- Aug 26, 2020
- 202
- 106
Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021
Please specify what the interview was for.
Spring Vacation Scheme
Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
(we were split up into different groups, so timings differed depending on if you were in group A or B)
9:30 Arrival
10:00 Talk from Graduate Recruitment
11:00 Case Study
12:30 Partner Interview
14:00 Break
14:30 Negotiation
16:00 Close
Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
Case Study
- We basically had to make a presentation to the CEO of a company based on reading the fact file and what the company wants to achieve.
- You had 20-30 mins to read through 8 pages of documents and then 20 mins to present and have a discussion with a senior associate.
- I only got 2 follow up questions based on my presentation. The associate and I spent the last 15 mins or so chatting about law and their work.
Partner Interview
- Joined at my allocated slot via Zoom and waited in the waiting room.
- Interview lasted 50 minutes, with 5 mins for questions.
Negotiation
- The negotiation was not a 'typical M&A' deal where X buys Y. But knowledge of M&A negotiations will come in handy.
- We were in a group of 4. We had 30 mins or so to read through a client brief. We were then split into two - with two working for one client and one working for the other side.
- We were put into break out rooms and had to discuss the points with our partner. A senior associate was also in the break out room and was assessing our discussion.
- After 30 mins we were moved back to the main room to negotiate with the other side. Grad Rec and associates were assessing the negotiation.
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.
Case study
1) Try to sound like you know what you are talking about. Project your voice and be engaging (use hand gestures and vary the tone of your voice). Analyse why you chose the option you did, and why the other options are not good for the client.
2) Bring in wider news stories if possible or applicable but do not try to force it. Partner
Interview
1) Be prepared to be interrogated. Try not to take it personally, I think everyone had similar interviews based on discussions.
2) Have a broader understanding about the topics you have spoken about in your application (for example if you mention an M&A deal - understand why companies merge, SPACs, IPOs, current M&A deals and the role of lawyers in facilitating these deals).
3) Try to build rapport with your interviewers. I really struggled with this.
Negotiation
1) Come up with a plan with your partner as to how you will tackle the negotiation.
2) Listen carefully to what is being said and respond accordingly.
3) You will have points in your brief that the other side won't, so it is important to remember this!
4) Always keep track of time - grad rec will only tell you when you have one minute remaining.
5) Confirm where you have gotten to after you discuss a key point. (e.g. 'So to confirm, we have agreed on a purchase price of £1 million'.) It was very easy to forget what we had agreed.
Were you successful?
Yes
February 2021
Please specify what the interview was for.
Spring Vacation Scheme
Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
(we were split up into different groups, so timings differed depending on if you were in group A or B)
9:30 Arrival
10:00 Talk from Graduate Recruitment
11:00 Case Study
12:30 Partner Interview
14:00 Break
14:30 Negotiation
16:00 Close
Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
Case Study
- We basically had to make a presentation to the CEO of a company based on reading the fact file and what the company wants to achieve.
- You had 20-30 mins to read through 8 pages of documents and then 20 mins to present and have a discussion with a senior associate.
- I only got 2 follow up questions based on my presentation. The associate and I spent the last 15 mins or so chatting about law and their work.
Partner Interview
- Joined at my allocated slot via Zoom and waited in the waiting room.
- Interview lasted 50 minutes, with 5 mins for questions.
Negotiation
- The negotiation was not a 'typical M&A' deal where X buys Y. But knowledge of M&A negotiations will come in handy.
- We were in a group of 4. We had 30 mins or so to read through a client brief. We were then split into two - with two working for one client and one working for the other side.
- We were put into break out rooms and had to discuss the points with our partner. A senior associate was also in the break out room and was assessing our discussion.
- After 30 mins we were moved back to the main room to negotiate with the other side. Grad Rec and associates were assessing the negotiation.
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.
Case study
1) Try to sound like you know what you are talking about. Project your voice and be engaging (use hand gestures and vary the tone of your voice). Analyse why you chose the option you did, and why the other options are not good for the client.
2) Bring in wider news stories if possible or applicable but do not try to force it. Partner
Interview
1) Be prepared to be interrogated. Try not to take it personally, I think everyone had similar interviews based on discussions.
2) Have a broader understanding about the topics you have spoken about in your application (for example if you mention an M&A deal - understand why companies merge, SPACs, IPOs, current M&A deals and the role of lawyers in facilitating these deals).
3) Try to build rapport with your interviewers. I really struggled with this.
Negotiation
1) Come up with a plan with your partner as to how you will tackle the negotiation.
2) Listen carefully to what is being said and respond accordingly.
3) You will have points in your brief that the other side won't, so it is important to remember this!
4) Always keep track of time - grad rec will only tell you when you have one minute remaining.
5) Confirm where you have gotten to after you discuss a key point. (e.g. 'So to confirm, we have agreed on a purchase price of £1 million'.) It was very easy to forget what we had agreed.
Were you successful?
Yes