Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
December 2019
Please specify what the interview was for.
Training Contract
Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
Arrival 2.15
Taken to lounge by Grad Rec 2.30-2.45
Taken to individual room for case study prep 2.45-3.15
Back to lounge, waiting for Partner to arrive 3.15-3.30
Partner interview 3.30-4.25
Back to lounge, waiting for HR manager to arrive 4.25-4.30
HR/SJT interview 4.30-5.25
Back to lounge, picked up by trainee 5.30
Tour and drink with trainee 5.30-6.00
NB- my Partner and HR interviews lasted longer than they ought to have done. If you do get the 2.15 slot, you really should be done with the day by 5.30.
Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
Case study-
-30 minutes to read about 20 pages of material
-material was about whether an M&A transaction should go ahead and my opinion
-material included newspaper cuttings, financial information, employee profiles, DD report, emails
-you had 6 core areas to give answers on
-15 minutes to present to Partner
-take 45-60 minutes worth of questions
HR/SJT interview-
-lasts 45-60 minutes
-5 key scenarios, followed by a time you've been in that scenario
-chance to ask questions at the end
Please list any interview questions you were asked.
Case study- (difficult to say exact questions because they're asked based on what you've raised, but I've listed some examples)
-What would be a reasonable offer price?
-What is the impact of key individuals on the business?
-Is the ongoing litigation a threat?
-What does this secret payment look like?
-What further information would you want to see?
-How would we protect our client from X matter?
CJT-
-You're a trainee. You're moved to another team by an associate. You were doing really well so didn't know why. You aren't familiar with the new deal team's work. What do you do?
-What's a time where you've had to jump teams at the last moment?
-How would you make a client presentation 'innovative'?
-Name a time where you've had to convince a superior of your ideas/views.
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.
Advice for preparation
-There's a video on YouTube made by A&O called 'An Anatomy of a Deal'. WATCH IT UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND IT. This is short but SO crucial in terms of understanding what an M&A transaction consists of.
-From doing this, you can do a bit more research into how different practice areas are relevant in a transaction
-Research different ways of funding a transaction
-Have examples of current M&A transactions so that you're able to substantiate any answers in the Partner interview
-Maths. It is pretty well known that Law students are shocking at maths so do go over the basics. The interview will include you doing one calculation, however, you're given quite a bit of financial material so if you can calculate current ratio or at the very least, a percentage change, this will impress the Partner in terms of how you've assimilated information.
-Try to do some research into A&O's values or generally, what the role of a trainee consists of. Knowing this will make the SJT interview much easier as you'll be talking in terms of the firm, but with the knowledge of the role.
-Have a couple of good examples for your usual competency questions. The interviewer will frame questions in terms of a scenario but your competency skills/activities can be used here.
Advice for on-the-day
-Arrive early. Even if you sit in Pret opposite or on the benches outside the firm, just having a while to sit and get into an AC mindset will do you good
-Bring a form of photo ID with you; they check this at reception
-For me, I brought my own pen for the Partner interview because I can write fast with it. If you've got a preference like this, you might want to bring your own too
-For the case study, speak within a structure. Identify key points and show an awareness that you've raised other issues but don't want to waste time discussing them as they're not as crucial
-Talk! There'll be 5/6 other candidates too. Talking to them about what they're studying and where they go will make the experience a lot less daunting
-If you're offered water, take it. You don't actually realise how much talking you'll end up doing in these interviews. Taking a sip of water can actually be a buffer for when you need some thinking time
-At the end of the interview, you get to sit and get a drink with a trainee. They don't report back to Grad Rec so use this as a chilled networking opportunity to find out more about the firm
and my BIGGEST TIP OF ALL
-DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION. If you don't understand something a Partner or HR manager has said, simply ask them to re-phrase or clarify. They will not mind and it's much better to get this clarity before you try to waffle incoherently.
Situational Judgement Interview:
For this interview ensure that you have a wealth of examples on which to draw. Also, consider A&O's testing rubric: What are their values? What do they look for in future trainees? It would be fruitful for prospective applicants to attend one of the firm's open days, as they outline their criteria specifically at them.
Were you successful?
Yes
