Maximising Your Performance on Situational Judgement Tests in Legal Recruitment

Mar 26, 2023

Written By Annika De Lathauwer

The situational judgement tests used by law firms may seem daunting, but through understanding what firms expect from successful applicants and practice, it is possible to pass this test and move on to the next stage in the application process.

What are Situational Judgement Tests?

Situational Judgement Tests are used by law firms to test whether applicants have the key skills that they are looking for in their future employees. This includes problem solving, critical thinking and conflict resolution.

In the test, you’ll be placed in situations commonly found in the legal workplace and must then deal with the issues that arise. These will be presented through the form of text or video. They will be made up scenarios but will be realistic examples of situations or issues that may arise in a legal workplace. This will then be followed by several examples of ways that the situation could be dealt with, and it is up to the applicant to judge which is the best or most appropriate answer.

Employers will be looking for applicants that have the same core skills and values as the firm and its employees. Those who can demonstrate this the best will be selected to continue with the application process.

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How to prepare for a Situational Judgement Test

Different questions will have a variety of formulations with different answering methods. The question types which commonly appear include: selecting the most appropriate response, selecting the best and worst responses, and ranking the responses in order of effectiveness.

These tests can be difficult, as several answers may appear to be correct. Candidates must use their judgement to decide which of these is most appropriate. To do this it is a good idea to analyse the expected skills and values of the firm (inclusivity, embracing challenges). These can be found in the job description or on their website. Using these, applicants will be able to successfully identify the most appropriate answer for that particular firm.

Situational judgement tests require you to use logical thinking. Since the situations are based on roles that you will probably not have worked in before, the best way to answer these questions is honestly, while also thinking about the required skills and expected values for the role from the particular firm.

If it is possible to find out which company has created the test used by the law firm you are applying to, you will be able to find similar practice tests online. This will allow you to practise the different types of questions and know what to expect. If you are unable to identify which company has created the test, more generic example tests can be found online, which will still be useful in preparing for the real situational judgement test.

What to think about while taking the Situational Judgement Test

Once you have prepared for the test through research and practice, there are a few things to bear in mind while taking the test:

- Situational judgement tests do not usually have a time limit, so take your time to decide on your answers. However, do not spend too long on each question, as this can lead to overthinking and over-complication, which may cause you to decide on an incorrect answer that you would have otherwise initially been right about. Sometimes it is best to go with the initial instinctive answer.

- Carefully read and listen to the information given, so that you can fully understand the scenario. Often the details will help you determine the most appropriate answer.

- Ensure that you are in an comfortable setting away from any distractions for the duration of the test

- Try to remain calm, as panic and stress will affect your critical thinking abilities and situational judgement skills. Make sure to begin the test when you feel most calm and prepared. If you get stuck, do not panic and move on to the next question. You can always come back to tricky questions later.

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