Overall, a really positive application experience.
Stages:
1) Online application form- why Simmons & Simmons? Why commercial law? Your skills for the role?
2) Online judgement test- series of scenarios where you graded the listed responses you would undertake; not timed.
3) Online ability tests and video interview- two timed tests: verbal (locating answers from a body of text) and logical (choosing the missing symbol in the sequence given, similar to an IQ test). The video interview consisted of five questions (the first 30 seconds in duration and the remainder 90 seconds), with 240 seconds to prepare for each one.
4) Assessment centre:
-document exercise and competency interview- 30 mins to read an Agreement individually; 50 mins interview with Partner/Associate- 30 mins given to discussion on the Agreement and 20 mins to general competency questions.
-written exercise- 1 hour to assimilate a few pages of information and draw up a report to the firm based on the brief you have been set. This stage of the assessment centre was what I found most challenging, and time management is really important. I would recommend spending a bit less time planning, and more time writing up the report to ensure you finish within the hour!
-lunch in the staff restaurant with two trainees- opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for the firm.
-interactive exercise: completed with all the interviewees and split into a few parts: 1) 5 mins to individually digest the brief and plan some ideas; 2) the group is split in half with 15 mins to discuss your ideas, and a further 5 mins to conclude thoughts and decide upon the chosen two initiatives; 3) the two groups join together, with 15 mins to discuss the combined four initiatives and decide upon the two that will be pursued.
The Assessment Centre was actually not as nerve-wracking as it could have been (which is a credit to the firm), and the day flew by. Come prepared with a few commercial issues to discuss and answers to a range of competency questions, but just try to relax and be yourself.