CMS Training Contract - January 2025

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Psychometric test: Watson Glaser 

3. Video interview

4. Assessment centre

Which aspect does this report cover?

Video interview and assessment centre

Video interview

This was a virtual pre-recorded video interview. I was required to answer five questions. I had 1.5 minutes to prepare for each, then 1 minute to answer each. There was no option to re-record answers.

The questions were:

• What strengths can you bring to the firm?
• What CMS client do you want to work with and why?
• Why do you want to work at CMS? 
• How does the UK socio-economic climate effect clients and law firms?
• A trainee in your cohort has fallen behind, how would you help that trainee? 

I received an email 2 weeks later to inform me that I had been successful. 

Practise recording yourself beforehand so that you get used to talking to a camera. Knowing the UK economic climate is important, so read up on it. Know the firm and its clients inside out.

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

The firm's (temporary) Aberdeen office.

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Team exercise: group discussion based on an influencer client (~15 minutes of individual reading time, 45-minute team discussion, ~5 minute presentation, with a partner and associate supervising)

2. Case study: reviewing case study materials, drafting a memorandum, and engaging in a discussion (~45 minutes preparation and drafting, ~10 minute discussion with a senior associate)

3. General interview: competency, motivation and commercial awareness questions (~35 minutes with 2 Partners)

Team exercise

Each team member was given a large document (around 10 pages) about an influencer client, outlining various issues related to brand deals. Additionally, each member received a separate document containing information that other team members weren’t given. We were given time to read the information individually. 

Some of the key issues included:

• The client had posted about a product without disclosing it was an advertisement.
• The client wanted to terminate a brand partnership that still had a few months remaining on the contract.
• A potential contract dispute had arisen regarding an exclusivity clause in a brand deal.
• A copyright issue had arisen in relation to a post the client made on a brand’s page.

The team then had to work together to prioritise the client's needs based on importance (each issue was assigned a priority level (low to high) and had a deadline ranging from 1 to 3 weeks). 

We also had to plan how the work would be staffed - based on the schedules of partners, associates, trainees, and paralegals - and had to calculate the cost of handling each of the client’s needs based on hourly fees.

At the end, we presented our collective findings to a partner and an associate for 5 minutes (there were no follow up questions). This included presenting:

• The correct balance between deadlines and the client's priorities.
• A calendar plan for completing each task.
• The cost implications of each issue for the client.
• Any potential future risks.

Given the time pressure and the workload, it is important to manage time efficiently and delegate tasks.

Case study interview         

I was given a fictional scenario and had to prepare an oral presentation on a risk assessment for a client, as well as draft a meeting memorandum using a template. This was followed by a discussion with a senior associate. 

I was first given an 11-page bundle of documents related to a client that specialised in sustainable real estate. My task was to identify and present potential risks involved in the client’s plan to develop a residential high-rise in Manchester, specifically concerning fire safety.

I had 45 minutes to read through the bundle, draft a meeting memorandum using a template, and research ways the client could expand its business. I could use the internet, but was told to focus mostly on the firm’s website. The memorandum covered the clients name, the purpose of the work, the firm’s operating areas, and details of the construction project (including information on fire safety regulations). Most of this information was already in the template, I just had to substitute certain specifics about the project like materials used and building height etc.

Part way through my reading/preparation time, the assessor provided a new document with additional and more up-to-date information. I had to adapt the presentation accordingly.

After the presentation, I was asked questions on ethics and business development, including:

• What is a bigger priority: ethics or the client’s needs?
• How important are ethics to you? 
• How can the firm help to develop the client’s business?
• What areas of the firm would you contact to make this happen?

General interview         

Competency/scenario questions 

• What are the strengths you can bring to the firm?
• You have a full schedule, but your supervisor has asked you to attend a meeting with an exciting client. How would you proceed?
• Your supervisor has left you with instructions which you do not understand, and they are unavailable for the day. What would you do?

Motivation questions 

• How has a legal issue from the past 5 years influenced your decision to work in a commercial law firm?
• Why have you picked CMS over other law firms you have researched?

Situational judgment questions 

• What would you do in a situation where you had failed to meet a deadline for a client?
• How does failing to meet a client deadline affect the firm?

The partners and assessors were not given my application beforehand; it was a completely clean slate for the interview.

What was the outcome?                                                  

The firm emailed me a week after the assessment centre to tell me I had been unsuccessful.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

For the interview, I would recommend not only researching the firm but also comparing it to other firms. Additionally, think about how specific legal issues align with your motivations for becoming a commercial solicitor, rather than just learning about issues in isolation. 

