Law training contract assessment day advice please

[bitnervousaboutthis]

Please could I ask for your advice, my goal is to be a solicitor and I've been very lucky to progress through the recruitment process with a particular law firm to the stage where I've been invited to attend an assessment day in the near future for a potential Training Contract.

I've graduated and been working with law firms and other in house settings for a few years now so potentially concerned I'll be the odd one out as I know the ideal is to obtain a TC in the second year of university but I'm not sure how often that happens now.

I've done lots of prep, and I know the firm quite well, but this is the first assessment day I've been asked to attend and therefore I would be really grateful if anyone had any tips?

Thank you

You won't be the odd one out, lots of law firms look for people with experience these days - in fact your route may well be more usual. The main thing is to stay calm and if you don't know the answer to a question, ask for time to think about it.

You may be given an "in-tray" type exercise where you have to prioritise tasks. Think of deadlines and priority. For example, do you have a deadline to file something at court today. That is a "hard" deadline. Has a client said they "need" something today - that may be negotiable. Has a colleague asked you for something today - again do they actually need it or can they wait a day. Think of what is urgent and important, and non-urgent and what isn't really important like choosing a new lamp for the office.

If you are given a scenario and asked what you would do in that situation, think of examples and key skills they may be looking for like good communication skills, attention to detail, ability to think around problems. You probably did it on the application form so you can and having work experience will help.

And if you are asked to write something, read the question/scenario carefully and think around it a bit.

@lieselotte thank you very much 😊

Generally it’s a group task first. Like a debate and they watch how you interact. Then a sort of written test, they pose a legal question Ie the garage damaged my car, what law applies and explain your answer, and then an individual interview with a senior associate and possibly a partner.

@Daisiesandprimroses thank you so much 😊

God I did one years ago. To het to that point was hard. 1 application and meet and greet at one office where the partner told me names of famous people ( political people,business people global topics) and I had to talk about them...I passed all this and went to assessment centre:
From memory:
Group discussion about a given topic
Interview with one set of partners
Presentation
Another group discussion
Another interview
Finally a after assessment day drunk at the pub, no doubt for more questions ( I couldn't stay for the last bit as I had a job to work in evenings). I didn't get the training contract ans sadly never qualified.

Hi OP, I was looking for something else today and came across this which might be helpful: SMF-Law-Assessment-Centre-and-Commercial-Awareness-Guide.pdf (socialmobility.org.uk)

I'll be watching with interest. My son has just graduated (LLB) & is also applying for Training Contracts. Currently doing a summer job with a local law firm.
He was told there aren't as many Training Contracts this year due to many solicitors still WFH hence lack of mentors/supervisors.