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Each month, Flex Legal onboards roughly 160 new paralegals onto our online platform so they can start receiving interim paralegal opportunities that suit them. Each of these paralegals must pass a multi-stage application process consisting of a basic online application, an onboarding interview, a basic legal awareness test, and finally a creation of a Flex profile. 

The onboarding interview is the most formal part of this process, and we are often asked questions about how it works and what applicants should expect. In the interest of transparency, fairness, and giving everyone the best chance at succeeding, we have decided to publish this blog post to openly explain what you can expect from the onboarding interview.

Here’s a super quick summary of the process, but check out the full details below for further info:

1. Apply to Flex with your CV [here on our website](https://flex.legal/apply).
2. Book your onboarding meeting.
3. Upload your Right to Work documents, proof of address, and grade transcripts to our online portal.
4. Create your Flex Legal profile.
5. Attend your onboarding interview.
6. Complete the onboarding test.
7. Upload a Flex profile video.
8. Wait to receive fantastic paralegal opportunities with our clients!

## How to apply to be a paralegal with Flex Legal 

As mentioned previously, the first stage of our application process is a simple online form. This is really straightforward, and simply requires you to submit some basic personal and professional details, as well as uploading a copy of your CV. You can find the [online application here on our website](https://flex.legal/apply). 

Flex Legal receives hundreds of applications each month, so unfortunately we have to be quite selective with this stage of the process. Our clients have the ultimate say as to whether or not they accept the paralegals we put forward to them. This does, unfortunately, mean that we have to reject applications at this stage that don’t meet the requirements of our clients.

There are a number of reasons we might reject an application, including a lack of work experience, a lack of availability, or a lack of academic qualifications such as an undergraduate degree. However, just because we have rejected your application, doesn’t mean you can’t re-apply once your application is stronger. We would strongly encourage you to reapply at a later date once you have more skills, experience, or qualifications!

## What to do before your Flex Legal onboarding interview

If your application is accepted, you will receive an email inviting you to book your onboarding interview and create an online profile. We really want to make sure that the onboarding interview is as seamless as possible for both you and our team, so we ask that you take care of a few things ahead of your onboarding interview.    
Firstly, create your Flex profile on our platform. You’ll have received a link to the Flex platform in your welcome email, where you can create a profile ahead of your interview. Ideally, the information you feature on your profile should be directly tailored to the kind of legal experience you’re looking for. If you don’t have time to do this, then just copy over your CV or LinkedIn information, fill out the other relevant fields, and upload a professional profile picture. If there are any issues with your profile or anything that we think you could improve, our team can let you know during the interview.

Secondly, book your onboarding interview. As we have both southern and northern client services teams, anyone based north of Birmingham will be able to book with our northern team.

Thirdly, prepare your relevant Right to Work documents. Before we can even consider sending you any opportunities, we legally have to check your Right to Work in the UK.  

If you are a British or Irish citizen and hold a current valid passport (or an Irish passport card), please **bring your passport/passport card** to your onboarding interview and we will complete a digital right to work check with you during our meeting.

If you are a non-British or Irish citizen and hold an eVisa, Biometric Residence Card, Biometric Residence Permit or Frontier Worker Permit, **please upload your passport AND your share code** [to your profile on our portal](https://app.flex.legal/home/employment/documents) so we can check your right to work with the Home Office. You can obtain a share code from [this link.](https://click.pstmrk.it/2s/www.gov.uk%2Fprove-right-to-work/cpF2sTgN/ufMu/GYqTQ-za22)

Finally, make sure you have [Zoom installed on your computer](https://zoom.us/download). Zoom is commonplace software for video calling, and is what we use for all of our onboarding interviews. You can install the software for free, so make sure you have it installed ahead of time and you should be good to speak with us!

## What happens during your Flex Legal onboarding interview

This is the most exciting part of the application process for us. We’ve seen your application, checked over your profile and Right to Work documents, and now we finally get to meet you! The onboarding interview is our chance to tell you a bit more about Flex, explain the purpose of your profile video, go through some straightforward questions, and set you up for our simple onboarding test.

As with any professional interview, the important thing to bear in mind is that we want you there! We wouldn’t have approved your application if we didn’t think you have what it takes, so don’t let the nerves get to you. 

****

Once we’ve had a chance to meet you and check your documentation, we will ask you three simple questions about your motivations and experience. The first two questions are based on your experiences to date, and generally ask you to explain previous examples of you exhibiting good professional judgement. The final question is situational, and will present you with a scenario. You will have to explain what you would do in that scenario and why, and how you might resolve the problem you are presented with. 

Finally, we’ll introduce you to our ten question onboarding test for you to take after the call. This is often the most dreaded part of the application process. However, it is rare for applicants to not pass. The onboarding test is timed at fifteen minutes, and is mainly based around baseline legal and contractual knowledge. We would recommend completing your onboarding test right after your interview - this way your password won’t expire and we can try and get you placed as soon as possible. The first nine questions are all multiple choice, and the final one will present you with an example clause of a contract for you to rewrite. There are mistakes in there, and we want to see if you spot them all!

