Was this for Browne Jacobson?did a TI the other day and lowkey tweakingit feels kinda personal to get cut for a phone call that lasted 15 minutes haha. it was so odd compared to an interview, i basically felt like i was monologuing answers and then we'd move on.. is this normal?
Thank you!! Bristol
this is my favourite GIFAmazing news, huge congratulations!! I hope you celebrate well
Hey!
Hi @LegallyBrunette_ !
Huge congratulations on being invited to AC - what a fantastic achievement!
In the AC that I completed for my TC, I had to complete both a group exercise and a case study interview, so I can understand wanting to do all you can to prepare in advance. I can share what worked best for me!
Group Exercise
- In the group exercise, they are typically looking at how you work with others, not just what you contribute. Be collaborative, listen actively, and build on other people's points.
- Aim to contribute regularly but avoid dominating - asking others for their views on a topic can show leadership without being overbearing. I would always aim to not be the loudest or the quietest in the room, although I know finding this balance can be quite tricky!
- Keep the group focused on the task! I would always try and keep track of your progress and summarise the key decisions made as you go along.
- If you have to select an idea, don't worry if yours isn't chosen. What matters is how you respond and whether you support the group's direction.
Case Study Interview
I would also brush up on Jones Day's structure (e.g. their non-rotational training system and international work) just in case it comes up. They're assessing potential, not perfection - so as long as you stay calm and do your best, you'll be fine.
- You'll usually be given a business / legal scenario with background documents. I would start by reading quickly to understand the big picture, and then go back to confirm the smaller details.
- Structure your response clearly - identify the client's goals, outline the key issues, and suggest practical next steps.
- They won't expect you to know black-letter law. Focus on logic, prioritisation, and showing that you can think commercially.
- Talk the interviewer through your thought process - even if you get stuck or seem confused, they can see how you reason.
- If given a contract to assess, make a note of the exceptions and calculations in the contract. You might be asked how your stance would change if X event occurred, and it's useful to be mindful of when it might fall under any exceptions.
At the end of the day, they want to see the real you - someone who can think clearly, work well with others, and stay composed under pressure. If you go in with a collaborative mindset and a clear structure for approaching problems, you'll put yourself in a strong position.
Best of luck - you've already done the hard part by getting to this stage!
Hello!
Congratulations on getting the invite!Whilst I haven't completed the Ashurst written exercise, they will usually test your ability to communicate clearly and structure your arguments logically - similar to what you'd do as a trainee when drafting emails or internal notes.
I've outlined some previous tips that I always used when preparing for written exercises below:
- Practice timed writing - pick a 30-45 minute slot, read a short business or news article, and summarise the key points in a structured 1-2 page memo with a clear conclusion summarising your findings.
- Work on prioritisation - pick an article with a lot of information, and practice picking out the 3-4 most important issues rather than trying to summarise and include everything.
- Use a clear structure - this was the main thing that I implemented that helped me score higher on written assessments! Follow a clear structure in your answer, and practice what this would be for each type of document.
- Check clarity - after writing (potentially one of the above), ask yourself if someone with no context to the facts could follow along with the information and your reasoning.
- Proofread under pressure - I would get used to quickly checking grammar and flow, as this is really important in a written exercise! I sometimes struggled with this, as the pressure made me skip parts of my writing, but I found that literally following along with a pen or your finger can make sure you don't miss anything.
- Review sample case studies - I would have a look online and see if there are any free resources that you can have a go at. A true lifesaver during my last cycle was this forum post by Jacob Miller, and I would definitely give it a read!
The main thing that assisted me in written exercises is following a clear structure! I would go through and read all of the materials first, and then go back to pick out the key details. You should be looking for key issues, areas that you will require more information, and anything that you think is important for the client to know.
I would then follow a clear structure in your answer. There are a a few different types of documents that they could test you on - e.g. an email, memo, report, note, etc. I would have a look beforehand at the formatting of each, and have a go at writing them! If you are writing a letter / email to a client, make sure that you aren't including technical terms and writing in way that is easy for them to understand.
I would also try and find ways to showcase that you have the skills that they are looking for in trainees. For example, in one of my previous ACs I was asked to write an email to a supervisor. In this email, I outlined my arguments and recommendation, but I ended it by offering to draft the email / document for the client (e.g. proactivity). This will be dependant on each exercise, but if you can incorporate this in some way, I think it's a great way of standing out!
