Crack the code: The art and science of perfect presentations at law assessment centres

Dec 20, 2023

Written By Lewis Ogg

Presentations play a crucial role in legal assessment centres. They are a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate confidence, communication skills, and the ability to think on your feet. Securing a training contract is a competitive process, so delivering a compelling presentation will help you stand out from your competitors. This article will reveal the inner workings of legal assessment centres, providing tips to produce an effective presentation.

Understanding the assessment centre environment

Assessment centres are made up of a combination of psychometric tests, interviews, presentations, in-tray tasks, and/or group exercises. Put together, this variety of scenarios is designed to give assessors a well-rounded understanding of each candidate.

Within presentation tasks, there is a wide range of types which you could face at an assessment centre. Case study questions are perhaps the most common. Here, you’ll be given a commercial or legal issue (i.e cybersecurity regulation changes) and asked to present on the issues surrounding this topic. Alternatively, you may also have to conduct a legal scenario analysis, walking the assessor through what your course of action would be.

These scenarios are designed to evaluate a candidate's communication, legal acumen, and strategic thinking. These are incredibly important criteria for a law firm because they speak to a candidate's ability to understand a legal issue within a commercial framework, apply an appropriate legal solution, and communicate that to a third party. This is a similar process to a solicitor responding to a client.

When trying to refine these skills, it’s vital that you understand all the elements of the task. Use the information given to you to consider what audience you are meant to be delivering this to and, as such, what level of legal detail to go into. Additionally, avoid focusing heavily on the legal aspect of the task. While you are interviewing for a legal position, remember that commercial awareness is a significant part of the job and should not be overlooked.

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Crafting the perfect presentation

Begin with a strong and snappy introduction that outlines your general argument and the path the overall presentation will follow. The main body of your presentation should reflect this introduction, and each section should flow naturally from the last. Finish with a memorable conclusion that rounds up the evidence and clarifies your opinion in a few sentences.

Even in a professional environment like a law firm, the power of compelling storytelling cannot be underestimated. If you cannot hold the audience's attention, then your content is irrelevant. To improve your storytelling, consider delivery elements like tone, pacing, and enthusiasm.

If the delivery of the presentation is the art, then legal analysis is the scientific. The best presentations can weave the scientific in a seamless and balanced manner into the art. An effective way to do this is by coming up with a creative way to explain legal principles, for example by linking them to recent cases.

Mastering delivery: The art of persuasion

Persuasive communication has both verbal and non-verbal components; mastering both is integral to conveying the right image when presenting. In verbal terms, focus on speaking clearly and at a good pace, and avoid using slang or abbreviations. Non-verbally, remember that your body tells as much of a story as your words, so avoid slouching and not making eye contact.

As mentioned above, keeping the audience engaged throughout is an essential component of any good presentation. Candidates often make the mistake of not taking the opportunity to interact with the audience. Try using rhetorical questions or even direct questions to keep the audience interested. Additionally, do not underestimate the importance of the visual element: try to keep your slides succinct and tidy to maximise impact.

Candidates often find the prospect of Q&As the most daunting element of a presentation because they cannot fully plan out their responses. However, being properly informed about the topic and related issues will allow you to answer unexpected questions. When faced with a particularly tough question, break it down systematically and be open with your assessor(s) about your approach. If you approach the question in an intelligent and open manner, you can still demonstrate adaptability and critical thinking even if you come to the wrong conclusion.

The science behind preparation and practice

Thorough research is integral to any compelling legal presentation. During preparation, remember to consult sources like the Financial Times so you can demonstrate commercial awareness in your analysis.

Mock presentations can be a hugely beneficial practice in trying to refine your communication skills, as long as you take any constructive criticism into consideration.

Technology is a vital component in any modern presentation, so ensuring you make effective use of visual aids and multimedia resources can elevate your engagement. While the types of technology you can integrate will vary depending on both time and audience size, using resources like short polls or videos can be useful small interludes to reinforce the audience’s interest. If technical issues arise while giving your presentation, just remember to remain calm, stay focused and don’t be afraid to abandon non-functioning elements and move on if need be. Adaptability can be more impressive to assessors than smoothness.

Navigating assessment centre challenges

Delivering a presentation in front of experienced professionals can be an extremely stressful and pressured occasion, especially for those who are not confident public speakers. Time management can be a useful foundation for minimising stress. If you time your presentation prior to the real event, this can help you avoid potentially stressful timing issues on the day. Additionally, many find using mindfulness techniques like meditation and visualisation help reduce stress.

Remaining adaptable is an essential component of a successful interviewee, as it’s possible that an assessor could add additional information which will shift your conclusions. To avoid any of these changes coming as too much of a shock, try to consider alternative scenarios when planning your presentation. There is no need to include them, but being aware of them is important.

Conclusion

Whether you consider yourself a good presenter or not, the most important thing is that you are prepared to reflect and improve. By using the skills discussed above and understanding what the law firm is looking for, anyone can deliver a stellar assessment centre interview.

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