## What happens after your Flex Legal onboarding interview 

Once you’ve created your profile, recorded your video, completed your interview, and passed your onboarding test, there’s really not much more to take care of! Our team will check your Right to Work documents, proof of address, and grade transcripts to make sure they are in order, and approve your profile video. Once this is done, you will start receiving the interim legal roles that suit you best! 

**It's worth bearing in mind that as our platform opportunities are entirely dependent on what our clients approach us with, we can’t guarantee roles will come to you. As and when we get roles that suit your availability and skills, we will contact you via your preferred channels for you to approve or reject the opportunities we present.**   
  
**Pro tip:** When our client services team are searching for candidates to send roles to, they often filter the profiles on our platform based on who has updated their profile the most recently. Keeping your profile up to date with new skills and experiences, or with improved explanations of your professional and academic history, is the best way to be put forward for roles!

**Additional Resources:**

* [Apply to Flex Legal](/apply/) - If you haven’t applied to Flex yet, then there’s no time like the present! Get the ball rolling but filling out our apply form, and get ready for your onboarding interview.
* [What Flex paralegals think about their client placements](/blog/what-flex-paralegals-think-about-their-client-placements) - We always ask our paralegals for their thoughts on the placements we send them on. Read what they think here!
* [How to record a great Flex profile video](/blog/how-to-record-a-great-profile-video) - In this post, we cover some best practices for recording a top-quality Flex profile video. This bit is incredibly important, so it’s worth doing right!

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What to expect from your Flex Legal onboarding interview

Happy New Year! Application season is well underway and deadlines are coming in thick and fast. Part of the fun of pursuing a legal career lies in the wealth of firms and practice areas available. Whilst there are lots of opportunities, it can be tricky to work out where you want to apply. Applications are time-consuming and it can be difficult to prioritise them whilst juggling other commitments. I definitely know the struggle of balancing my applications with work and study! So how do you know where to apply?

Vacation schemes may be the best way to build insight and knowledge of firms interesting to you, and maybe bag that TC, but they’re not always easy to secure. That’s where open days come in! Open days give you the chance to meet a firm up close, without a lengthy time commitment. They usually require a short application, or might not need one at all! Most large law firms offer a couple of open days a year, so keep an eye out for dates and deadlines. I’ve done my fair share so thought it might be handy to give you the insider info!

## **Are you dressing smartly?**

Frequently, firms use open days to connect with aspiring lawyers they hope will apply for vacation schemes and training contracts with them. Open days are therefore a two-way street. It gives the firm the chance to sell themselves to you, and for you to make a good impression with them. In the age of remote and virtual open days, there is no excuse to not dress to impress!

## **Can they see you?**

Recruiters want to see you, that’s why they invite you to open days! It’s far easier to connect online when you can see and speak to one another. It’s also polite to show that you are engaging with the speaker, who has probably taken time out of a very busy schedule to speak to you. Naturally, tech problems do occur which make this difficult, this is totally fine! Just make sure to drop the recruitment team a message explaining this, I once lost my internet connection during a virtual social and the recruiters couldn’t have been more helpful and understanding!

## **Are your notes useful?** 

You’ll hear lots of insights from first hand experiences on open days, information that will not be available even from the most dogged of legal journalists! Trainees, associates, and partners alike often speak candidly about their experiences and life at the firm. It’s an opportunity for you to get a feel for who they are, and if the firm is right for you. I know applications take a lot of time and energy, the struggle is real! I have found applying whilst studying and working to be exhausting at times, making it all the more important to decide where to put your energy. Noting down how you found the day will help you figure out if you want to make an application, and how to show you’re what they’re looking for!

## **Are you taking part?**

Open days often include exercises for you to gain an insight into the life of a trainee. I’ve encountered exercises on acquiring distressed assets, pitching to a new client, and legal research to name but a few. Firms, and I cannot stress this enough, want to know that you are fully aware of what you’re signing up for when you apply to join a vacation scheme or for a training contract. Activities on open days are a chance for you to sharpen your skills and apply all that you have learned or will learn in the classroom. Discussing these experiences in applications shows proactivity, and also can be really good fun!

## **And lastly, what if you are undecided?**

There may be firms you are quite interested in, but not quite sure about. You may feel that you do not know enough about them or perhaps you may not be sure if they’re right for you. I can relate to hearing a million different things about firms and not knowing what to believe. Well, these are the perfect firms for you to attend open days with! Whether you leave an open day eager to start a vacation scheme or training contract application, or decide against applying altogether, open days help you figure out your next steps and plan the applications you want to dedicate your precious time to.

In sum, open days are an excellent opportunity for you to build your knowledge of firms and prepare you for applications. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Go at a pace that works for you, take your time, you will get there.

