and it saved a lot of time. One of the key things they are looking for is whether you can write in a clear, structured way. Have clear headings, signpost and remember the formalities.
- Practice condensing thick amounts of information. The article I was given included a graph, so familiarise yourself with interpreting graphs quickly, as you may be asked about it in the actual interview too.
- Pay attention to who you are writing to. Is it a a partner? Another colleague? A client? What type of client is it: buy side or sell side? My instructions clearly stated that the client was a bank, so make sure to pay close attention to the instructions!

Interview advice:
- Familiarise yourself with the wider commercial and legal trends that are going on.
- Make sure you know the basics: fundamentals of a business, business strategies, basic SWOT/PESTLE analysis. (Clifford Chance have a great video on this on their Youtube Channel!)
- Have stellar answers to "Why Clifford Chance", "Why you", "Why law". - Above all, I feel that Clifford Chance pay attention to the type of person you are. Build rapport from the very beginning!
- Have a mixture of personal and commercial questions to ask them at the end.

Were you successful?
Yes

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
9.45 - 10.00am: Welcome session with grad rec
10.00 - 10.20am: Trainee Q&A
10.20 - 10.30am: break
10.30 - 11.15am: Interview with two senior lawyers
11.15 - 11.30am: break
11.30am - 1.00pm: group assessment

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

• Welcome session: grad rec provided an overview of the day, talked us through the schedule and answered any questions that we had regarding the day.
• Trainee Q&A: I was put into a group of five with four other candidates. There were two trainees answering our questions and they were absolutely lovely. Grad rec wasn't there to monitor us so please feel free to ask any question that you have!
• Actual interview: 45 minutes with two senior lawyers. They were, again, absolutely lovely and I really enjoyed my interview. It was a mixture of competency- and strength- based questions, and they asked some follow-up questions to my responses. The interviewers did not interrogate me or 'grill' me on my answers but were genuinely interested in my thought process.
• Group Assessment: 45 minutes to prepare a 10-15 minutes group presentation (legal issues about a proposed M&A). There was a total of five of us. During the group discussion, grad rec was there to assess us. After the preparation time was over, we were joined by a partner, to whom we delivered our group presentation. After our presentation was over, we were asked follow-up questions based on what we had said. The questions were not directed to specific group members so please feel free to take them on if you know the answer.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

Actual interview: I would say know your application inside out. My interviewers asked me to further explain some of my experiences and extra-curricular activities. They were not necessarily interested in work experiences but life experiences that made me interesting as a candidate. So please do know your application and what you have written very well. My interviewers also mentioned that there was a set list of questions that they had to go through. So, to make the interview more like a conversation and less like a rigid Q&A session, I'd advise to really let your personality shine through and engage in the conversation.

Group assessment: as with any other group assessment, sometimes you're just paired with candidates that are less of a team-player. Yet, don't let this throw you off. Be nice, remain clam, and invite candidates who haven't spoken much to talk. Interrupt the dominating personality where appropriate. Otherwise, you risk being viewed as not having contributed enough.

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
April 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
8:45am Arrival
9am - 9:45am Talk From Graduate Recruitment - written exercise briefing
10am-10:45 Interview with Two Partners
11am - 11:45 Virtual Coffee with Trainee
12pm - 12:45 Interview 2 with Graduate Recruitment Manager and Graduate Recruitment & Diversity Senior Specialist.

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.

• Written Exercise - 45 minutes to read through contract and respond to client in an email.
• 45 minute interview split into 2 sections, first one is case study interview: a M&A between 2 groups and you are asked questions surrounding the steps needed to take and how to address issues that might arise. Second half is strategy and motivational based.
• Meeting with a trainee - 45 minutes to ask questions about Dechert, etc.
• Graduate recruitment interview - 45 mins first half rapid fire commercial awareness questions, second half competency based questions.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.
Always give examples. Read up on any and all commercial news you can get your hands on. I would suggest buying the Mindful Resources Assessment Center guide and memorizing all the key terms.

Were you successful?
No

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
May 2021

Please specify what the interview was for.
Direct Training Contract

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
1pm -1:20pm - Welcome
1:20pm - 2:20pm - Written Exercise
2:30 - 3:30pm - Q&A with Trainees
3:30pm - 4:15pm - Interview

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
- Welcome - A Graduate Recruitment executive ran through the day
- Written Exercise - A case study written exercise which tested analytical ability, commercial instinct and written communication skills. No preparation was required for this. It was a commercial (rather than legal) scenario and I had to justify a recommended course of action from the information you are given, in a business report format.
- Q&A with Trainees - A trainee meet and greet session where you can hear first-hand from our trainees at the firm and will have an opportunity to have your questions answered.
- Interview - An interview with a member of the Early Careers team and a fee-earner.

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.

With the written exercise, give yourself about 20 minutes to read and spend the rest writing Ask a lot of questions during the Q&A
Prepare thoroughly for the interview

Were you successful?
Waiting to hear back

Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
September 2020

Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021

Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
9:15-9:45 Partner and Trainee Welcome Chat
10:45-11:20 Competency Interview
11:30-12:05 Scenario 1
12:15- 12:50 Scenario 2

Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
Competency Interview: It was a general motivation-based interview with a fair bit of HR. I was quizzed on my reasons to join the firm and be a commercial lawyer. I was also asked questions based on my application, including those relating to my work experience, college societies and internships. Overall, a very smooth and conversation style interview.

Scenario-1: This interview was very tricky for me. I was quizzed on the chain rule under mandatory bidding requirement in the UK Takeover Code. I was told the rule, and then told one factual scenario (a prior M&A deal the partner had done before) and then was asked to apply the rule to this and advice the client. It was too much information to process on the spot. Thus, you may want to prepare for thinking on your feet and being confident in your opinion/advice.

Scenario-2: This was a surprising one since it was totally non-commercial. I was interviewed by a graduate recruitment partner here. She told me that there is no Good Samaritan Law in the UK. There after, she asked me to assume that I'm a UK legislator and draft such a law. I was utterly surprised by such a scenario being asked in a vac interview but it came out to be interesting! We went back and forth on many aspects and situations that may arise as a result of using or not using particular words in the draft. Basically, a lot of legal thinking and general understanding of drafting legal obligations and exceptions would help here!

What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.
For competency, review your motivations well and keep asking "why" HSF and "why" you. They're very nice and sweet so try to be conversational and don't be afraid to be your real self! Jokes help sometimes!

For scenarios, there is literally no way to prepare since it was very random for everyone on my day. Everyone got quizzed on different areas of law etc. I think best way would be to make yourself aware of the basics of every area they practice in (since any partner can take the interview and they'll draw on their previous experience). Also prepare some deals that they partook in, in depth. That really helps, especially if you know the partner interviewing you beforehand. In general, I guess my only advice would be to be more commercially aware. That's all that can help best.

For the day itself, it was virtual for me. So really missed out on a big chunk of networking! But do talk to trainees when there is chance in the start. That makes you look good generally and gives you some connections anyway! Try to listen to tech instructions very well and don't quit the meet room between interviews. That can eat up your time. Stay there, just switch cameras and mics off for the buffer time. Hope that helps.

Were you successful?
No