Hey!
I don't have any direct insight into the exact format/content of Dechert's written exercise, so I wouldn't want to speculate too much on what the specific task will involve. However, from my personal experience with written exercises, there are a couple of things that worth keeping in mind.
The first thing I would do is read through the task carefully before starting and make sure you fully understand what it is actually asking you to do. I found it really helpful to identify the audience (whether a senior lawyer or a client with limited legal knowledge, etc), the purpose of the task, and the key issues before writing anything. Even under time pressure, spending a couple of minutes doing this can stop you from going off track.
I would also try to keep your answer as focused and to the point as possible. In a lot of written exercises, you are given more information than you realistically need, so I think part of the assessment is showing that you can identify what is relevant and communicate it clearly, rather than trying to include every single detail.
A few things I always keep in mind are:
- Plan briefly before writing so your answer has a clear structure and logical flow.
- Prioritise the key points rather than treating every piece of information as equally important.
- Explain your reasoning if you are making a recommendation or reaching a conclusion.
- Tailor your tone and level of detail to the audience you are writing for.
- Leave a few minutes to proofread for grammar, spelling, names/figures and whether you have answered every part of the task.
Best of luck with the exercise!