**Additional Resources:**

* [How to: give good answers in legal job interviews](/blog/how-to-give-good-answers-in-legal-job-interviews) - Maybe you’re facing a good old fashioned job interview? Here’s our advice for giving good answers to challenging questions.
* [How to see if a company is eco-friendly/socially responsible](/blog/how-to-know-whether-a-company-is-truly-environmentally-and-socially-responsible-from-the-outside) - Trying to figure out how ethical a company is from the outside can be tough - but it’s not impossible.
* [5 reasons for law graduates to join Flex Legal](/blog/5-reasons-for-law-graduates-to-join-flex-legal) - Want to gain some valuable legal work experience? Joining Flex Legal can expose you to a world of interim legal opportunities!

  [](https://flex.legal/blog?category=Industry%20Insights)

5 helpful hints to help you ace open days

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5 helpful hints to ace your open days!

## How to find legal work, when you don’t have any experience

One of the questions we often receive from via our social media is: “*How do I find a paralegal role without any legal work experience?*” The simple answer is: it’s tricky. However, it’s not impossible.

Plenty of people have done it before, and so can you. In this blog post we’ve tried to break down some tried and tested tips you can reasonable take to build your experience and really make your applications stand out.

## Why you should consider roles in all areas of law

Let’s get something big out of the way: the very start of your legal career is the hardest stage by far. Once you have experience from one paralegal role under your belt, it’s much easier to progress from there and fine more. So even if you have an interest in media litigation, or shipping law, or contract negotiation, and thats all you can see yourself doing - be open to other entry level roles. They can help you gain that valuable first bit of experience, help you build some fundamental, and give you exposure to the wider industry.

There’s plenty of roles you can pursue in law that you don’t require you to be a fully qualified lawyer. Many roles are accessible with just a law degree or comparable qualification, such as:

* Paralegal
* Legal Assistant
* Legal Secretary
* Legal Researcher
* Legal Analyst

If you can secure one of these roles, and stay there long enough to gain good experience, you’re set. From there, you can start directing your career towards the area of law you really want to work in. The honest truth is that all experience is important, and can add value to any application if you convey it directly. So don’t be too picky to begin with - just get your foot in the door.

## Why you should approach smaller legal firms

Many law graduates come out of university thinking that they’ll be able to walk into an entry-level role at a City law firm. Unfortunately, this is seldom the case.

Competition is incredibly fierce for City law firms, even for the most entry-level roles. If you don’t have existing experience, you’ll probably have to build some up somewhere else first. Consider reaching out to smaller boutique / high-street firms where you may have a greater chance of securing work.

Start by finding some small firms in your local area, and identifying some decision makers on LinkedIn or their website. Then, contact them via email or message them on LinkedIn, asking if you can virtually assist with any basic tasks for an afternoon/few days. It will give you credible experience to put down on your applications and shows your initiative.  
  
If you don’t have any success, you can always widen the net and try again with different firms.

## Why you should try out Pro Bono work

Make no mistake, getting legal experience is hard. However, legal experience doesn't have to be paid. Pro Bono work is not only a fantastic way to  help those who otherwise couldn’t get legal support, it’s also a great option for anyone looking to build up their legal work experience.

In fact, many legal professionals get their start by volunteering for pro bono centres like the [Citizens Advice Bureau](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/), or through university Pro Bono Societies. These offer some really high quality direct client-facing experience, and often allow you to manage your own caseloads.

Getting just a few months of pro-bono experience can really make your future applications stand out. Obviously, the work is unpaid so isn’t for everyone. But those with the option to devote time to pro bono work should absolutely consider it.

Furthermore, pro bono work [can even be used as SQE Qualifying Work Experience](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zkt4kC7KfQ), meaning it can also contribute to your legal qualification under the SQE.

Here’s some other pro bono organisations worth looking at:

* [National Pro Bono Centre](http://www.nationalprobonocentre.org.uk/)
* [LawWorks Pro Bono](https://www.lawworks.org.uk/)
* [Free Representation Unit](https://www.thefru.org.uk/)
* [Prisoners Advice Service](http://www.prisonersadvice.org.uk/)
* [Support through Court](https://www.supportthroughcourt.org/)
* [Child Law Advice](https://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/about-us/what-we-do/child-law-advice-service/)

## Virtual internships

Virtual internships are another great way to increase your commercial awareness, and develop an early understanding of the kind of tasks you might be expected to complete on a vacation scheme or as a trainee solicitor.

We highly recommend checking out [Forage](https://www.theforage.com/course-catalog/Law), which is a completely free and accessible platform showing a range of virtual programmes in partnership with leading firms.

Places can be tricky to secure, but they’re still well worth a look!

## Develop a narrative of interest

Let’s say you’re applying to work in a specific role that you have little to no experience in. A key way to stand out from other applicants is to build a consistent narrative in your application that demonstrates your interest. 

