How to approach a case study interview

A case study interview is one of the elements of the assessment process that candidates find most challenging, however, there a broad range of things under your control that you can do to prepare and maximise your chances of success at a Reed Smith assessment centre.

A case study interview can come in different formats, varying from firm to firm.

At Reed Smith, the case study assessment will comprise of two elements:

1. You will be given a bundle of documents to read through in a set amount of time.
2. An interview where you will be asked questions based on the documents.

The case study is designed to assess you on the following key skills that would be required of you at trainee level:

Time management – Your time to digest the information presented to you will be limited, so time management is a crucial skill required to ensure that the key issues are understood and can be easily referred to. Ensure that you leave enough time to go through each document, as it will be essential for preparing you for the interview stage.

Logical Thinking – Some of the questions you may be asked will not have a clear-cut answer that requires solely locating information within the documents. Instead, you will be required to use reasoning and logical thinking to produce an answer. This, at times, may be coupled up with using commercial awareness.

Commercial Awareness – Some questions will be designed to assess your commercial awareness. This includes any knowledge you may have on the relevant industry. Having awareness of the industry groups and practice areas at Reed Smith and researching current trends in these areas will be beneficial in understanding the context of the documents.

Communication – The way in which you communicate the answers to the questions asked will also be assessed. This is not just about how quickly you answer the question but rather, whether you can communicate your answers in a clear and structured manner. It is better to take a minute to think rather than saying the first thing that comes to mind.

Analytical Skills – Whilst reading the documents, it is useful to take note of any information that would pose an issue or problem within the context of the case study. It may be likely that you get a question on this at the interview stage. Demonstrating analytical skills involves identifying those potential issues and providing solutions. Problem-solving and commercial awareness are both skills that compliment analytical skills and will ensure that your answers are logical and informed.

These are some good ways to help you prepare for the case study before the assessment day:

• Understand the role of a trainee – understanding the roles and responsibilities given to a trainee will put you in a good position to understand the type of task you will be given. For example, summarising cases to senior lawyers, highlighting issues within a case, and proof-reading documents.
• Research the industry groups/practice areas of the firm – the case study will likely be based on an industry group within the firm and so, researching any current trends/events in these areas will provide you with a good level of understanding of how the case study fits into the wider commercial context.
• Practice reading articles/contracts and summarising the key points – this will help you with your time management and being able to communicate your thoughts in a clear and concise manner skills. Moreover, you will become more familiar with the general structure and content of legal documents.

1. Manage your time – a good way to keep track of time is to bring a wristwatch and lay it on the table next to you, in case the room you’re in does not have a clock.
2. Organise you’re your thoughts – if you’re presented with multiple issues/questions to answer, have a clear system to identify and categorise them (i.e., colour-code each issue/assign it a number).
3. Don’t ignore any information – if you’re given a bundle of documents, skim read over them all at the start, identifying what the subject of each one is. If you read in-depth from the start, you may not have time to cover everything and could end up missing a crucial piece of information.
4. Leave time to plan – make sure to leave some time at the end to summarise all your notes (e.g., a list of bullet points listing the points you want to discuss in order of importance).
5. Be focused on solutions – once you have identified an issue, make sure you always suggest a solution/advice for how it could be overcome.
6. Tailor your responses – the interview scenario may vary (i.e., presenting to your supervisor or a client), so try as much as possible to tailor your responses to suit the situation. For example, your tone or the amount of technical language you use.
7. Explain your reasoning – whenever you give answer, always talk through your reasoning, even if you are not sure of the final answer. The interviewers can only give you credit for things you actually say.
8. Consider the commercial context – don’t just focus on the legal implications of an issue, the commercial considerations are equally as important.
9. Make use of the materials – in the interview take your time and if you need, take a minute to refer back the documents rather than guessing.
10. Don’t overexplain – some questions are as simple as they sound. If you are given a simple yes or no question, don’t feel obliged to give a longer answer if you don’t feel as though its necessary. The ability to provide clear and succinct answers is a crucial skill a solicitor.