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Anything with the term "assessment" can be daunting.

The difference between standard assessments and assessment centre days is that assessment centres will secure your path to becoming a trainee solicitor – whether that be through a vacation scheme or a training contract.

If you’ve accepted an offer to attend your first assessment centre or if you’ve previously attended an assessment centre, read this blog post for some tips on how to prepare for the assessment centre.

Group activities

In the group activities, you may get a negotiation exercise, a role-play exercise or a team-building exercise. Make sure that your voice is heard, but don’t dominate or speak over others. Use these exercises to collaborate and involve everyone in your group.

If possible, introduce yourself to your team and refer to them by their names throughout the activities. Listen and respond to your peers and try to build on their points.

Take notes to ensure that you have the points available to refer to during and at the end of the group activity. That way you can showcase your interpersonal, leadership and teamwork skills. 

Presentations

Public speaking is nerve-wracking for most people. You will either be asked to prepare your presentation beforehand or at the assessment centre. The law firm will have a range of topics that you can present, so there’s a topic for everyone. Even if you’re not familiar with a topic area, demonstrate that you can grasp concepts quickly and still present them in a clear and engaging manner.

Don’t forget to maintain eye contact during your presentation. If you've been given the opportunity to prepare your presentation, the chances are that the content is available somewhere online. The difference between written and visual presentations is the physical engagement with your listeners. Use this as it can give life to the content you're presenting.  

Written assessments

Don’t panic, if you’re not a current law student or you haven’t studied law before the assessment centre day. You’re not expected to know the law before the assessment centre day. If you know areas of law relevant to the task that you’re set, be sure to include them.

For the written assessments, expect drafting exercises that are typical exercises that are undertaken in legal practice. This can include:

• drafting letters;
• emails; and even
• reviewing and amending contracts.

Follow a systematic approach when preparing for your presentation – remember the skills that you’ll be assessed on including how you deliver your presentation (think tone and pitch...) and the content of your written work (structure, length…).

Consider your audience and the law firm's style preferences. Make sure you use the correct formalities to ensure you have time to fully respond to the written assessment that you're given. 

Interviews

It’s likely that at some point during your assessment centre, you’ll be invited to attend an interview with an associate, partner, or both from the law firm. If you’re given the name of your interviewer before the assessment centre day, do your background research on the interviewer.

Find out about their route into law, their practice area and read any of their recent publications, i.e. blogs, news articles.

Don't be afraid to discuss any sources that you've read about the firm and the interviewer, if you are able to link it back to why they should pick you and why you're interested in their firm. 

Expect to be asked general competency and situational questions. In preparation for the interview, think about what makes you unique, know your application inside and out, and practise your responses to common questions – but don’t over-rehearse your answers.

Chances are that you won't have time to prepare for the interview whilst at the assessment centre, so it’s important to prepare for the interview before the day.

Final thoughts

It's important to remember that you deserve to be at the assessment centres and interviews as much as your peers. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and stand out. Equally, remember that you’re being assessed in a professional capacity.

I hope that you’ve found this blog post useful and all the best at your next assessment centre!