Remember, just because you don’t have experience in a certain area of law doesn’t mean you can’t show your interest in it. Think about the modules you studied at University. Were there any you particularly enjoyed? Were there any you did particularly well in? What area of law did you your dissertation focus on? Did you do any coursework or exams that scored highly in a specific area? If you can think of anything that might apply to your application, make sure you include it.

But don’t stop there - keep your answers to the above in mind and start to think about ways you can further bolster that interest. Can you volunteer to write for a law blog / magazine in that area? Can you attend a virtual talk or insight day at a firm with a specialism in that area? Could you find someone who works in that area who would be willing to have you shadow them for a day?

Doing all of this shows that you are interested in the area, and will give you an edge in the application process. Ultimately, you’re trying to convince the person reading your application just how much you want the role. Even if you don’t have any explicitly relevant experience, it can indicate that you’ll turn up eager to learn and enthusiastic about the position. 

## Convey your experiences in a convincing way

I'm sure you've heard of the STAR technique, and that’s for good reason: it works. 

When answering a question / recounting an experience, it's easy to get carried away and end up adding unnecessary information. When you’re reading back through the application and editing it, remember to keep it concise by using the STAR technique. Outline the **Situation** and **Task** briefly, focusing on the **Action** you took and the **Result** you achieved. This is a great way to demonstrate competencies from both legal and non-legal experiences, particularly if you lack the former. Here’s an example:

* **S** - I worked as a waiter at *Restaurant X* alongside my university studies.
* **T** - I was given responsibility to lead a training session for new staff members.
* **A** - I brainstormed a training plan based on internal processes and my own experiences in the job. I organised and delivered the training session, ensuring each trainee met the required criteria throughout. I then scheduled individual follow-ups with the new staff members to ensure any additional questions were answered.
* **R** - *Restaurant X'*s TripAdvisor rating increased by 10%, with several of the staff members I trained being quoted as "outstanding" and "very impressive" in the reviews. I was also asked to deliver further training sessions by my manager due to excellent feedback on my performance.

This is only a rough example, but try to think about how you could appropriate it for your own experience.

**Additional Resources:**

* [How to kick start your legal career](/blog/how-to-kick-start-your-legal-career)
* [How to use LinkedIn to boost your legal career](/blog/how-to-use-linked-in-to-boost-your-legal-career)
* [How to network remotely](/blog/how-to-network-remotely)
* [Pro Bono: what is it?](/blog/pro-bono-what-does-it-mean-why-should-we-do-it-how-do-we-go-about-it)
* [How to network like a pro](/blog/how-to-network-like-a-pro)
* [How to build a personal development plan](https://click.pstmrk.it/2s/flex.legal%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-build-a-personal-development-plan-pt-1/gjVEYCEN/ufMu/2rT70GvdkP)

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How to find legal work experience

We were absolutely delighted to have the chance to recently catch up with [Daniele Ponceta](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dponceta/), a former Flex paralegal who secured a permanent roles at cryptocurrency platform [Ziglu](https://www.ziglu.io/) following a Flex placement there. Daniele is a fantastically capable paralegal, and gave us some great insights into his role with Ziglu, his experience onboarding with Flex, and even some helpful advice for anyone currently trying to find the right job to suit them.

## Could you tell us a bit about your background and education?

I was born in Italy, in a little town called Trieste, and I knew since a very young age that I wanted an international career. The idea was to travel, do exciting things and work with amazing people. My journey started when I was about 18 years old and from what may seem a quite unusual background. After completing my high school education, I worked as a lifeguard in a resort near Venice, where I met many tourists from all over the world. I then decided to improve my English skills and start my journey abroad.

At that time I left my home country with one goal: becoming an international lawyer. In order to achieve that I first studied a bachelor’s degree in International and European law in the Netherlands, and later, once I knew which field I wanted to specialise in, I chose to study a Master’s degree in Corporate and Financial law in the UK. I am currently applying for training contract positions in London and studying to qualify towards the new Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination taking place this year.

## Could you tell us a bit more about your placement with Ziglu?

Working with Ziglu has been an incredible and unexpected opportunity I couldn’t refuse. It happened while I was working full time in the in-house legal department of a biotechnology company. I was a bit unsure on whether I should have left a permanent position for a temporary one, especially during uncertain times like these, but I was confident that taking this risk would have paid off. In addition to that, I really wanted to find a job in financial law - a field in which I wanted to specialise in during work in the City - a reason which made me accept the offer.

Ziglu is a very exciting company to work for. It is a start-up, therefore as you can imagine it is incredibly fast paced, which can be challenging but at the same time it is an opportunity to have a variety of tasks to deal with, receive responsibility, learn and grow very quickly. In addition to that, joining the company at such an early stage also meant that I would have reported directly to the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. I am deeply honoured I was given the opportunity to work alongside James Sullivan, an incredible mentor who was General Counsel at Monzo Bank, and who has vast experience in start-ups and high growth environments.