The case study can be challenging, but it’s important to stay calm. I’d recommend taking time to breathe deeply before you start the preparation. This will help clear your mind, focus, and complete the task at hand.

For the team exercise, I suggest learning the basics of delegation so you can assign tasks quickly and efficiently. Time management and clear communication are key.

CMS Direct Training Contract - January 2024

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Psychometric test: Watson Glaser 

3. Video interview: 4 pre-recorded questions with 1 minute preparation and 1 minute answering time

4. Assessment centre: case study, partner interview and group exercise 

Which aspect does this report cover?

Direct training contract assessment centre 

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

CMS’ London office

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Case study: a commercial research case study (~40 minutes reading/writing time and 5-minute presentation to an associate) 

2. Partner interview: motivation and competency questions (~45minutes with 1 partner and 1 senior associate)

3. Group exercise: commercial discussion in a group of four (~15 minutes reading time and 30-minute discussion in front of the head of the emerging talent team)

Case study 

We were presented with a ~10-page bundle of documents, including an overview of the electric vehicle (EV) market, data on the cost of EV chargers, different types of EV chargers, and locations where EV chargers could be installed. 

I was asked to write a 600-word article, drawing on the information contained in the background information, as well as my own research (I was allowed to use the internet during the reading/writing time - we were provided with a laptop to help with this). I was then taken into another room, where I had to deliver a 5-minute presentation to an associate and answer follow-up questions for 10 minutes. 

The follow up questions included: 

• How would you advise a client wanting to invest in EVs, in light of the rising price of chargers?
• How important is it for CMS to be aware of market trends/conditions? 
• What strategy did you use to prepare for your presentation?

Partner interview 

This was my favourite part of the day. It came across that the partners all wanted me to succeed, so there were no trick questions. They wanted to learn more about me, my suitability for the role, and whether I fit into the firm’s culture/environment. The interview included competency, motivation and commercial awareness questions, such as:

Introductory questions about myself (more like an informal chat):

• What have you studied?
• What has been your favourite module and why?  
• What do you do in your spare time?  

Motivational questions:

• Why law? 
• Why CMS? 
• What sectors would you like to work in and why?
• How is CMS a future-facing firm? 

Commercial awareness questions: 

• What are the challenges facing the legal industry? 

Skills based questions:  

• What are your weaknesses? 
• Describe a time you worked well in a team.
• What is your proudest achievement?

Scenario based questions (I can’t remember the specific scenarios my interviewer gave, but they were centred on the following themes): 

• How would you deal with a conflict between two people in your team? 
• How would you meet a deadline which has unexpectedly been moved forward? 
• How would you react if a member of your trainee cohort was not keeping up with their workload? 

Group

We were placed in groups of 4 at the start and given 15 minutes to read around 4 pages of background information regarding two possible business targets for our fictional client to invest in (everyone was given this background information), as well as a distinct additional piece of information about each prospective target business (this was different for each group member). For my scenario, our client wanted to invest in a company that was: a reputable employer, had great expertise in the market, had a good financial record, and was a sustainable business. 

We then had 30 minutes to work as a team to answer different questions based on our clients objectives and the information we had been given about the prospective investment targets. At the end, we had to collectively reach a conclusion as to which target would be best for our client to invest in. The discussion took place in front of the assessor. There was no presentation element, and the assessors did not ask any additional questions. 

What was the outcome?                                                  

The firm emailed me a week after the assessment centre to tell me I had been unsuccessful.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?        

I have a few key preparation tips. Firstly, arrive with good knowledge of the firm. I did the following to research the firm: use the Commercial Law Academy’s “Law firm profiles and research” course, including the CMS firm profile; read recent articles on CMS’ website; and follow CMS’s social media pages (Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter). Secondly, ask questions! There will be times in between activities where you are just stood/sat around on breaks, so use this time effectively to make a good impression and impress the firm by asking questions – this shows you really care.                                          

CMS "First Steps" Scheme - February 2023

Which aspect does this report cover?

1. Automated video interview: four pre-recorded questions (1 minute per question for planning, then 1 minute per question for delivery)

2. Phone interview: competency, motivation, commercial awareness and scenario-based questions (~25 minutes with a member of graduate recruitment)

Where did the interviews take place?            