I hope that assists - best of luck with the written exercise, I'm sure you'll smash it!
Hi!
Just to add to Andrei's advice, I thought I'd share my past experiences with strengths-based interview questions!
For these types of of questions, the important element is to answer truthfully and be yourself. They are typically looking to see how you would handle specific problems, your general working style, and the traits that you naturally possess that would make you a good fit for the firm. In preparation for the interview, I would make a note of what your key strengths are, and how they align with the skills needed to be a trainee (and what the role involves).
If you are given a hypothetical scenario, I'd talk the interviewer through each step that you would take to address the situation, and how you would use your personal strengths to aid you in handling anything that comes up.
Additionally, I've also found that the questions can be reflective in nature and may ask you specific questions about your way of workings. For an interview I did on a vacation scheme, I was asked "What type of person are you under pressure?" (which definitely threw me off!). There isn't necessarily one right answer here, and I would take a moment to actually think your answer through and consider how you usually approach these situations. It might be helpful to reflect on your past experiences and weave these into your answer, so that the interviewer can see that you are rooting your answer in concrete examples.
I hope that helps!
Hey!
Congratulations on receiving the AC invite!! I've collated some general advice from a few of my previous forum posts which will hopefully offer some guidance - just shout if you have any follow-up questions.
Motivational Interview
When preparing for the motivational interview, I'd encourage you to have a think about the following beforehand:
Overall, I'd try to create a narrative that links your interests to the firm and its work, as well as your long-term career goals.
- Be clear on why a US firm (e.g. lean teams, responsibility early on, client exposure, etc.)
- Then narrow it down to why this US firm - practice strengths, the type of deals that they work on, the office culture, and any recent matters that interested you
- Expect follow-up questions that test the depth of your knowledge on the firm / work (e.g. why corporation litigation vs disputes, why the London office, etc.)
- Be prepared to back up your motivations with examples from your past experiences - for example, if you discuss wanting to have a lot of responsibility early on, you can strengthen your answer by discussing a past experience where you found that you enjoyed this aspect.
Written Exercise
- Practice timed writing - pick a 30-45 minute slot, read a short business or news article, and summarise the key points in a structured 1-2 page memo with a clear conclusion summarising your findings.
- Work on prioritisation - pick an article with a lot of information, and practice picking out the 3-4 most important issues rather than trying to summarise and include everything.
- Use a clear structure - this was the main thing that I implemented that helped me score higher on written assessments! Follow a clear structure in your answer, and practice what this would be for each type of document.
- Check clarity - after writing (potentially one of the above), ask yourself if someone with no context to the facts could follow along with the information and your reasoning.
- Proofread under pressure - I would get used to quickly checking grammar and flow, as this is really important in a written exercise! I sometimes struggled with this, as the pressure made me skip parts of my writing, but I found that literally following along with a pen or your finger can make sure you don't miss anything.
- Review sample case studies - I would have a look online and see if there are any free resources that you can have a go at. A true lifesaver during my last cycle was this forum post by Jacob Miller, and I would definitely give it a read!
The main thing that assisted me in written exercises is following a clear structure! I would go through and read all of the materials first, and then go back to pick out the key details. You should be looking for key issues, areas that you will require more information, and anything that you think is important for the client to know.
I would then follow a clear structure in your answer. There are a few different types of documents that they could test you on - e.g. an email, memo, report, note, etc. I would have a look beforehand at the formatting of each, and have a go at writing them! If you are writing a letter / email to a client, make sure that you aren't including technical terms and writing in way that is easy for them to understand.
I would also try and find ways to showcase that you have the skills that they are looking for in trainees. For example, in one of my previous ACs I was asked to write an email to a supervisor. In this email, I outlined my arguments and recommendation, but I ended it by offering to draft the email / document for the client (e.g. proactivity). This will be dependant on each exercise, but if you can incorporate this in some way, I think it's a great way of standing out!
I've also previously created a post on client emails as a written exercise format - I have linked that here as well!
Group Exercise
- In the group exercise, they are typically looking at how you work with others, not just what you contribute. Be collaborative, listen actively, and build on other people's points.
- Aim to contribute regularly but avoid dominating - asking others for their views on a topic can show leadership without being overbearing. I would always aim to not be the loudest or the quietest in the room, although I know finding this balance can be quite tricky!