I joined the company as a Paralegal and I am in charge of assisting James and other members of the team with various tasks ranging from the creation of internal processes, to the management of shareholders, to the drafting and review of legal documents. Working as an in-house Paralegal means that you often help various stakeholders within the company, which makes it very interesting as you get to know the business itself (which in this case is digital banking and Fintech) and you have a chance to rapidly increase your commercial awareness and knowledge of that specific sector. I would definitely recommend anyone applying for training contracts to have some experience in-house as it gives a 360 degree view of what it means being the “client” for a law firm.

## Where did you first hear about Flex Legal?

The first time I heard of Flex Legal was on social media. There are many paralegals out there who posted their achievements on LinkedIn and Instagram, I was curious to find out what all that excitement was about and I discovered that Flex Legal is made of very friendly people offering a great service which allows aspiring lawyers to obtain that much sought legal experience and first step into the law.

## Would you recommend Flex Legal to others seeking paralegal positions?

I would genuinely recommend Flex Legal to anyone as the platform they offer is very intuitive and well-designed. As a candidate you simply receive job offers via SMS and email, which you can accept or decline based on your commitments and interest in the role. I found this feature of the service offered by Flex Legal very convenient and different from the usual recruiting websites. Flex Legal definitely offers concrete opportunities to be selected for a variety of roles, from short term to long term positions, which I believe to be a brilliant way to gain legal experience in a fast, flexible and straightforward way!

## What advice would you give to those currently applying for jobs?

Be consistent and persevere. As you may have heard many times, the legal career is a marathon, not a sprint. You will be rejected many times applying for paralegal positions or training contracts, but all you need is that one offer that will allow you to get your foot in the door. That is why I think the best approach is always to take rejections as opportunities to learn and improve yourself. Be positive. If you keep going there is no way you will not succeed.

## Finally, do you have any general tips for coping with lockdown life?

Be organised as much as you can and plan your week ahead. If you’re organised, you can manage to multitask much better and increase your productivity throughout the day.  
For instance, my average day consists of 8 hours’ work, 1-hour training at home or outdoors (weather allowing), and studying for the SQE. Although I have got a very busy schedule, I always try to fit in some time for myself to unwind and relax. Physical activity and a healthy diet help me a lot in coping with lockdown life, mental health, focus and performance more generally. I would highly recommend it!

**Additional Resources:**

* [Daniele’s LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dponceta/) - why not take a look at Daniele’s full professional summary over on his LinkedIn? He’s got an impressive and varied work history behind him!
* [How Flex Legal helped Massimiliano land a paralegal role at Freshfields](/blog/how-flex-helped-massimiliano) - Daniele isn’t the only person to have secured a permanent job following a Flex placement. Read more about how Massimilliano landed a dream role with magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
* [Ziglu’s website](https://www.ziglu.io/) - take a look at Ziglu’s site to learn more about Daniele’s new employer!

Ziglu Daniele Flex

How Flex helped Daniele secure a paralegal job with Ziglu

How Flex Legal helped Daniele secure a job at Ziglu

As part of our charity ‘*How to ace law firm assessment centres*’ event for [Lawcare](https://www.lawcare.org.uk/), our answered a huge range of questions relating to assessment centres for law firms. Clearly, this is an issue that really resonates a lot of legal professionals, as the response was immense!  
We were left, however, with a few questions that really deserved some extra elaboration. We put those questions to [Jess Heap](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessheaplinklaters/), manager of Attorney Recruitment at [Latham & Watkins LLP](https://www.lw.com/), and [Chloe Lloyd](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-lloyd-79049b6a/), Head of Resourcing at [Gowling WLG](https://gowlingwlg.com/en/).   
  
We’ve broken their answers down into four categories; Questions about assessment centres, Questions about general interviews, Questions about Gowling WLG, and Questions about Latham and Watkins. Here’s what they had to say!

### Many assessment days are now conducted virtually. Do you have any advice how to do virtual group exercises?

**Chloe**: *I would say a lot of what we said on the call about how to approach group exercises applies whether they are done face to face or virtually. The main differences are is it is perhaps slightly more difficult to build rapport with the other members of the group and there may be a little more talking over each other as it is more difficult to see who wants to make a point. I think it just means you have to try and come to an agreement at the start of the discussion on how you will structure the discussion and make sure that you get your points across and let others do the same.*

### If you’re undergoing a virtual assessment centre, how do you deal with people speaking over you or not affording you the opportunity to speak?

**Jess**: *Be polite and patient. If you’re being observed, the assessors will pick up on the other person’s rudeness and lack of self-awareness. Do your best to politely and succinctly get your point across but do not become agitated or try and compete with the other person.*

**Chloe**: *I would also just add be resilient in remaining part of the discussion, even is someone is making that difficult – don't give up and sit back as we need to see you taking part in the discussion.*

### 

When doing an online assessment centre – should you look directly into the webcam the entire time?

