Hey!
Huge congratulations on the AC invite - what an amazing achievement!!
Your first assessment centre can feel daunting, but try to approach it with confidence. Remember, you’ve been invited because they already believe you have the potential to succeed. Go in with a positive mindset, trust your abilities, and focus on doing your best!Whilst I have not completed an assessment centre at A&O Shearman before, I have quoted a post below on some advice I have previously given based on the exercises involved in their assessment centre - hopefully it is a useful starting point!
In terms of the technical knowledge required, it's helpful to brush up on recent commercial news (particularly major developments such as the Budget) and think about how these events might affect law firms. Go a step further by considering how these commercial issues could impact A&O Shearman's core client base, and what A&O Shearman might do to support clients in navigating those challenges.
You're not necessarily expected to have economist-level expertise; rather, aim to show a clear and practical understanding of how broader economic and commercial trends influence businesses (and, by extension, law firms).
Best of luck - you've got this!!
Hello!
Congratulations on being invited to an assessment centre with A&O - that's a fantastic achievement! 🎊 Whilst I haven't participated in an assessment centre at A&O specifically, I can share some more general advice and tips for assessment centres. From what I've found online, I can see that it includes: a case study interview, a scenario-based interview, and a Q&A session with trainees.
Partner Case Study Interview
For the Partner case study interview, the key is to show structure and clarity in your answers and reasoning. As you have 40 minutes of prep time, I'd focus on:
When you discuss your answers with the Partner, be confident explaining your reasoning but be prepared for them to challenge. It's completely fine to stick to what you originally stated if you can expand on your reasons, but also be open to altering your viewpoint if they bring up a point that you hadn't considered. They're more interested in how you think, rather than whether you're necessarily "right" or "wrong".
- Understanding the client's objectives and challenges: the main thing that you want to consider is what is the client actually asking for? What is their main goal, and what are the main elements that are likely to impact their business that they will want you to take into account?
- Prioritise the key issues: linked to the above, make sure that you use your time well and focus on the main and most important issues. If you can't cover absolutely everything, make sure to focus on those main areas.
- Structuring your answers logically: if you can show your thought process for each decision or recommendation, this will help the Partner follow along. This could be along the lines of - background -> issues -> analysis -> recommendation.
- Considering commercial impact: remember that as a commercial lawyer, you will also have to factor in the wider commercial impact of any legal advice you give. Think about how you can give the best advice to the client, whilst also safeguarding their business.
I've also linked a previous post that I made on case study interviews - there are some really useful resources within it (particularly Jacob Miller's post!), so it's definitely worth checking that out
Scenario-Based Interview
This is designed to test how you think on your feet and respond to real-world situations that trainees might face. You don't necessarily need to know any black-letter law - it's more about your judgment, communication skills, and overall approach. A few things I would consider before the task:
- Pause and structure your thoughts: take a moment to think through the situation in your head and come up with a structure. This avoids you jumping straight into the answer and rambling (which I've definitely been guilty of in the past!) and allows you to clearly talk them through each step you would take.
- Clarify assumptions: if anything seems uncertain, make sure to show that you would clarify this. For example: if you're asked how you'd handle a client who's unhappy with advice, you could say something such as: "Before deciding how to respond, I'd want to understand whether the client is unhappy with the outcome itself, the way it was communicated, or the time it took to deliver. Can I assume the issue is about the advice itself?". This shows that you don't jump to conclusions, and demonstrates clear analytical and communication skills.
- Explain your reasoning step by step: the interviewer wants to understand how you reach decisions, not just what your decisions are. This is why a structure is particularly helpful - talk the interviewer through why you would approach each aspect that way.
- Balance professional and commercial considerations: this is something that most commercial firms (and A&O) will place a lot of emphasis on. As a commercial lawyer, you're not just there to give the "legally correct" answer, but also one that makes sense for the client's business objectives. The best responses show that you can think like a business advisor whilst maintaining professional integrity and protecting their legal interests.
- Use the STAR method: I would use the STAR method if you are describing past experiences. However, for hypothetical scenarios, I'd focus on: identifying the key issue(s), outlining possible approaches, and explaining why you'd choose one over another.
Q&A Session with Trainees
Whilst I haven't encountered an exercise in this format before (so I'm not too sure on what they'd be assessing - or if it is even assessed!), I can imagine this is likely to be more relaxed and conversational. It's your opportunity to get a real feel for what life is like at A&O. The trainees might not necessarily be assessing you, but you'll still make an impression through the quality of your questions and curiosity. I would:
Most importantly - stay calm, be yourself, and treat the day as a genuine opportunity to learn more about the firm and see if it is a good fit for you! They already know that you're capable, and they're now assessing how you think and communicate to see that you're a good fit!
- Prepare 2-3 genuine questions that show insight and interest, and make sure they are tailored to you. This could be by linking them to your previous experiences, or by asking questions to see that the firm is a good fit for your long-term career goals.
- Avoid overly generic or factual questions - if you can find the answer on the website, I definitely would not ask it at a firm event!
- Show enthusiasm and openness, and try to come across as friendly, approachable and engaged. If they have mentioned something that you find interesting or relatable, strike up a conversation (depending on the setting) and express your enthusiasm.
- Be yourself! It's very cliche advice, but this part of the assessment is also about fit and curiosity, not performance.
Wishing you the best of luck - you've got this! 💪