The video interview took place via a platform called LaunchPad Recruits

Video interview

The pre-recorded video interview centred on four questions. I had 60 seconds to prepare for each question, and 60 seconds to record my answer. There was no option to re-record any of my answers. The questions included the following (note the wording may have been slightly different):

• Taking into account the current economic, social and political climate, which client would you most like to work with if you were a CMS trainee, and why? This can be an existing client or one you’d like to see the firm work with.
• Imagine you are working on multiple projects with conflicting deadlines. How would you manage your time?
• What makes CMS future-facing, and why does the firm appeal to you?
• Would team-working skills or leadership skills be more important as a trainee at CMS?

Telephone interview

I was asked the following questions during the interview:

• Tell me about yourself (I was specifically told that I could talk about both my studies and what I do outside of my studies).
• Why did you apply for the CMS First Steps Scheme?
• Describe a time where you faced a setback either in your studies or your work, and explain how you dealt with that.
• What are the key issues currently facing the legal industry?
• How would you go about introducing a new idea to a group?
• How would you deal with a situation where there is conflict in a group involving two people?

My interviewer responded well to a comprehensive answer to why I applied to the programme. Personally, I mentioned which aspects of the firm most attracted me (D&I, practice areas, tech etc.) and then related this all back to the structure of the programme. For example, I spoke about the support networks put in place at CMS (their faith network, social mobility initiatives etc.) and how that focus on support mirrors onto the programme as they have a buddy and mentor for all participants. I also spoke about their future-facing values + how they instil those values through training to their fee-earners at CMS and then linked this to the activities offered that relate to that on the actual programme. In addition, I mentioned how I could learn more about the practice areas I was interested in through the insight sessions and opportunity to shadow trainees during the scheme. 

The interviewer also liked that I mentioned quite a unique current issue (how ESG-focused lenders want their lending books to be "green" and how this impacts due diligence), as it was different to what other interviewees tended to discuss. I also mentioned the Activision Blizzard merger and the wider tension between competition and intellectual property law, especially with large-scale takeovers in the tech/gaming industry. In hindsight, I would definitely just speak about one issue, but my nerves took over. 

As a word of advice for competency questions, don’t skimp out on the “A” (Action) part of the STAR structure. 

CMS "First Steps" Scheme - February 2022

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application (3 questions)

2. Psychometric test (Watson Glaser)

3. Automated video interview

4. Phone interview

Which aspect does this report cover?

Automated video interview and final round interview

Where did the interview take place?            

Telephone.

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Automated video interview: four pre-recorded questions (1 minute per question for planning, then 1 minute per question for delivery)

2. Phone interview: competency, motivation, legal technology and situational judgment questions (~30 minutes with Head of Graduate Recruitment)

Video interview

The pre-recorded video interview questions were fairly standard competency questions, including:

• Tell me about a time you overcame a particular difficulty.
• Describe an achievement of which you are proud.

I would advise keeping your answers short and succinct; it’s easy to go over the allocated one minute, especially given that the questions were quite broad. Also be sure to dress and act professionally.

Phone interview

Presumably because of COVID, I was told that the phone interview had replaced the traditional assessment centre this year. The phone interview was split into three parts: general questions about me, situational questions, and motivation/CMS/legal technology-related questions.

Questions about me

This part consisted of general introductory questions. The interviewer wanted to know more about me, what I enjoyed doing and my professional interests.

Situational questions

These questions were scenario-based and less conversational, for example:

• You are in a team meeting, and two people vehemently disagree on a topic. How do you approach the issue, and how do you move forward?
• I think there was also a question on leadership.

The questions were difficult at times and I feel I gave quite generic answers, which the interviewer didn’t seem too happy with. I would recommend giving these questions a bit of thought before launching straight in (the interviewer responded best when I stuck to a structure).

Motivation/CMS-related questions

This part was about CMS and my motivations for pursuing a career in law, with questions including:

• Why CMS?
• Why commercial law?
• Why not criminal law? (I believe this was because I had accumulated some criminal law experience)
• Which sectors interest you most?
• What was your motivation for applying for this scheme?

There was also an emphasis on legal technology, with my interview asking questions such as:

• What does a law firm of the future look like?
• How should a lawyer adjust to be future facing?
• How is CMS working towards being a leading tech law firm?

There is content on the CMS website that can help to answer some of these tech-related questions, so definitely review the website before your interview (especially because CMS has very specific legal tech goals and departments, which you might need to draw upon).

What was the outcome?                                                  

I received an offer by phone one week after the interview.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?                                                       

• Take your preparation for the automated video interview seriously, and treat it like a face-to-face interview.
• Make sure you know about legal technology and CMS’s efforts around legal technology.
• It seemed that the more novel or unexpected my answer, the better it was received, so try to stand out.