**Jess**: *It’s like holding eye contact in a face to face interview, you should be confident and look directly into the webcam for the majority of the time but it need not be 100%.*

### During virtual assessment centres, should I keep notes around?

**Jess**: *If the notes are going to help you and make you feel more calm, yes. Reference them if you need to but do not be reliant on them or let them distract you from natural flow.*

### What should I do if my wifi cuts off in the middle of a virtual assessment day?

**Jess**: *Stay calm! Re-join as soon as you can, apologise for the technical challenge and continue on. You will not be marked down for this situation and in fact, it will reflect positively if you handle it well and remain calm*

### 

How would you approach a mergers and acquisitions case study question?

**Chloe**: *I think we answered this during the session. The main point is not to be put off by the subject matter of the task. We do not expect our assessment day candidates to have technical legal knowledge as some of them may be non law graduates who are yet to start their academic legal studies. Stay calm if the subject matter is something you are not familiar with and understand what the exercise is asking you to do.*

### During assessment centre exercises, should I reference a firm’s existing clients? Would this be beneficial for me or would it not be necessary?

**Jess**: *Absolutely! This is in fact completely necessary. You must show that you know about the firm and that you are interested in the work they do. It is crucial that your application form and conversation at interview demonstrate that you have this knowledge. We would not put you through if you could not show that you had researched the clients we work with. TIP: chose a couple of deals that the firm has done and really know the detail. Partners will expect you to speak with some depth on client work.*

### How can I show my personality in an interview without coming off as unprofessional?

**Jess**: B*e you, relax and don’t over prepare. Try and find some common ground with the interviewers and talk to them. Be natural, your personality will come through when you’re not over thinking it or are “putting on a show”.*

### How can you keep yourself from waffling on or sounding robotic?

**Jess**: *Practice structuring interview answers. This is a skill and comes with practice. Look up STAR interview responses and start practicing!*

### How should you answer the “what is your biggest weakness’ question? How do you answer honestly without sounding incompetent?

**Jess**: *No one is perfect and everyone has something they can develop. Chose a competency that is important for the role you’re interviewing for, but not one of the top skills. Explain how you know this is an area for improvement, what you have done to start developing it, the success/improvement you’ve already seen and what more you plan to do in order to continuously improve.*

### Are there any resources available to find out your strengths and weaknesses?

**Jess**: *Yes, there are online tests that you can do! StrengthsFinder is a good one.*

### Any tips on tackling pre-recorded video interviews? I find them tricky as it’s very impersonal as there’s no-one on the other end.

**Jess**: *There is no one thing that will work for everyone, I think it’s a case of needing to practice and become comfortable with the set up. Prepare as much as possible to help with your confidence. Talk slowly and maintain eye contact with your camera.*

### Do you have any advice on dealing with difficult partners in interviews?

**Jess**: *It depends what you mean by “difficult”. If this is more about partners asking difficult questions, then I think it’s a case of remaining calm, taking time to think, not being afraid to seek clarification if you don’t understand the question and most importantly, being honest if you don’t know the answer. Know that sometimes they ask difficult questions to push you and get the best out of you, it’s not a trick to trip you up it’s providing an opportunity for you to demonstrate the full extent of your knowledge.*

### How do you answer or approach case study questions that deal with information you don’t know?

**Jess**: *Don’t make assumptions, or if you do, state the assumptions you’re making. Don’t waffle and don’t pretend to understand. Openness and transparency is important and will save you looking like a fool! Ask questions if need be.*

**Chloe**: *I would reiterate what I have said above re the M&A case study. If we feel that legal knowledge is required for a case study we will provide an overview of the law as part of the reading for the exercise.*

### I have applied to Gowling. Is there anything specific you would you like to see from candidates in video interviews?

**Chloe**: *It's important to make a clear attempt to answer the specific question that you have been asked. As with answering interview questions in a face to face scenario try and structure your answer to be concise (your answers will often have a time limit to them so try and make sure you finish your answers within the allocated time). Try and remain as calm as possible, speak clearly and slowly and practise before hand so you are as comfortable as possible with the set up.*

### I have applied for the Gowling vacation scheme. Do you have any examples of times when you thought a candidate really excelled at the assessment day? Is there anything they did that really made them stand out?

**Chloe**: *As we said during the session, a candidate often stands out what they are themselves and don't try and be someone they're not – they come across as more natural and authentic which is what we want to see. Enthusiasm can count for a lot too. We know you'll be nervous but it's important to see an assessment day as a learning opportunity and show us that you feel like you're getting something out of the day, rather than you just can't wait for it to be over!*

### L&W requires a pre-recorded interview as part of their application process. I have previously done a pre-recorded interview for L&W for a different role as a brand ambassador. Will I have to do another one for a separate application process?

