Verbal Reasoning Tests in Legal Graduate Recruitment: What You Need to Know

Jun 11, 2023

Written By Zara Arif

We are all familiar with the fact that legal graduate recruitment is often composed of multiple stages and processes. For some firms, one of these stages can involve sitting and passing a verbal reasoning test. This article breaks down everything you need to know about this type of assessment, in order to help you maximise your chances of moving onto the interview stage.

What is a verbal reasoning test?

A verbal reasoning test is a type of assessment that examines your ability to process large amounts of information in an analytical way. This is a key skill for any type of lawyer, no matter what you want to specialise in.

You can expect to be given several passages of information. These are then followed by a statement and the following options: ‘True’, ‘False’ and ‘Cannot Say’. It is your choice to determine which option is relevant to the statement given, through analysis, inference and deduction.

You will also be under time constraints (around 15-20 questions to answer in 30 minutes) so it’s important to be able to digest information quickly and make reasonable and sensible decisions on the basis of what you have understood.

Why do law firms use verbal reasoning tests?

The skills which are being examined and which are important in order to succeed in a verbal reasoning test are the same skills which all successful lawyers possess.

As the application process is essentially testing how compatible you are to a career in law and to a specific firm, graduate recruitment likes to use verbal reasoning tests in order to ascertain if you have the skills they are looking for. Candidates who can best demonstrate these skills (by performing in the top percentile) progress onto interviews or other final stages.

How can you best prepare for a verbal reasoning test?

The best way to prepare for a verbal reasoning test is to gain as much practice as possible. It is quite a unique and challenging format that might take some getting used to, as it is not something that many students come across at school or university.

Lots of websites and universities provide free practice tests, so it is relatively easy to gain access to a wealth of practice material.

The most effective way to practise is under time conditions. This allows you to gain a balance between being able to understand the information fully and working at a good pace.

Another important thing to do when practising is using answer keys to see where you went wrong, in order to understand the type of thinking which is required to reach the correct answer.

You can find even more tips on how to succeed here.

Which law firms use verbal reasoning tests?

A variety of law firms use verbal reasoning tests as part of the recruitment process. Verbal reasoning tests are just one part of the process, however, with many firms requesting interviews and too. Therefore, it is important to do some research into what you will be expected to do before you apply.

The majority of the firms using verbal reasoning tests are medium-sized and large commercial firms, such as: Herbert Smith Freehills, DLA Piper, Mayer Brown and Simmons & Simmons.

Selection & Assessment