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Dentons Spring Vacation Scheme – January 2025

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Psychometric test: Dentons’ Legal High Potential Assessment, which included situational judgement and numeracy questions.

3. Assessment centre

4. Vacation scheme

Which aspect does this report cover?

Video interview and vacation scheme assessment centre

Video interview

This was a pre-recorded online video interview, which took place via Amberjack. I was required to answer five questions. There was no limit on how long I had to prepare each question, and I was then given two minutes to record each answer. There was no option to re-record answers.

I was asked questions including: 

  • Tell us about some innovation that you’ve read about that Dentons has been working on.
  • Fictional scenario question: you’re a trainee working in the office. As you’re about to leave the office, you realised you’ve finished your tasks earlier than everyone else, as they are still hard at work. At the same time, you see people preparing for an event in the evening. It’s clear they need help. What would you do?
  • Tell us about a time that you’ve worked well in a team – outline the task you had to complete, what your responsibilities were, and what steps you took to ensure success.

Make sure to answer each element of the questions – since there is unlimited preparation time, prepare in depth what you wish to say and also think about how you’re going to present it. Use the STAR method when answering competency questions, and make sure you elaborate on each segment. For the situational judgement question, research what firms expect from their trainees, and watch trainee vlogs on YouTube and LinkedIn to give you an insight into the role trainees play at commercial law firms.

I was emailed 3 days after the video interview to tell me that I had made it to the assessment centre.

Where did the assessment centre take place?  

Online, via TopScore.

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Written exercise: had to write an email to provide insight into, and advice about, the potential expansion of a company into Australia (90 minutes)

2. Role play: oral presentation on advice I would give a client based on a fictional transactional scenario (~15 minutes with two senior associates)

3. Case study interview: answered questions from a partner about a client acquisition (~30 minutes)

4. Early Careers interview: competency and motivation questions (~30 minutes, with one member of the Early Careers team)

Written exercise

I was given one and a half hours to read through a series of documents containing an email chain and information about four different issues. 

The main topic was the expansion of a client’s business into Australia, with issues being set out in emails towards the end of the chain (meaning they were easier to miss). I had to write an email in connection with a follow up meeting with some members of the team I was in (which formed the basis of the role play). 

Scenario 1

This scenario focused on a client's proposed expansion into Australia through the building of a plaza or a square. Key factors to consider included:

  • The time it would take to open, and make profit.
  • The cost associated with the developments.
  • The impact of the location (which involved considering the types of businesses already present in both locations, the demographics they attract, etc).

Scenario 2

There were three other issues that came up in the email chain. Two revolved around advising a client about sustainability (one was in light of an upcoming conference about the topic), and the other included advising another client about proposed changes to package subscriptions that they were offering. 

Role play

This segment was based on the written exercise and lasted 15 minutes. I entered the role play with two senior associates at the firm who undertook the roles of fellow team members. They asked me to relay my insights from the reading I did to them and determine on balance which development I thought would be most beneficial for the client company. Additionally, they asked me for my thoughts on the other aforementioned issues as well.

Case study interview         

I was first given a 4 page bundle of documents relating to a potential acquisition of a regional car company. The documents included background information about the companies involved. I had 10 minutes to read the information and prepare to answer some questions that would be asked by a partner in the interview. These included questions such as:

  • What social, political and environmental factors should the client consider?
  • How can the firm assist the client?
  • Are there any other risks the client should be aware of and if so, how could these be addressed?

After the partner asked me these questions based on the documents, he verbally relayed more facts to the scenario and asked me follow up questions centred around what the client and the firm should consider based on the new information. Examples included: 

  • What would occur in the due diligence process?
  • What are the potential risks of using Artificial Intelligence to support the progression of the deal?
  • What role would different teams from different practice areas play in the completion of the deal?

The 10 minutes prep time places you under real time pressure, so make sure you at least skim read everything, and try to pick up on all the key issues. Write some brief notes for the questions (to save time), whilst thinking about how you’ll clearly and coherently present the information. Additionally, it would be beneficial to consolidate your knowledge on the stages of mergers and acquisitions beforehand, as well as the risks involved.

Early Careers interview         

Competency questions 

  • Tell me about a time you demonstrated strong collaboration.
  • Tell me about a time you had to manage a high workload.

Motivation questions 

  • Why are you interested in becoming a commercial lawyer?
  • Why are you applying to Dentons, and what are the motivations behind your application to this specific location?

