What to expect at an Assessment Centre for a Training Contract

If you've received an invitation from a Law firm to attend an assessment centre for a training contract, you may be wondering what to expect on the day.

This varies from firm to firm but is likely to comprise at least some of the following activities:

• Written test  - you could be asked to write a short report on a business-related subject. Normally you are not expected to show in-depth legal knowledge.
• Group exercise - as the name suggests you will be given a topic to discuss in a group of 6-8 people. Again, this could be a business or legal problem or it could also be something quite random.  There won't be a right answer whatever the problem is.  You are being assessed on your ability to work in a team, get your point across, and interact with the other people in your group.

• Case study - you will be given this to read and make notes on what you think the key issues of the case are.  You will then be invited to discuss the case with a partner or senior lawyer who will be assessing your understanding.
• Partner interview - you may have already had a first interview with someone from Graduate Recruitment.  This interview is an opportunity for a partner to assess you on 3 key points:

1. Can you do the job? Do you possess the necessary skills and knowledge?
2. Will you do the job? What is your motivation for becoming a lawyer in that firm?
3. Will you fit in?  The culture can vary quite a lot depending on the firm so the partner will be assessing whether you are the right fit for the team.

Shearman & Sterling has produced a short video on assessment centres which is well worth watching. You can view it here.