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Aspiring Lawyers - Interviews & Vacation Schemes
Interviews Discussion
Bristows Interview (Success story)
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<blockquote data-quote="lawqueen" data-source="post: 77911" data-attributes="member: 361"><p>Hi everyone!</p><p></p><p>I have secured a training contract at Bristows (2023 start) and wanted to share my story and interview questions, in the hope that it helps future applicants!</p><p></p><p><strong>My application story:</strong></p><p>- I applied originally in 2020, passed the video interview, did one interview with a partner and senior associate + GDPR written exercise, progressed to the final interview with two partners + [redacted] written exercise. Ultimately rejected with very positive feedback.</p><p>- Reapplied in 2021 (through regular application form), did the video interview, after not hearing back for ages I emailed HR and got fast-tracked to the final round of partner interviews (due to previous application) + [redacted] written exercise. I was then rejected at first, but *miraculously* received a call 3 weeks later offering me the TC (someone had dropped out).</p><p></p><p>So in total, I did 2 video interviews (2020 & 2021) and 3 Teams interviews (2 in 2020, and 1 in 2021), and 3 written exercises (2 in 2020, 1 in 2021).</p><p><u>I don't remember all the questions from all of these</u>, but here's what I wrote down/ remember.</p><p></p><p><strong>Video Interview 2020</strong></p><p>3 questions, 60 secs to answer each.</p><p>- Consider your motivations</p><p>- Have a very good understanding of the firm</p><p>- Practise competency questions</p><p></p><p><strong>Video Interview 2021</strong></p><p>3 questions, 15 secs prep time, 60 secs to respond to Q1 and Q2 / 90 secs for Q3.</p><p>- See above</p><p></p><p><strong>Interview 1</strong> (July 2020)</p><p>Partner and Senior Associate, 60 minutes, Teams</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tell me why you came to study law in London at X University?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Why do you want to be a lawyer?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Why do you want to be a solicitor and not a barrister?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Why do you want to work for Bristows?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">How do you manage conflict/ when you disagree with someone?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If you're at a Barbeque what would you say to a friend that makes Bristows different from its competitors? Anything distinguishing about its culture?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Explain to your great grandmother who knows nothing about the internet, what the internet is. Use an analogy.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You have unlimited resources for 24 hours, where would go/ what would you do?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If opposing counsel left a confidential document in the bin after a meeting and you saw this, what do you do?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If a team member told you to read something over for typos and email it to a client, and you find some non-minor content errors in it, what do you do? (team member has already left the office, not reachable by phone, there's no one else in the office)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do you think big tech should play a bigger role in the policing of online content?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tell me about a recent development in IT law / data protection law</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tell me about a recent development in AI regulation</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You're a professor at a University with a promising cancer research project which has already shown some result. Your Uni will no longer give you money. How do you get funding</li> </ul><p><strong>Interview 2 </strong>(August 2020)</p><p>2 partners, 60 minutes, Teams</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Why did you choose X degree at X University?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Why law?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Why Bristows?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What skills will you need to be a good solicitor?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What is Data Protection?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">discussion of the [redacted] problem exercise</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If you couldn't become a lawyer what would you do?</li> </ul><p><strong>Interview 3 </strong>(March 2021)</p><p>2 partners, 60 minutes, Teams</p><p>This was a more informal and free-flowing conversation, they didn't really repeat any questions they had asked me in previous interviews.</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Introduce yourself</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tell us about X module you studied at University</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Explain your research essay from X module</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tell us about your current job</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What will you do until you start your LPC/TC (gap year between University and LPC start)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I was shown a picture with two very similar bottles of shampoo. One is by Herbal Essences, and the other is a dupe from Boots (they had a similar shape, colour palette, similar logo and names). The client (Herbal Essence) comes to you, furious over the dupe's existence. What is your reaction, how do you respond/advise the client? What steps would you take? Why might taking it to court not be advisable? (hint: since Herbal Essence relies on a good working relationship with Boots to sell their products - suing them is probably not the best option, try to find an amicable solution instead).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Summarise the govt's response to the Pandemic in 3 minutes.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What would your top 3 seats be at Bristows?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What do you do in your leisure time?