BEST RECRUITER – MEDIUM CITY FIRM
to ensure that there is a consistency of approach. We look for people who are enthusiastic and committed to a legal career, and interested in Forsters and its practice areas. We want people who are going to work hard and get involved, but who also have interests and a life outside work. Well-rounded people appear much more credible to our clients and are good to work with, so we are looking for evidence of this in candidates’ applications.” Successful applicants are then invited to an assessment day, where the whole panel gets involved in observing group exercises and conducting interviews; candidates also have to undertake a written case study exercise. Vacation scheme assessment days take place in February and March, and training contract assessment days in August, but in each case the format is the same. “The main components of my assessment were a case study and an interview,” recalls current trainee Alice Hutcheson. “Mine was conducted by Emily and another partner. I was able to meet people from across the firm over the course of the assessment process, and I really felt that the firm was genuinely interested in me as a person and had
Well-rounded people appear much more credible to our clients and are good to work with, so we are looking for evidence of this in candidates’ applications
made an effort; at some other firms, you only meet your two interviewers. In my interview, I felt that there was a real interest in me as an individual and what I could bring to the firm over and above my academic record, which gave me a real boost.” The structure of the firm’s assessment of candidates has since been revised, as the firm fine tunes its
processes to ensure that they reflect recruitment best practice. “This hasn’t meant a big change – we have just built on what we were doing before,” explains James. “Previously, our recruitment was conducted through a two-interview process with a case study, but we felt that we also needed to see candidates in a group setting. We have now added this element to
23
LawCareers.Net
Best in Law 2016
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker