Assessment Centre preparation for someone that has no knowledge of law?

[BJosh1928]

Somehow received assessment centre offers to a few law firms and have made it near to the assessment centre rounds for top law firms (MC firms/US). I applied on a whim as I used to be interested in law but due to familial pressure of not going down that route, for years I just left the idea of it.

Currently have no clue how anything works, how I am meant to prepare, how to prepare case studies, build commercial awareness. I'm currently in my penultimate year of a 4 year degree studying a STEM subject - I literally just have no clue about law firms in general and don't want to make a fool of myself. I didn't think I would make it this far (I don't have amazing grades although I have huge extenuating circumstances but applied anyway as I thought it might be good practise for next year when I am more prepared).

I am not commercially aware and I know that takes a while to get the hang of. I don't know where to start in my preparation!

Grateful but also know I am up against insanely strong applicants. What do I do? Only case study prep I have done is for consulting which I guess is "easier" to do as it doesn't require much technical knowledge. I am bricking it - want this to go well because I am a low-income student and this would change both mine and my family's lives plus it seems like a fulfilling, rewarding, and highly stimulating job.

 

[BJosh1928]

Anyone?

 

[Jessica Booker]

When is your first interview or assessment centre?

 

[BJosh1928]

When is your first interview or assessment centre?

First one is in 2 weeks thank you!

 

[axelbeugre]

Somehow received assessment centre offers to a few law firms and have made it near to the assessment centre rounds for top law firms (MC firms/US). I applied on a whim as I used to be interested in law but due to familial pressure of not going down that route, for years I just left the idea of it.

Currently have no clue how anything works, how I am meant to prepare, how to prepare case studies, build commercial awareness. I'm currently in my penultimate year of a 4 year degree studying a STEM subject - I literally just have no clue about law firms in general and don't want to make a fool of myself. I didn't think I would make it this far (I don't have amazing grades although I have huge extenuating circumstances but applied anyway as I thought it might be good practise for next year when I am more prepared).

I am not commercially aware and I know that takes a while to get the hang of. I don't know where to start in my preparation!

Grateful but also know I am up against insanely strong applicants. What do I do? Only case study prep I have done is for consulting which I guess is "easier" to do as it doesn't require much technical knowledge. I am bricking it - want this to go well because I am a low-income student and this would change both mine and my family's lives plus it seems like a fulfilling, rewarding, and highly stimulating job.

Hey @BJosh1928,

Congratulations on obtaining many assessment centres with law firms, this is a huge achievement.

As a non-law student myself last year I applied with only a consulting case study preparation the summer prior so I totally understand how you feel, but I can tell you that preparation was fundamental to my success. In fact, consulting case study allow you to be comfortable dealing with commercial situations that you were not expecting, displaying confidence and self-assuredness even if you do not know the exact answer to a particular question.

I shared some tips on how to prepare for assessment centres that might be helpful to you so i will share the posts here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....sion-thread-2023-24.8037/page-610#post-167210
https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-166940
https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-167409

I hope these are useful and good luck with everything! I am sure you will smash it!

 

[BJosh1928]

Hey @BJosh1928,

Congratulations on obtaining many assessment centres with law firms, this is a huge achievement.

As a non-law student myself last year I applied with only a consulting case study preparation the summer prior so I totally understand how you feel, but I can tell you that preparation was fundamental to my success. In fact, consulting case study allow you to be comfortable dealing with commercial situations that you were not expecting, displaying confidence and self-assuredness even if you do not know the exact answer to a particular question.

I shared some tips on how to prepare for assessment centres that might be helpful to you so i will share the posts here: https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....sion-thread-2023-24.8037/page-610#post-167210
https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-166940
https://www.thecorporatelawacademy....ns-discussion-thread-2023-24.8037/post-167409

I hope these are useful and good luck with everything! I am sure you will smash it!

That’s really helpful thank you!

My worry is that I’m a complete beginner. I feel as though all the advice is for people who have had some level of experience/knows how different practise areas work. When I say I know nothing, I mean it XD

I just don’t know where to begin, how to start, what I should know. How should a complete beginner in this field be a strong applicant like the others that are applying?