</li> </ul><p></p><p><strong>Written Exercise 1</strong> July 2020</p><p></p><p>Read 4 articles about the GDPR, and write an email advising a client. 50 minutes.</p><p></p><p><strong>Written Exercise 2</strong> August 2020</p><p></p><p>Read an excerpt from [redacted], and answer ten questions (short answers). 60 minutes.</p><p></p><p><strong>Written Exercise </strong>March 2021</p><p></p><p>Since I was fast-tracked to the final round of interviews in 2021, I do not know what written exercise was used in the first round. Also, it seemed they had created a new bespoke written exercise for me, as I had already done the GDPR and [redacted] the year before - other applicants may not get this exercise.</p><p></p><p>Read excerpts from [redacted] and an email from a colleague concerning how a client product is affected by the [redacted]. Draft a response to the colleague AND an email to the [redacted], asking to confirm your interpretation or clarify any issues.</p><p></p><p>That's it!! Good luck to anyone reading this, prepping for an interview!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="lawqueen, post: 77911, member: 361"] Hi everyone! I have secured a training contract at Bristows (2023 start) and wanted to share my story and interview questions, in the hope that it helps future applicants! [B]My application story:[/B] - I applied originally in 2020, passed the video interview, did one interview with a partner and senior associate + GDPR written exercise, progressed to the final interview with two partners + [redacted] written exercise. Ultimately rejected with very positive feedback. - Reapplied in 2021 (through regular application form), did the video interview, after not hearing back for ages I emailed HR and got fast-tracked to the final round of partner interviews (due to previous application) + [redacted] written exercise. I was then rejected at first, but *miraculously* received a call 3 weeks later offering me the TC (someone had dropped out). So in total, I did 2 video interviews (2020 & 2021) and 3 Teams interviews (2 in 2020, and 1 in 2021), and 3 written exercises (2 in 2020, 1 in 2021). [U]I don't remember all the questions from all of these[/U], but here's what I wrote down/ remember. [B]Video Interview 2020[/B] 3 questions, 60 secs to answer each. - Consider your motivations - Have a very good understanding of the firm - Practise competency questions [B]Video Interview 2021[/B] 3 questions, 15 secs prep time, 60 secs to respond to Q1 and Q2 / 90 secs for Q3. - See above [B]Interview 1[/B] (July 2020) Partner and Senior Associate, 60 minutes, Teams [LIST] [*]Tell me why you came to study law in London at X University? [*]Why do you want to be a lawyer? [*]Why do you want to be a solicitor and not a barrister? [*]Why do you want to work for Bristows? [*]How do you manage conflict/ when you disagree with someone? [*]If you're at a Barbeque what would you say to a friend that makes Bristows different from its competitors? Anything distinguishing about its culture? [*]Explain to your great grandmother who knows nothing about the internet, what the internet is. Use an analogy. [*]You have unlimited resources for 24 hours, where would go/ what would you do? [*]If opposing counsel left a confidential document in the bin after a meeting and you saw this, what do you do? [*]If a team member told you to read something over for typos and email it to a client, and you find some non-minor content errors in it, what do you do? (team member has already left the office, not reachable by phone, there's no one else in the office) [*]Do you think big tech should play a bigger role in the policing of online content? [*]Tell me about a recent development in IT law / data protection law [*]Tell me about a recent development in AI regulation [*]You're a professor at a University with a promising cancer research project which has already shown some result. Your Uni will no longer give you money. How do you get funding [/LIST] [B]Interview 2 [/B](August 2020) 2 partners, 60 minutes, Teams [LIST] [*]Why did you choose X degree at X University? [*]Why law? [*]Why Bristows? [*]What skills will you need to be a good solicitor? [*]What is Data Protection? [*]discussion of the [redacted] problem exercise [*]If you couldn't become a lawyer what would you do? [/LIST] [B]Interview 3 [/B](March 2021) 2 partners, 60 minutes, Teams This was a more informal and free-flowing conversation, they didn't really repeat any questions they had asked me in previous interviews. [LIST] [*]Introduce yourself [*]Tell us about X module you studied at University [*]Explain your research essay from X module [*]Tell us about your current job [*]What will you do until you start your LPC/TC (gap year between University and LPC start) [*]I was shown a picture with two very similar bottles of shampoo. One is by Herbal Essences, and the other is a dupe from Boots (they had a similar shape, colour palette, similar logo and names). The client (Herbal Essence) comes to you, furious over the dupe's existence. What is your reaction, how do you respond/advise the client? What steps would you take? Why might taking it to court not be advisable? (hint: since Herbal Essence relies on a good working relationship with Boots to sell their products - suing them is probably not the best option, try to find an amicable solution instead). [*]Summarise the govt's response to the Pandemic in 3 minutes. [*]What would your top 3 seats be at Bristows? [*]What do you do in your leisure time? [/LIST] [B]Written Exercise 1[/B] July 2020 Read 4 articles about the GDPR, and write an email advising a client. 50 minutes. [B]Written Exercise 2[/B] August 2020 Read an excerpt from [redacted], and answer ten questions (short answers). 60 minutes. [B]Written Exercise [/B]March 2021 Since I was fast-tracked to the final round of interviews in 2021, I do not know what written exercise was used in the first round. Also, it seemed they had created a new bespoke written exercise for me, as I had already done the GDPR and [redacted] the year before - other applicants may not get this exercise. Read excerpts from [redacted] and an email from a colleague concerning how a client product is affected by the [redacted]. Draft a response to the colleague AND an email to the [redacted], asking to confirm your interpretation or clarify any issues. That's it!! Good luck to anyone reading this, prepping for an interview! [/QUOTE]
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