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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ram Sabaratnam" data-source="post: 183168" data-attributes="member: 36738">Hi [USER=35984]@futuretcholder[/USER] It's great that you're already thinking about the feedback you might receive post AC. Reflecting on this early is such an important step in improving your performance over time. I’ve had a range of feedback myself, and I’ve found that it tends to fall into a few key areas. I've tried to organise this feedback clearly below and hope it makes sense. Hopefully, this will be helpful for you! <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Motivation:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One area where I received feedback was around my motivations for joining the profession. At times, interviewers were unsure about my commitment to commercial law, which may have been because I leaned heavily on examples from my experience in the legal aid sector during motivational and competency interviews. While those experiences were valuable, it's crucial to demonstrate that your passion for commercial law is genuine and well-considered. Law firms want to know not only that you're motivated but that your reasons for pursuing commercial law align with what the role entails. Having a well-rounded narrative, backed by considered reasons and diverse examples, shows that you understand what is distinctive about commercial practice. </li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Interviewing Skills:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Being quite extroverted, I enjoy speaking with people, but this sometimes led me to be a bit too chatty or casual during interviews. Feedback I received pointed out that while my enthusiasm was appreciated, it was important to be more concise and professional in my responses. Interviewers are often working within tight time constraints, and giving clear, focused answers helps demonstrate that you can communicate effectively and respect their time. In a commercial law setting, being able to explain complex ideas succinctly is crucial, as clients and colleagues value clarity and precision. With practice, I learned to give direct answers while still conveying enthusiasm, and I found this significantly improved my overall performance. Finding that balance really helped me come across as more polished and business-like during interviews. With practice, I worked on answering questions more concisely and maintaining a professional tone throughout. Finding that balance really helped me improve my performance. </li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Group Performance:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Although I’m generally outgoing, I would sometimes hold back during group exercises, worried about seeming too dominant. Feedback from grad recruitment encouraged me to be more involved. I started aiming to contribute at least 2-3 times during the exercise and made a point of actively engaging with others by asking questions to draw them in. This made a big difference in how my contributions were perceived by grad rec and partners observing these exercises. Overall, I saw that being overly cautious about not dominating the conversation can sometimes work against you. It’s important to contribute confidently, but in a way that also encourages others to share their views. For me, this meant making sure I said at least 2-3 things during the exercise and phrasing some of my points as questions to keep the conversation inclusive. This approach showed that I was not only engaged but also thinking about the group’s dynamic, which is a key skill firms look for in future lawyers. The lesson here is that you don’t need to fear dominating the conversation if you’re being thoughtful about the balance between offering ideas and involving others. </li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Written Exercises:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Written tasks were challenging for me at first, especially since I wasn’t used to working with the types of documents trainees encounter, like contracts or memos. Feedback often pointed out that I either included too much detail or, when trying to simplify, left out important depth. If you haven’t had much experience working with or reviewing the kinds of documents trainees handle, including various agreements, client letters, or memos, it can feel quite daunting at first. It can be difficult to understand the level of precision and attention to detail expected in these tasks. But with consistent practice, it becomes more manageable. With enough repetition, I learned to balance clarity, formatting, and an appropriate level of depth. I also tried my hardest to learn about the types of documents that trainees typically encounter. Even if it feels overwhelming initially, consistent practice helps you build the skills needed to handle these exercises confidently during assessment centres.</li> </ul></li> </ol>Given the range of skills that ACs typically test, it can feel like an uphill battle trying to improve on one's interviewing, teamwork, commercial awareness, writing, and so forth. The key is taking the feedback in stride, continuing to practise, and giving yourself room to develop. It took me many tries to get things right, and that's completely normal. Keep at it - every AC experience helps you get better!Wishing you all the best for your ACs, and feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!</blockquote>

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