Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I am currently in my second year of Law at the LSE and recently completed a winter vacation scheme at Jones Day. I love cooking and have played a variety of sports over the last few years including table-tennis, netball, and badminton, and I used to swim competitively.
Being British Indian it was important that my career reflected my international background. I have been interested in becoming a commercial solicitor since sixth form and completed some virtual Forage internships and a week-long internship in India after my first term at university.
However, my confidence took a hit during my first year as I was rejected from all the first-year schemes I had applied to. This did make me question my ability to break into the industry, so I completed a consulting programme to make sure I knew what I wanted to do in the future. I realised that the duality of being both a business and legal advisor appealed to me more, and I began applying for vacation schemes early in my second year.
How did you first meet Jones Day and what inspired you to apply?
I first met Jones Day at an open evening. I really wanted to learn about their non-rotational training contract, and how it operated in practice. I soon realized that a nonrotational training contract at a full-service firm with a small trainee cohort, would give me early exposure to a wide range of practice areas.
At the networking session, I found Jones Day trainees very willing to talk about their journey and experiences, and to give as much advice as possible, compared to trainees I had met at other firms. This was a good indicator as to the kind of culture the firm fostered, which was important for me.
What did the assessment centre involve and how did this differ to other assessment centres or recruitment processes (if any)? Which aspects did you most enjoy, and which were most challenging?
There were two components: a group exercise and an individual exercise.
The group exercise was a debate. The topic was non-legal, which allowed everyone to get involved and participate. My top tip for this section is to keep on top of current affairs! This will allow you to bring relevant facts and news into the debate to enhance your arguments. Don’t forget to communicate and collaborate with your teammates – it was clear to me this was something Jones Day really value and were looking for during the assessment.
The debate was the most challenging part for me. It is structured and can be daunting if you have never debated formally before. Furthermore, it is fast paced, meaning you are performing under pressure. Having said that, I thought it was interesting and a lot of us felt we had gained a lot after completing the exercise.
The individual exercise was a short case study interview with a partner. I personally enjoyed this part the most. I felt that I was able to express all my ideas, even beyond any questions given to me. The partner was interested in pushing me and probing further to see how well I could respond. I think this reflects the type of environment you would be training in, where senior lawyers take a keen interest in your development and ensure you are given responsibility when you are ready. However, if you mention something technical, be prepared to explain it to demonstrate your understanding.
The Jones Day assessment centre is less focused on technical skills, for example there are no written exercises. Instead, they’re looking at your potential and skills beyond academia. This doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it does allow you to show off your ability in different ways, such as how you present your ideas. Although you are being tested during the day, Jones Day made it clear that it was also our opportunity to get a better understanding of the firm and see if it is right for us – it is definitely a two-way process.
Did you have the opportunity to learn more about the Firm and the culture?
Several opportunities! We had a quick talk from graduate recruitment in the morning, which touched upon the firm and what it looks for in its trainees.
During lunch and in breaks, we met several trainees. This was super informal and allowed everyone to relax between the exercises. Everyone was having a good time, and I felt that the relaxed atmosphere helped me to perform better. Trainees were happy to share information with us, like why they had applied to the firm, how the firm supports you during your training contract, and the cases they had been working on. You could tell that they got on well with each other which says a lot about the firm culture.
Having met the graduate recruitment team and several trainees at both the open evening and assessment centre, there were many familiar faces when I started my vacation scheme. This is something I really valued at the time, so make sure you talk to people at the firm when you can!
Reflecting on your participation, what do you feel is the one thing you did (either before or during) that helped you to perform at your best?
I think I adapted well under pressure. During the AC exercises, you have to get used to the format and working with your peers quickly. Furthermore, the debate topic and case study scenario vary from one assessment day to another, so building up the breadth of your commercial and non-commercial knowledge whilst preparing is important.
I have always discussed FT articles or legal trends with my parents and mentors. Definitely helped me. Developing the ability to communicate your thoughts on the spot will really help you in both exercises – and during any vacation scheme.
Finally, what other advice would you give to other candidates who are due to attend an assessment centre?
Commercial awareness! I think it can really set you apart in the interview and is the only thing you can truly prepare for.
Commercial awareness reflects two things in my opinion: understanding market trends and how they apply to a law firm. Furthermore, being able to apply a piece of knowledge to several situations and identifying nuances in certain trends will highlight your knowledge. Beyond this, knowing how certain processes work, for example the type of documents involved in an M&A transaction will also provide detail and understanding to your response. As Jones Day is a full-service law firm, having knowledge across multiple areas will help you, even if it is just the basics.
I personally used email updates to build my commercial awareness. If there was an area I was particularly keen on, I would use the FT to read about it in more detail. The best way you can build your understanding is over a period of time and by talking to others.
Beyond that, enjoy it! I felt like the exercises brought out the best in me and it was a continuation of the Jones Day interview-style - they are looking at your soft skills and personality too. I really enjoyed my assessment centre, and it definitely left me feeling more confident in myself.