Navigating the Group Dynamic: Key Strategies for Acing Law Firm Assessment Centre Group Exercises

Sep 28, 2023

Written By Lawrence Topley

A law firm assessment centre normally takes place over the course of a day where candidates will be required to complete a series of exercises and interviews. While this may differ from firm to firm, they usually consist of a written exercise, an interview and a group exercise, that test your ability to think and perform under pressure.A law firm assessment centre normally takes place over the course of a day where candidates will be required to complete a series of exercises and interviews. While this may differ from firm to firm, they usually consist of a written exercise, an interview and a group exercise, that test your ability to think and perform under pressure.

Often candidates feel most nervous about the group exercise, which can be done in an array of formats from working through a scenario, a debate or a presentation. This is because candidates feel that their performance can be largely dictated by the others all competing for the same role. This article aims to shed some light on how to ace the group exercise in the assessment centre to help you stand out from other candidates.

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Showcasing your teamwork skills

One of the most important skills the firm is looking for is your ability to work as a team and how you could fit into life at the firm. This is something candidates often forget, who instead, see this exercise as a chance to fend off the competition. It is vital you do not come into the group exercise with this mindset, since it would show a lack of ability to work as a team. Instead, focus on performing well as a collective.

First, on a basic level, you need to show interpersonal skills and an easy way of doing so is remembering everyone in your group’s name and continuing to use it. Inviting others into the discussion shows that you are not concerned about yourself but your team as a whole. To do so, you do not have to be the leader in the group, but simply a team player. For example, the firm might ask your group to debate around a particular topic and come to a conclusion within the specific time frame.

Upon gathering your team’s names, offer to take up a role in the group, such as time keeping or taking the minutes. Showing you can organise and perform a role in a team will be crucial to your success in navigating the group dynamic. If you notice a member of your team, is not particularly comfortable in joining in the conversation, ask them their opinion on the matter and involve them in the discussion. It shows the firm you are able to work well with a variety of different people.

How to contribute to the group

While being able to work as a team is the crucial part of the group exercise, it remains an opportunity for you to put yourself in the best light possible. The firm will therefore also be assessing the contributions you make to debates, discussions and presentations. Here, candidates often get lost in trying to be the loudest in the room, and whilst this not always a bad thing, it is far from essential to a successful performance at this stage.

It is more important that you focus on the quality of contributions than the quantity of them since there may be occasions where you have no natural entry into the discussion. In terms of the group dynamic, you should aim to show a balanced view and acknowledge what the other candidates have said, before providing your own opinion, where it is fine to agree or disagree, provided you can form a logical and coherent answer. Where possible, incorporating some commercial awareness in your answers will certainly impress firms, especially if you can relate the topic to an article, you may have read.

Final thoughts

Navigating the group dynamic can be a difficult and daunting task in the group exercise of an assessment centre. The key strategy to take is to focus on showing your ability to work as a team whilst showing off your own individual knowledge. This does not mean you have to be the leader or the loudest in the room if it something you do not feel comfortable doing. Focusing on the overall success as a group is the most important factor. This can be done through taking on responsibilities in your group and providing informed and coherent contributions.

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