Understanding the Assessment Process in Criminal Law Firms

Mar 11, 2024

Written By Nandini Jadeja

Criminal law firms generally follow a set assessment process when identifying the most suitable candidates for roles within their firms. This process usually contains four main stages: the online application form, psychometric tests, assessment centres and lastly the interview stage. This article aims to break down each of these four stages and provides you with steps to navigate the assessment process.

Understanding the assessment process

Criminal law firms commonly use a four-stage assessment process when identifying candidates who possess the different skills they are looking for.

Online Application Form

The first step is the online application form. At this stage, you want to ensure that you fill out the form accurately and showcase the relevant skills and experiences you have.

Psychometric Tests

The next stage of the process is usually the online assessment stage. This stage usually consists of what are known as psychometric tests - these assess your cognitive abilities, personality traits and your ability to respond in certain situations which are common to the job (usually in what is known as a situational judgement test).

Assessment Centres

The third stage is the assessment centre. These can vary considerably, but generally they involve multiple activities such as group exercises, case studies, presentations and interviews. They may take several hours to complete. These ‘centres’ are designed to give the firm an insight into your work and your ability to work with other people.

Interview

The final stage of the assessment process in criminal law firms is usually the interview stage. Again, this can vary considerably. Firms can use everything from competency-based interviews to panel interviews and partner interviews, and sometimes even a combination of interview styles.

Since the sole focus of the interview is you, the firm has an opportunity to delve into your skills and experiences, and assess whether you are a right fit for the firm. As well as the skills mentioned on your application, the firm will also be assessing how you display professionalism and the ability to communicate with other people.

Excelling in the assessment process

Some tips to ensure that you excel at each stage of the assessment process include:

Application forms – ensure you leave enough time to double check each part of your application form, checking for spelling and grammar errors and also ensuring you have provided the firm with all the information they have asked for.
Online assessments – the best way to prepare for these is to familiarise yourself with the different types of assessments (Watson Glaser, situational judgement, etc.,). Practice sample questions on each of these, monitoring the time you spend on them. Afterwards, research questions you were unsure about further.
Assessment centres - present yourself confidently but be aware of how you are communicating with others in the group. Build on the ideas of others and offer to take the lead on a particular area of the exercise.
Interviews - practice common interview questions and ensure you have researched the firm (culture, recent cases, leadership structure, values etc).

Key Skills and competencies

Though different criminal law firms may value different skills, there are broadly five core skills that firms will be looking for.

Legal Knowledge – demonstrating good legal knowledge is the bedrock to a career as a criminal lawyer. Familiarise yourself with criminal law principles, procedures and relevant legislation, particularly those relevant to the firm you are interviewing for (e.g. for a firm specialising in fraud, you should brush up on this area of the law).
Analytical skills – the ability to analyse legal issues, identify relevant facts and apply legal reasoning to problem-solving scenarios is highly-prized skill in criminal law, and will be needed at every stage of your work.
Communication skills – communication is foundational in every job, but especially so in criminal law when much of your work rests on communication with clients, colleagues and other stakeholders.
Teamwork and collaboration – group exercises at assessment centres will often assess this skill, as working effectively in teams and collaborating with colleagues is crucial in an intense area of law like criminal law. Being able to collaborate across teams and with different people also shows your adaptability, another core skill.

Commercial awareness: criminal law firms are ultimately businesses, and you should ensure you understand the business of law, which includes things such as being aware of the firm’s clients, market trends and key industry developments.

Preparing for the assessment process:

In order to prepare effectively for the assessment process in criminal law firms, you should firstly research the firm thoroughly.

This allows you to familiarize yourself with various aspects of the firm: its culture, leadership, values, key cases, etc., and also allows you to decide what you are looking for in a firm, and whether each firm ticks these boxes. Once you have done this, you can align your application and prepare in line with the firm’s ethos.

Throughout the assessment process, you also need to ensure that you are honing the key skills and competencies outlined above. Some tips for how to develop each of the five skills include:

Legal Knowledge – ensuring you are up to date with key developments in criminal law through case studies, legal publications, journals and relevant online resources.
Analytical skills – practising legal analysis and problem-solving exercises. Getting involved with extracurricular societies like debating and mooting club is a great way of doing this.
Communication skills – again, participating in moot and debate clubs is an excellent way of enhancing verbal communication skills. You can also take this one step further by participating in public speaking events or competitions.
Teamwork and collaboration – You can demonstrate your skills in this area by volunteering for group projects or extracurricular activities that require teamwork and collaboration.
Commercial awareness - there are several ways to follow news and developments in the legal industry, from subscribing to legal newsletters to attending law firm events and networking with legal professionals.

Demonstrating key skills and competencies

There are also some general key skills and competencies which can help you maximise your performance during the assessment process. These include:

Using examples: Frequently refer to past experiences and how the skills you learnt will make you a good criminal lawyer.

Being authentic: Firms are interested in getting to know you, so staying true to yourself is key. Respond honestly but try to highlight your strengths and abilities and how you may have learnt from particular weaknesses for example.
Seeking feedback: Reflect on performance from mock interviews and from mentors, career advisors and peers to identify areas for improvement that you can incorporate in your real interview.

Embarking on a career in criminal law can be difficult, but by following the tips and steps discussed in this article, you are setting yourself up for success by understanding the assessment process in criminal law firms!

Assessment processes are designed to test your skill set and suitability for a particular firm, so a combination of solid knowledge on the firm, confidence in your skills and abilities and a determination to succeed will fast track you to a long and successful career in criminal law.

Selection & Assessment