What was the outcome?                                                  

Still waiting for the outcome.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

Beforehand, it may help to consolidate your knowledge on how to write different types of written documents such as emails and letters. During the exercise, make sure to skim all the documents to identify every issue you have to write about and ultimately speak about. Plan the amount of time you’re going to allocate to each section. Additionally, ensure that you have something to say for each individual issue.

For the case study, it may help to consolidate your knowledge on the stages of mergers and acquisitions beforehand, as well as the risks involved. Additionally, research information about artificial intelligence, and the potential benefits and risks of using it.

For the early careers interview, read your application again so you can effectively answer questions regarding your motivations for applying to a career in commercial law and Dentons specifically, and identify where you could add more detail to give even stronger answers (when reading, after each sentence consider whether there are any more follow up questions that could be asked based on your answer, and seek to answer those). Also, for competency questions, find a series of competency questions that could be asked online, and use the STAR method, making sure you elaborate on each segment. 


Dentons Vacation Scheme – February 2024

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application 

2. Legal High Potential Test

3. Video interview

4. Assessment centre

Which aspect does this report cover?

Assessment centre

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

Online via Microsoft Teams

What did the assessment centre involve?      

  1. Welcome (20 minutes with an HR representative)
  2. Written exercise introduction (10 minutes with an HR representative)
  3. Roleplay (20 minutes with two associates)
  4. Break (30 minutes)
  5. Case study introduction (10 minutes with an HR representative)
  6. Case study and interview (1 hour 15 minutes with two senior partners)
  7. Wrap up (10 minutes with an HR representative)

Welcome 

Introductory call with the HR representative who was running the AC, plus other candidates. Everyone introduced themselves and the HR rep then explained how the AC would run, going through the timetable I had been emailed a day before. 

Written exercise introduction

The HR representative prepared us for the written exercise, making sure everyone had access to an email containing the brief and background documents, and that everyone understood the task. She then started a timer. We all stayed on the call throughout. Everyone was muted but had to keep cameras on - we had to work individually (i.e. we weren’t to discuss it on the call). 

We had around 20 pages of background information relating to a scenario centred on a client that wanted to build a hotel in a new location. 

The background information included background on two possible locations for the new hotel, newsletters from one of the locations stating that there were a lot of new hotels in the area, what the proposed hotel the client was trying to build in the area could look like (depending on the location) and so on. One location was on an island, so there were extra environmental concerns. The other location was on the coast, nearer the airport but in a more crowded market (with other hotels nearby). There was no connection to the UK; it was an American business launching in the Middle East region.  

We had to choose between the two possible locations, then write up our advice relating to this choice and send it to a “supervisor”. There were different considerations to take into account, including environmental concerns, the local population, and governmental restriction. 

We were also sent a new email 10 minutes before the end with vital information that needed to be incorporated in our email to our supervisor. 

After submitting our email, we had a couple of minutes before starting our next call (the roleplay). 

Roleplay  

Once I was on the call, the two associate interviewers said that they didn’t have time to read my written email as the meeting had been pushed forward, so I had to say in brief which location was best and why. 

They then asked a series of questions about my choice, including “what other information would Dentons want to know about the area or the client before working with them?”. 

I didn’t get much of a chance to ask the associates any questions, but did ask a few (I was given some insight into the partners who would be interviewing me later on).  

Break

We could log out of Microsoft Teams and re-join 30 minutes later.

Case study introduction

We had a call with HR and the other candidates, during which HR gave an overview of what the case study entailed. Whilst on the call, we were sent an email with the materials. The materials included a history of the client’s company and the fact that it was a current client of Dentons in San Francisco. It also included brief details of the UK company the client wanted to acquire, and explained that the client’s intention was to enter the European Market. We then had just under 10 minutes to read the materials individually, without talking, and note down the main points before joining another Teams link with the interviewers. 

Case study and interview

This was a solo interview with two senior partners. They introduced themselves, we had a brief chat, then we launched into the case study. They were role playing as two partners from the London Dentons branch who were trying to persuade a client of the firm’s Los Angeles office to send its UK-related work to the firm’s London office. The client wanted to buy a company in the UK, as it wanted to expand into the European market. 

There was very little information in the materials, so this required a lot of commercial thinking. They asked questions like 

  • What would Dentons London want to know before commencing this deal? (e.g. insights from the LA Dentons office about its experience with this client). 
  • What are the main things the client needs to consider in relation to the deal?
  • Why would the client choose Dentons?

They then said that the target company had a bad reputation among its employees, so had to be careful regarding employee lawsuits. I was asked to explain what the client should consider, in light of this, before acquiring the target. 

