Interview technique
to let them know. Don’t follow the example of the applicant from Leeds who turned up two hours late for an interview with a firm in London armed with several Harrods shopping bags, or the candidate who failed to show up for an interview without explanation, then rang the chambers a week later demanding to know why they hadn’t heard from them. For online interviews check the interview timing and your internet connection ahead of time. Assessment centres The selection process at solicitors’ firms and barristers’ chambers can range froma series of interviews to a half-day of group exercises and tests, designed to test whether you have the skills for the job. Assessment centres usually take place at the organisation’s offices, but throughout the pandemic, firms and chambers have been holding themonline too, using facilities such as Forage. An assessment centremight include group exercises, ability tests, presentations and in-tray exercises. Some candidatesmay even be let go halfway through the assessment centre, with those left then having a final interview. Remember that although theymight sound intimidating, theexercisesgenerally aren’t set to trick you. One firm likes to test applicants’ initiative by asking inawrittenassessmentwhether you know its address andphonenumber (the answers areon thepenyouaregiven towrite theanswer!). Beyour best self on theday and don’t let nervesget thebetter of you. LucieRees, graduatemanager atWatsonFarley&Williams, offers some reassurance: “Assessment centres aredesigned toput candidates at easeandgive themthebest chance toshowcase the skillswe are looking for. More times thannot, successful candidates tell us they actuallyenjoyed theday, which isgreat tohear. There is amixof group and individual work, all ofwhich fits intoaclient scenario that runs throughout theday. Try to relax andbeyourself – you’remore likely toperform well and find the firmthat is right for you”.
When you are invited to an interview, the first thing you should do is pat yourself on the back. The process to get to this stage is highly competitive, so you have already shown that you are a good candidate for a training contract. Nerves will probably soon follow, too, and you are bound to wonder what you will be asked and what the process will be like.
Read on for advice on how to maximise your chances of success.
Preparation It’s your application that has roused the firm’s/ chambers’ interest, so reread it. Try to imagine some of the things which your interviewers might focus on (eg, what you have gained from your experiences in terms of skills and personal development). Read the firm’s/chambers’ recruitment literature and browse its website. Read the trade press, such as The Lawyer, Legal Week and Law Society Gazette, as well as the law sections of The Times (if you can access a subscription) and the Guardian , so that you are aware of current legal issues. If you can’t face trawling through the broadsheets, head to the News section on LawCareers.Net. Alix Balfe-Skinner, HR manager at Taylor Vinters, emphasises the importance of research and preparation: “It is vital that students understand and know as much as possible about the firm they are applying to and the challenges and opportunities currently faced by the firm. This is often a key questioning area in training contract and other interviews. You don’t need to know everything, but you need to be able to give your opinion coherently and concisely. Reading the legal press is also essential, as candidates are likely to be asked about current affairs and the wider legal market.”
On the day itself, arrive with time to spare. If you get caught up in travel delays, call the firm
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