Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2021
Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2021
Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
9:30 Induction
9:45 - 10:15 Presentation
10:15-10:30 Networking with Trainees
10:30 - 11:30 Interview with a Partner and a Grad Recruitment representative
11:40 - 12:45 Group Exercise
Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
Presentation - this is an individual presentation exercise on any topic that is of interest to the candidate. This does not have to be a legal topic but ideally it can showcase commercial awareness and link to legal implications. The presentation slides have to be submitted one day before the AC which would be provided to the assessor. The candidate has 15 minute to present which would be followed by questions from a partner.
Interview - the interview involved quick-fired strengths-based questions. The interviewers would ask about 10 questions in an hour. Because of the strengths-based style, the interviewers did not respond or ask any follow-up questions after I provided my answers. Finally I had about 5 minutes to ask any questions to the interviewers.
Group exercise - the group of 5 candidates were given some information about several companies that were looking for investors. The candidates, acting as the investors, had about 35 minutes to read and discuss the investment decision in the group with the presence of assessors. The group subsequently presented about which company we would choose to invest in and the reasons for the decision to the panel. The panel would then ask some follow-up questions (which were not directed to any specific candidate).
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.
Presentation - choose the topic that you are genuinely interested in because you will come across as enthusiastic and answer the questions with more confidence. The instruction was given more than 2 weeks before the assessment day therefore there would be plenty of time to thoroughly research the topic and prepare the slides. Be prepared to answer the questions about the implications on the practice areas, legal work or clients of TLT.
Interview - Be concise and confident. As the interviewers would not interrupt or ask any follow up questions, try not to give answers that are too long or ramble. Support your answers with examples - GR advised to use the STAR structure. Although the questions appeared to be strengths-based that do not specifically ask for a certain situation (for example - how do you build your personal brand), the answer would be stronger with an example to support why you would act in that way.
Group discussion - Showcase your commercial awareness in the group discussion. Provide evidence to support why you would choose that particular business to invest in by linking to what is happening in the market. Research the key sectors that TLT's clients operate in. Demonstrate your teamwork skills such as listening and responding to others' ideas and sharing the tasks. As the exercise is very time-pressured, it is important to plan and allocate the time at the beginning of the discussion. Be proactive to answer the follow-up questions from the panel, but make sure everyone has a chance to respond as well.
Were you successful?
No
