Hey, congrats on getting a
Dentons VI, that’s a great position to be in.
I did the
Dentons VI a little while back, so happy to share what I remember and what I’d focus on if I were doing it again.
Overall, it was very commercial, but with a clear structure behind it. They weren’t trying to trip you up on technical law, the focus was much more on why
Dentons, how you think about business, and whether you’d work well in a global firm environment.
A few things that are really worth preparing:
Why
Dentons (specifically)
Go beyond “global”, lots of firms are global. Be ready to talk about how
Dentons’ polycentric model, client base, and sector strengths appeal to you, and what that means for the type of trainee you want to be.
Commercial awareness
You don’t need to know everything, but you should be comfortable discussing a recent commercial issue and explaining why it matters to
Dentons’ clients. They are more interested in your reasoning than the “right” answer.
Your experiences
Expect competency style questions, but again, they want reflection rather than a perfect outcome. Be clear on what you learned and how that links to being a trainee at
Dentons.
Global mindset and collaboration
One thing that felt quite distinct was their interest in how you work with others, adapt to different perspectives, and handle ambiguity, which makes sense given how the firm operates across jurisdictions.
If you’re prepared, it’s actually quite an enjoyable VI.
My biggest tip: don’t over rehearse scripted answers.
Dentons seems to value authenticity and commercial curiosity, and that comes across best when you’re thinking out loud rather than reciting.
Best of luck, and well done again on getting the VI.
was it the VI that they sent you? May I ask how many days they give you to do it?