They then transitioned to the general interview, beginning with motivation questions and then moving on to competency questions. Questions I remember being asked include:

  • Why Dentons’ vacation scheme?
  • Tell us what you think Dentons’ culture entails and how you would fit into it.
  • What qualities make up a successful commercial lawyer?  
  • What does a commercial lawyer do? 
  • Tell me about the areas you’re interested in working in within Dentons.

Wrap up 

Short call with an HR representative to ask any final questions. She told us we would hear back in 2 weeks. 

What was the outcome?

Still waiting to hear back (it has already taken longer than the stated 2 weeks).

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

Prepare for the case studies a lot. Brush up on your knowledge of M&A deals and client considerations. There are quite a lot of pages in the written exercise, so make sure you allocate time wisely to include all relevant information, and be aware of the extra email with more information (it looked like this threw a few people off).

I would also recommend joining the calls early. This shows you’re keen, plus it gave me a chance to chat to HR with only one other person on the call, so we both got to ask more questions than the others.

 


Dentons Vacation Scheme - January 2023

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Situational judgement test

3. Video interview

4. Assessment centre

Which aspect does this report cover?

Video interview

Where did the interview take place?            

Dentons’ online test platform

What did the interview involve?      

I was required to answer five questions. There was no limit on how long I had to prepare each question, and I was then given two minutes to record each answer. There was no option to re-record answers.

Which questions were you asked?

What was the outcome?                                                  

I received an email four weeks later to inform me that I had been unsuccessful. 

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

Draw from a range of examples so that you are able to present yourself as well-rounded.


Vacation Scheme - March 2022

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application (3 questions)

2. Psychometric test (Watson Glaser. You only receive this if you pass the application stage.)

3. Telephone competency interview

4. Assessment centre 

4. Vacation scheme 

Which aspect does this report cover?

Vacation scheme assessment centre, plus the questions I can remember from the telephone interview.

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

Zoom

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Briefing: overview of the day and written task briefing (~30 minutes with graduate recruitment)

2. Written task: draft an email of advice based on various background documents (~1 hour 15 minutes)

3. Written task presentation: verbally presenting written task findings (~20 minutes with 2 associates)

4. Case study briefing: phone call (~10 minutes with graduate recruitment)

5. Interview: case study questions, plus competency and motivation questions (~1 hour 15 minutes with two partners)

Written exercise  

I was given ~13 pages of information about a fictional company that wished to launch its app into a new jurisdiction, including documents such as emails, news reports, tables and graphs. I was then told that I was working for a fictional private equity firm (or something along these lines) and had been asked by my supervisor to review these documents, then send an email to a particular individual summarising my findings and advice. As part of the brief, I was told to comment on, for example, the best location to expand into, how to brand the app, and so on.

Halfway through the task, I received another email containing ‘urgent information’ that I needed to incorporate into my email. It was fairly short, so this wasn’t too difficult. More generally, there wasn’t much time pressure in my opinion, as 1 hour 15 minutes was plenty of time to get through all the information and write the email. Note that I received no advice as to how I should structure the task; it was a matter of personal interpretation.

Written task presentation

This element of the assessment centre involved me verbally presenting the advice and findings I had included in my email. The associates assessing me were friendly and prompted me when needed. They didn’t really ask any questions, other than clarifications or ‘is there anything else you would like to add?’.

Interview                

Case study

The case study was centred on a fairly standard fictional M&A deal, and lasted for 45-55 minutes. I was representing a buyer, which was a biofuel company in South America that wanted to expand into the UK through purchasing another biofuel company. Note however that the questions I was asked covered many aspects of the deal (they weren’t only buyer-specific questions).

The partner and I went through the entire acquisition process together, and I was asked questions such as:

The partner was extremely friendly and more than happy to prompt me when needed. To prepare for this element of the interview, I strongly recommend knowing the process of an acquisition by heart, including the role of due diligence, the role of NDAs, and what is covered by key transaction documents such as sale and purchase agreements. General commercial awareness would be useful too, as you might be able to weave in knowledge around (for example) inflation and interest rates (although this was not the focus of the conversation).

Competency and motivation questions 

Next, I was asked a series of competency and motivation questions. The case study ran over, so I didn’t face too many of these. Expect the usual questions such as ‘why Dentons?’, ‘why law?’ and a few questions based on your experiences (for example, ‘tell me about a time when you disagreed with someone’).

As a further point of reference, my pre-assessment centre telephone interview involved questions such as:

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?                                                       

Remain enthusiastic throughout the partner interview. Show your personality, admit when you’re unsure of the answer, and don’t be afraid to ask for clarifications.

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