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Interview Experiences 2019 - 2020 Cycle
Herbert Smith Freehills Interview 2019 - 2020
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<blockquote data-quote="Jaysen" data-source="post: 26415" data-attributes="member: 1"><p><strong>Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.</strong></p><p></p><p>January 2020</p><p></p><p><strong>Please specify what the interview was for.</strong></p><p></p><p>Summer Vacation Scheme 2020</p><p></p><p><strong>Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.</strong></p><p></p><p>There were 6 others on the assessment day as well. We arrived for 9am and were all taken to a room together. There was a brief talk from Graduate Recruitment till around 10am. Then a Partner came and gave us an overview of the firm, the practice and the international nature of HSF. This lasted for approximately 30mins, and you also have an opportunity to ask them a questions, if you want.</p><p></p><p>After that, we were split into groups to do the 3 various exercises on the day.</p><p></p><p><strong>Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.</strong></p><p></p><p>My group first had competency interviews separately. This lasted for just over 30mins and involved the usual strength-based questions. It was conducted by a single senior associate from the firm and was fairly relaxed. Although not many questions were asked, the associate tends to ask lots of follow up questions and probe you further on some things you've set - so be prepared to justify/go further in your explanations of examples/attributes.</p><p></p><p>Then, I was taken back to the room by a member of HR, where I waited for around 45mins for my next exercise to start.</p><p></p><p>I was then taken into a room with 3 others to start the case study exercise. You will be given a booklet with lots of documents and information and a notebook & pen to make notes. You will have 45mins to read through the booklet, make notes (which you can take with you to the interview) and answer the designed questions. There is a big clock in the room, but make sure you manage your time well as the case study is very legalistic! HR will remind you when you have 5 mins left.</p><p></p><p>After that, you are taken to the room where a Partner will be acting as the client. Be prepared to be pushed! The case study is pretty difficult and involves actual law and statutory provisions which you must be familiar with. THOUGH - commercial awareness and business skills are also necessary here</p><p></p><p>When I finished the case study, I was then taken to the same room. There was time to have lunch and a drink before I was taken to commence the last exercise, scenario-based interview.</p><p></p><p>The scenario-based interview is conducted by a senior associate, you can't really prepare for this at all. Mine involved an asset-finance transaction, involving a Russian airliner who had leased aircraft on credit. The senior associate will give you the bare bones of the real transaction and ask you questions about some legal risks faced, possible mitigation strategies and how you (as a future trainee) would tackle them. You will also be asked about the role of trainees in such kind of transactions e.g. DD/client contacts/Documentary drafting. Commercial awareness and contract law were useful here.</p><p></p><p><strong>Please list any interview questions you were asked.</strong></p><p></p><p>- Why HSF?</p><p>- Why did you study law?</p><p>- A time when you worked in a team to achieve a goal?</p><p>- A situation where you managed a conflict?</p><p>- How do you manage your time?</p><p>- Also, further questions about the topic you chose to write about in your application</p><p></p><p>Case study interview: The partner will prompt you if you get lost!</p><p></p><p>- Follow up questions about what you say, particularly around the fact pattern and the statutory provisions provided (FICTIONAL)</p><p>- If they get stuck, the partner will give you time to go back through you notes/the booklet to find an answer</p><p>- Important to demonstrate commercial awareness here, it is not a legal test! Make sure you link the scenario to other real-life commercial situations to boost your answer</p><p></p><p>Scenario-based interview:</p><p></p><p>- Questions about how a finance document is structured</p><p>- Loan negotiation questions</p><p>- Airliner difficulties and the knock-on effect on contractual obligations</p><p></p><p>* I found this interview law-heavy and got really technical with questions about actual legal provisions in asset finance insurance policies to mitigate client risks</p><p></p><p><strong>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.</strong></p><p></p><p>Competency interview:</p><p></p><p>- Go over your application and know what you wrote about because they will undoubtedly bring it up and probe you further on it</p><p>- Make sure you know the STAR technique and use it</p><p>- Don't waffle, make sure your answer is structured !!</p><p>- Ask them to repeat questions if you did not understand</p><p></p><p>Case-study interview:</p><p></p><p>- You can't really make any preparations for this, but do follow the question guidance in the booklet.</p><p>- Manage your time well!</p><p>- A basic understanding of contract law is helpful. Though, commercial awareness is critical here, so do not treat this as an exercise in statutory construction!!!