Uncover the Surprising Techniques that Guarantee Success in Any Law Firm Written Task!

Nov 30, 2023

Written By Francesca Jackson

Written tasks form an integral part of law firm assessment centres and play a key role in evaluating candidates. However, there are a number of misconceptions surrounding what written tasks are and exactly how they work. Let’s uncover some of them and provide strategies for how you can succeed.

Common misconceptions about written tests

Whilst you may think that you already know what a law firm written task is, there are a number of common myths surrounding them. These include: confusion over different written task formulas, assumptions about what evaluators are looking for and the perceived difficulty of certain test elements. Let’s take a look at each of these in turn.

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Understanding different written test formulas

There are an array of different written test formulae which you might encounter in law firm assessment centres. These include:

Legal analysis – You will be given a set of papers relating to a legal situation and will be asked to make recommendations in a brief report.

Case studies – You will be presented with a range of information and documents relating to a ‘real-life’ scenario, and will be asked to produce a memo for a colleague or draft an email to a client or supervisor.

Problem-solving exercises – Scenario-based questions which aim to test how you might deal with a specific situation that could arise in the workplace.

It is important that you tailor your preparation to each specific test format.

What law firms look for in written responses

Law firms use a range of criteria and metrics when assessing written test responses. These include judging your ability to:

Think clearly and analyse logically
Exercise your judgement
Show commercial awareness
Demonstrate problem-solving skills

Above all, evaluators want to see a well-written and structured piece of work that demonstrates an understanding of the task you have been set - this is what truly sets exceptional responses apart.

The importance of strategic preparation

Whilst you may think that it is impossible to prepare for written exercises due to the broad range of tasks which they involve, strategic preparation is actually one of the best techniques you can use to guarantee success.

Use the following checklist to ensure that you prepare strategically for your next law firm assessment centre:

Time management – practise allocating your time wisely across different sections or tasks.

Targeted Research – if you know in advance which partner will be interviewing you, familiarise yourself with their area of law, as written tasks are often on topics which the partner specialises in. If not, conduct some research into the firm’s recent deals and practice areas.

Adapting to specific law firm expectations - try to find out as much as you can about a particular law firm’s assessment centre process in order to align your preparation with the unique requirements of each firm.

Common mistakes to avoid during written tests

Some of the most common pitfalls that candidates encounter during written tests include:

Running out of time
Being intimidated by the amount of information
Panicking that they are not qualified to answer the question

In order to avoid these mistakes, make sure that you:

Write quickly whilst maintaining accuracy - try to address each point you have been asked to, even if very briefly.
Don’t be overwhelmed by the volume of information - make sure you read everything through calmly.
Don’t worry if you haven’t studied law or finance – firms don’t expect that every candidate will have studied law, nor do they expect you to be a financial whizz.

Following these tips will ensure that you deliver polished, error-free responses.

The importance of developing effective writing skills

Strong legal writing skills are essential to craft the perfect response in law firm assessment centre written tests.

Effective legal writing can be broken down into the following key elements:

Clarity - communicate your ideas clearly in order to show that you fully understand key aspects of the task.
Conciseness - present complex ideas succinctly.
Precision – evaluators are testing your ability to identify the most important points in the data/information, so try to pick out the most salient points.

To help enhance your writing skills, be sure to regularly practise writing for a range of audiences, purposes and platforms.

Navigating the time constraints of written tests

Time constraints can have a significant impact on candidate performance. Whilst candidates often complain that there is never enough time to complete law firm written tasks, there are in fact a number of strategies you can use to help manage your time effectively. These include:

Planning – read through the instructions or brief and highlight what you need to do and the most essential points.

Drafting - write a quick draft of your response to clarify your thoughts and outline your structure.

Reviewing - read and reread everything to check for errors.

You might want to allocate a specific amount of time to complete each section.

Utilising sample written tests

Practising sample written tests beforehand will help you get used to finishing the task in the allotted time. If you can’t find any sample tests online, practice summarising lengthy articles from financial or legal newspapers.

Also, utilise resources available at your university, such as practising with careers advisors and attending skills workshops run by firms.

Seeking improvement through evaluation

Make sure you seek feedback to help you improve, regardless of whether you are successful or not. You can also self-reflect on what went well and what to work on for next time.

Whilst dealing with rejection is hard, seeking feedback will enable you to find out why you didn’t quite make the cut and where to focus your efforts on improving.

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, there are a number of surprising aspects to law firm written tests, so follow the tips in this article to ensure you approach written tests with newfound confidence and a strategic mindset. Now that you know the techniques needed to excel in written tests, you’re one step closer to securing your dream training contract!

Selection & Assessment