- Keep the group focused on the task! I would always try and keep track of your progress and summarise the key decisions made as you go along.
- If you have to select an idea, don't worry if yours isn't chosen. What matters is how you respond and whether you support the group's direction.
I hope that helps - wishing you the best of luck with the AC, and I'm sure you'll do great!!
Hey!
It's totally normal to feel stressed - live interviews typically feel more daunting, but I'd say they are generally a nicer experience than VIs as you are able to genuinely build a rapport and speak with the interviewer (and they are sometimes more conversational as a result). The interviewers won't be trying to catch you out - they're simply trying to get a sense of how you think, how you communicate, and whether you'd be someone that they'd enjoy working with day-to-day.
In terms of preparation, it really helped me to get comfortable with the core story that I was telling. Make sure that you are clear on why you are interested in working in commercial law (or law more generally), why you wish to work at that firm, and what draws you to their training contract. Additionally, I would create a 'bank' of competency examples from your previous experiences so that you have them in the back of your mind - for example, times that you have worked in a team, handled pressure, or taken responsibility. This gives you something to fall back on, even if the question isn't phrased in the way that you expected. I also found that practising my answers for the more common questions out loud really helped to calm my nerves and helped me feel prepared, even if it was a little awkward at first!
On the day, remember that it is completely okay to pause and think before answering. Silence is not a bad thing, and you won't be expected to respond instantly - it's usually more effective to give yourself a few seconds to think before jumping into an answer. If a question isn't clear, it's also perfectly acceptable to ask for clarification to ensure that you answer the question in the way that they are looking for. It sounds silly, but I'd also try to engage with the interviewers as people - maintaining eye contact (and as someone who is neurodivergent, I know this can be tricky at times!), listening properly, and responding naturally can go a long way. I'd also encourage you to show genuine interest in the interviewers and their careers as well - you could ask them questions on their work and practice areas at the end of the interview, which will show them that you genuinely want to learn more about the firm.
It helps to try to shift how you frame the interview in your mind - try to treat it like a two-way conversation rather than a performance. They are assessing whether you'd be a good colleague just as much as whether you can answer questions well. Almost everyone is nervous during interviews, even if it doesn't look like it! A partner during one of my vacation schemes said that it is a good thing to be nervous before an interview, as it shows that you care - I'd try to use it to your advantage!
Overall, I'd just encourage you to be yourself and show your motivations for working at the firm. You have clearly impressed them already to be invited to the interview stage, so try to remain confident in your own abilities and I'm sure you'll smash it! Best of luck!!
No problem at all!
I've found this bank of questions for Training Contract Interview Questions - there is a section for competency questions, which should be useful practice!
Yes, TCLA offer these! You can purchase any of the six types of written exercises available, and can also pay for personalised feedback on this as well - I've linked it here!
Hello!
A few resources below that I used / might be useful:
- Definitive Guide to Law Firm Case Studies (whilst this is a case study, instead of a written exercise, I found it super useful last cycle!)
- TCLA Written Exercises (a good way to practice if you are able to pay to access resources)
- Some law firms upload example written exercises online - I believe DWF has one available!
Hopefully they help as a starting point - best of luck!
Hi!
Congratulations on the interview invite!
I would echo what others have said already, and try to reframe that anxiety into excitement instead. @thesauce made a great post on this a few days ago, so I have quoted it below!
The most valuable advice I received was from a partner at a firm where I previously completed a vacation scheme, just before my interview for the TC. He emphasised that feeling nervous or anxious isn't a negative thing at all - it usually reflects that you care about the opportunity and are invested in the outcome. That in itself is a positive sign.
Therefore, I would encourage you to not try to suppress the nerves, but to channel that energy into demonstrating genuine enthusiasm, curiosity and motivation for the firm. Rather than focusing on delivering perfectly rehearsed and polished answers, concentrate on having a thoughtful and engaged conversation with the interviewers. You can do this through listening carefully, responding directly, and showing authentic interest in the people and the work.
As someone who was a bundle of anxiety for days before every interview too, I personally found that reframing nerves as a sign of commitment, rather than a weakness, made a significant difference in my mindset (+ I received positive feedback after that interview, which I'd say is a sign it works!).
Wishing you the best of luck - you've got this!!