**Jess**: *Yes because the Vac Scheme questions differ to the BA selection questions.*

### What is L&W’s position when it comes to applying with a disability? In other words, what kind of adjustments does L&W make for disabled candidates?

**Jess**: *If you flag that you require adjustments, we will discuss these with you ahead of starting any stage of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments can be made at every stage of our selection process to support you so please do get in touch and let us know what you need.*

**Additional resources:**

* *[10 essential tips to ace assessment centres](/blog/10-essential-tips-to-ace-assessment-centres). This Flex Legal blog post stemmed from a same event, and breaks down the 10 biggest takeaways you should bear in mind next time you find yourself in an assessment centre.*
* *[How to kick-start your legal career](/blog/how-to-kick-start-your-legal-career). Another Flex Legal blog post, this time covering everything from getting into law to writing successful applications.*
* *[‘Fundamental Skills for Junior Lawyers’ video series from Crafty Counsel](https://craftycounsel.co.uk/boxset/fundamental-skills-for-junior-lawyers-in-collaboration-with-f-lex). This short-form video series from our friends at Crafty Counsel covers a range of core skills that any Junior Lawyer should have a mastery of. It’s short, accessible, and super informative!*

Jess and Chloe answer your Assessment Centre questions top banner

Jess and Chloe answer your Assessment Centre questions

Jess and Chloe answer your assessment centre questions

Starting your legal career is the hardest part of the journey, and with current conditions, this has never been more true. To help those currently starting this journey, [Mary Bonsor](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-bonsor-8a270859/), co-founder and CEO of [Flex Legal](https://flex.legal/), and [Sophie Gould](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-gould-95832316/), Flex’s Head of Learning & Development, recently based one of [our monthly Virtual Lunches](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/flex-legal-23419765769) this topic, in order to hear from the experts what works and what doesn’t when it comes to applications and assessment days.

We were very pleased to be joined by [Angela Tang](https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelatanguk/), Innovation Consultant at a Magic Circle firm; [Oliver Searle](https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-searle-lawyer/), Senior In-house Counsel at Chevron Lubricants; [Amber Parslow](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-parslow-02a2b6108/), Co-Vice Chair of the London Young Lawyers Group and future trainee at Baker McKenzie; and [Harry Clark](https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryclarklaw/), Founder of the [More from Law](https://harryclarklaw.com/the-more-from-law-podcast/) podcast and future trainee at Baker McKenzie.

Depending on your current stage, it may seem like the route into law is a straightforward one: apply for vacation schemes at the start of your second year of law school, receive a training contract offer off the back of these, before heading straight into your LPC after you graduate. Although this works out for some, it is certainly not the only way into a legal career.

**For Amber, it was only after she graduated and attained some practical experience through a paralegal role that she felt it was the right time for her to excel at training contract interviews.**

“I went to university in 2014 and attended my first assessment centre in 2015. The whole process knocked my confidence - everyone there spoke well and was really confident, and I just felt like the odd one out. I graduated in 2016 and went travelling around America for two months. This helped my applications more than I realised because it allowed me to show my personality and interests in a unique way. I also worked at a legal recruitment firm for a few months which helped to develop my transferable skills like ringing clients, emailing, and organising my workload. I then got my first paralegal job through F-LEX, working in the Gherkin! This was great, but I found I had a lot of extra capacity, so I volunteered to take on the firm’s internal GDPR compliance project because I had an interest in data protection and privacy law. It was this experience that allowed me to secure a paralegal role at Baker McKenzie, which ultimately led to my training contract offer.”

**Similarly, Harry went through three rounds of vacation scheme and training contract applications before he was successful in securing his training contract at Baker McKenzie.**

“I made all sorts of application mistakes along the way and these are the reasons I’ve been trying to write about them publicly for the best part of a year now. One particular example I will give is during my initial rounds of applications, I had the terrible strategy of copying and pasting my answers onto various application forms. On one occasion I forgot to change the name of the firm, so the opening line was addressed to a different person at a completely different firm! I think I got that rejection back in about 24 hours! Of course, don’t do this, but in the bigger picture it is important to really tailor your application to the firm you are applying to. You shouldn’t be able to swap out the name of that firm with another.”

**Oliver’s experiences highlight the changes that have occurred during his time within the legal industry.**

“Diversity within the legal field is still something that we must work on and we still have a long way to go. However, in my workplace, I always feel I can bring my authentic self to work in a way that wasn’t possible in the past, so there is the capacity to change. The current situation can be unsettling in terms of security but it is important to remember that new roles are constantly being created with the increasing use of technology, so with a greater skill set, comes greater opportunity.”

**Although times are tough, Angela thinks that firms have learnt a lot from 2008.**

“The best law firms will continue with their graduate recruitment because they are completely aware of how valuable you are as an investment. I joined the legal sector after the last recession and from my perspective, law firms have learnt an awful lot. They know how to be more robust and more agile. A lot of the things firms learnt how to do more than a decade ago, they are simply doing again now, which I think is massively positive.”