</p><p></p><p>Scenario-based interview:</p><p>- Preparation is probably a waste of time for this exercise. It is really unpredictable and will depend on who interviews you and their particular area of law</p><p>- A general understanding of commerce, international business and trade will be helpful</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Were you successful?</strong></p><p></p><p>No</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jaysen, post: 26415, member: 1"] [B]Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.[/B] January 2020 [B]Please specify what the interview was for.[/B] Summer Vacation Scheme 2020 [B]Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.[/B] There were 6 others on the assessment day as well. We arrived for 9am and were all taken to a room together. There was a brief talk from Graduate Recruitment till around 10am. Then a Partner came and gave us an overview of the firm, the practice and the international nature of HSF. This lasted for approximately 30mins, and you also have an opportunity to ask them a questions, if you want. After that, we were split into groups to do the 3 various exercises on the day. [B]Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.[/B] My group first had competency interviews separately. This lasted for just over 30mins and involved the usual strength-based questions. It was conducted by a single senior associate from the firm and was fairly relaxed. Although not many questions were asked, the associate tends to ask lots of follow up questions and probe you further on some things you've set - so be prepared to justify/go further in your explanations of examples/attributes. Then, I was taken back to the room by a member of HR, where I waited for around 45mins for my next exercise to start. I was then taken into a room with 3 others to start the case study exercise. You will be given a booklet with lots of documents and information and a notebook & pen to make notes. You will have 45mins to read through the booklet, make notes (which you can take with you to the interview) and answer the designed questions. There is a big clock in the room, but make sure you manage your time well as the case study is very legalistic! HR will remind you when you have 5 mins left. After that, you are taken to the room where a Partner will be acting as the client. Be prepared to be pushed! The case study is pretty difficult and involves actual law and statutory provisions which you must be familiar with. THOUGH - commercial awareness and business skills are also necessary here When I finished the case study, I was then taken to the same room. There was time to have lunch and a drink before I was taken to commence the last exercise, scenario-based interview. The scenario-based interview is conducted by a senior associate, you can't really prepare for this at all. Mine involved an asset-finance transaction, involving a Russian airliner who had leased aircraft on credit. The senior associate will give you the bare bones of the real transaction and ask you questions about some legal risks faced, possible mitigation strategies and how you (as a future trainee) would tackle them. You will also be asked about the role of trainees in such kind of transactions e.g. DD/client contacts/Documentary drafting. Commercial awareness and contract law were useful here. [B]Please list any interview questions you were asked.[/B] - Why HSF? - Why did you study law? - A time when you worked in a team to achieve a goal? - A situation where you managed a conflict? - How do you manage your time? - Also, further questions about the topic you chose to write about in your application Case study interview: The partner will prompt you if you get lost! - Follow up questions about what you say, particularly around the fact pattern and the statutory provisions provided (FICTIONAL) - If they get stuck, the partner will give you time to go back through you notes/the booklet to find an answer - Important to demonstrate commercial awareness here, it is not a legal test! Make sure you link the scenario to other real-life commercial situations to boost your answer Scenario-based interview: - Questions about how a finance document is structured - Loan negotiation questions - Airliner difficulties and the knock-on effect on contractual obligations * I found this interview law-heavy and got really technical with questions about actual legal provisions in asset finance insurance policies to mitigate client risks [B]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.[/B] Competency interview: - Go over your application and know what you wrote about because they will undoubtedly bring it up and probe you further on it - Make sure you know the STAR technique and use it - Don't waffle, make sure your answer is structured !! - Ask them to repeat questions if you did not understand Case-study interview: - You can't really make any preparations for this, but do follow the question guidance in the booklet. - Manage your time well! - A basic understanding of contract law is helpful. Though, commercial awareness is critical here, so do not treat this as an exercise in statutory construction!!! Scenario-based interview: - Preparation is probably a waste of time for this exercise. It is really unpredictable and will depend on who interviews you and their particular area of law - A general understanding of commerce, international business and trade will be helpful [B]Were you successful?[/B] No [/QUOTE]
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