**Tailor your applications:** You shouldn’t be able to swap out the name of the firm you are applying to with the name of another firm! If you can, it is unlikely that your application will impress. Consider the following: have you met the firm/its representatives? Do you know its core practice strengths? Trainee intake size? Seat rotations? Clients? Secondment opportunities? Values? Culture? It is important to understand these characteristics to determine whether the firm will complement your skillset and aspirations.

**Why commercial law?** Having a watertight answer to this is key, both during the written application stage and at interview. When a law firm offers you a training contract, they are investing in you. And like any investment, firms expect to see a return at some point in the future. However, if a trainee decides that commercial law isn’t for them during their training contract, the firm will never see a return on their initial investment. Convincing firms (and being certain yourself) that you want to pursue a commercial legal career, and the reasons why, is crucial to getting an offer. **So how do you do this?** Write a narrative that is personal to you. What piqued your interest? An open day at a firm? A module you studied at university? Then explain how you furthered your interest and consolidated your understanding: did you gain further work experience? Attend networking events? Having a genuine story about why you want to pursue commercial law will impress a lot more than your ‘excitement to work on cutting edge global deals’.

**Utilise your strengths:** You all have a specific set of superpowers - you just need to identify what your individual superpowers are. This has been particularly apparent to Oliver, who has found that his strengths lie in approaching problems from an empathetic and creative point of view. Also, consider how these strengths can add value to a law firm: drawing on a range of legal and non-legal experiences, as well as considering different perspectives, helps to create innovative solutions and makes you stand out as a candidate.

**Ask for constructive criticism:** This isn’t always easy, however understanding what went wrong from the firm’s perspective allows you to target this area for improvement. Also, never be afraid to simply lay your cards on the table! Mary was initially rejected from the firm she trained at, however was offered a training contract for the following year after contacting HR and explaining that she would be happy to wait. This won’t work out for everyone, but having the confidence to communicate with firms is a key skill.

**Commercial/current awareness:** This must be continually developed, and cannot be swotted overnight. Having a general understanding of how current affairs and the wider business sector is impacted is key to becoming the ‘trusted adviser’ that clients seek - and certainly key to impressing a firm. Consider subscribing to daily news digests like Finimize or listening to the FT News Briefing for quick updates, or better still, read a reputable broadsheet paper on a daily basis.

**Writing style:** Even if you have all of the above down to a tee, your application can be disregarded if you don’t communicate in a clear and concise manner. The person reading your application will likely have a large pile left to read after yours. Be kind to them - convey your point in simple terms and make sure every sentence adds value to your answer.

**Have an open mind about the type of law you want to pursue:** There are lots of different legal areas. Make sure to explore different departments outside of your vacation scheme/training contract seat. You won’t know if you want to pursue a type of law until you try it!

**Actively listen instead of waiting for your turn to speak:** It is easy to miss verbal/behavioural nuances when you aren’t paying proper attention.

**Always ask yourself how you can improve:** Even when you have been successful at something, consider how you can do it better next time.

**When asking for help, provide some possible solutions (even if you’re not sure they’re correct):** This shows the person you are asking that you have given proper thought to the problem and aren’t simply turning to them to take it off your hands.

**Keep a sense of perspective:** Just because you haven’t succeeded at this moment in time doesn’t mean that you won’t eventually, and be more resilient as a result. A year or two is a drop in the ocean when looking at the bigger picture of your legal career

**And most importantly, be yourself:** Don't change who you are because that one firm doesn’t think that you’ll fit their working culture. There is an employer who will value your exact skillset, you just need to find them and let them see your authentic self.

**Adaptability** - Especially in the current climate. Having candidates who are flexible and responsive to challenges is ideal for firms..

**Emotional Intelligence** - Empathetic nature and curiosity to drive innovation.

**Creativity** - Free thinking approach to problems which allows for innovative ideas to be developed.

**Entrepreneurialism** - Always thinking about how to elevate the business.

**Commercial understanding** - An understanding of how different sectors and current affairs impact clients.

**Collaboration** - Being able to work effectively within a team is an essential skill. Similarly, having the confidence to ask senior team members for help when necessary is key to working effectively.

**Additional resources:**

* [London Young Lawyers Group](https://lylg.org.uk/)
* [HarryClarkLaw](https://harryclarklaw.com/)
* [Radius Law Vlogs](https://radiuslaw.co.uk/blog/)
* [A-Z of Legal Innovation Jargon by Crafty Counsel](https://craftycounsel.co.uk/boxset/a-z-of-legal-innovation)
* [Strive Consultants](https://www.striveconsultants.co.uk/students)
* [Lexology](https://www.lexology.com/)

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5 helpful hints to ace your open days!

Jess and Chloe answer your Assessment Centre questions

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How to kick-start your Legal Career