Gateley Legal Vacation Scheme – March 2025
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What was the full recruitment process?
\n1. Application
\n2. Psychometric test: Blend of Watson Glaswer and personality questions, on Cappfinity.
\n3. Video interview
\n4. Assessment centre
\n5. Vacation scheme
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Which aspect does this report cover?
\nVacation scheme assessment centre.
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Where did the assessment centre take place?
\nOnline, via the virtual platform Cappfinity.
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What did the assessment centre involve?
\n1. Group exercise: given five initiatives, each member of the group asked to take one initiative and report back to the group, then decide as a group which initiative should be pursued (~1 hour with 1 partner and another assessor)
\n2. Written exercise: included writing a draft email and providing a brief to a partner ahead of a client meeting (~1 hour)
\n3. General interview: competency, motivation and commercial awareness questions (~45 minutes with 1 partner and 1 senior associate)
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Group exercise
\nWe were put into groups of five with two assessors present. We were presented with a document containing information about costs incurred by the firm for things like stationary, support staff, office utilities etc.
\nWe were told that the firm are looking to pursue one of five cost saving initiatives to save money. We were each allocated an initiative and allocated 20 minutes of reading time to read the case study, costs and details about our initiative. We then worked as a group to decide which of our initiatives we should propose to be pursued by the firm.
\nThe initiatives included: using AI to replace support staff for administrative tasks, using VR for training modules, closing the office two days a week, selling the office and renting office space instead, or purchasing and pursuing green energy initiatives.
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Written exercise
\nI was first given an 11-page bundle of documents relating to a sustainable coffee cup company. The instructions stated that we were assisting a partner with a client presentation. The partner needed a summary of the business, a list of questions to ask the client at the meeting, research on the market conditions relating to the client’s product, and any other areas which Gateley could assist the client with.
\nThe documents included background information, the location of the current stores, news articles, and an email from the partner. I had one hour to read the information and prepare a draft email to the partner. I was also asked to draft an email to a colleague in the real estate team, chasing them for some information.![\"Shape\"](\"https://files.cdn.thinkific.com/file_uploads/370217/images/444/c1e/5ce/1742765269121.png\")
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General interview
\nCompetency/personality questions
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- Tell me about yourself. \n
- Tell me about a time when you worked in a team. \n
- Tell me about a time when you worked with someone who had a different style of communication to you. \n
- Tell me about a time you had to manage a high workload. \n
- Tell me about a time when you had to learn something new, outside of your profession? \n
- What makes you a good fit for Gateley? \n
- What do you do in your spare time? \n \n
Motivation questions
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- Why do you want to start your career at Gateley? \n
- What makes Gateley stand out? \n
Legal and commercial awareness questions
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- What does commercial awareness mean to you? \n
- Tell me about a commercial business or legal story you have been following. \n
- How important is commercial awareness to you? \n
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What was the outcome?
\nI received an email 2.5 weeks after the assessment centre to tell me I had been successful.
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Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?
\nFor the group exercise, try to communicate in a way that helps the group. I don’t believe they are looking for a particular answer here, they are assessing how effectively you work with others and communicate.
\nThe written exercise is very tight for time. Make sure you read all of the information, as there were 8 separate attachments. One of the attachments contained further instructions so it is important to cover it all. Start writing before you finish reading, to maximise efficiency.
\nThe interview is straightforward, but it does include scenario-based questions, so make sure you are prepared to answer those! Make sure you prepare questions to ask at the end of your interview; the partners seemed to respond positively to thoughtful questions.
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Graduate solicitor apprenticeship – February 2025
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What was the full recruitment process?
\n1. Application
\n2. Situation judgement test (with Watson Glaster)
\n3. Video interview
\n4. Assessment centre
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Which aspect does this report cover?
\nVideo interview
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Where did the interview take place?
\nCappfinity Platform
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What did the interview involve?
\nI was required to answer two 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.
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Which questions were you asked?
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- Tell us about a commercial trend or a recent legal news story and how this would impact Gateley \n
- Tell us about a time you encountered a problem and what was your approach? \n
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What was the outcome?
\nI was informed in the invitation email that I would be hearing about my invitation to the AC within 3 weeks.
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Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?
\nTo ensure I was well-prepared, I created a structured document that focused on key areas of Gateley’s business, values, and recent deals. I specifically noted the firm’s unique selling points, including its listed status, its one-stop-shop approach integrating legal and professional services, and its forward-thinking business model. This helped me tailor my answers to the firm’s specific strengths.
\nFor commercial awareness, I compiled a list of trending legal and business news stories that could be relevant to Gateley. I focused on key industries the firm operates in, such as real estate, financial services, and corporate M&A. This ensured I had strong, relevant examples ready for the interview.
\nTo structure my responses, I used the STARL method (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Link to the firm’s values). I linked each answer to one of Gateley’s core values—forward-thinking, straight-talking, and collaboration—to demonstrate alignment with the firm’s culture.
\nLastly, I refined my delivery by recording myself answering questions and playing them back. This helped me work on my pacing, tone, and clarity, ensuring my responses were both structured and engaging.
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Gateley Training Contract - February 2021
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What was the full recruitment process?
\nUsually the firm only recruits from vacation schemes, but because of COVID, I was invited to interview for a direct training contract. The process was simply an online application then an assessment centre, although I believe the firm has now added a video interview stage to the process.
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Which aspect does this report cover?
\nTraining contract assessment centre.
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Where did the assessment centre take place?
\nOnline via Microsoft Teams.
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What did the assessment centre involve?
\n1. General interview: competency and commercial awareness questions (~60 minutes with 2 partners)
\n2. Written exercise: produce an email of commercial advice (~60 minutes)
\n3. Group exercise: commercial discussion and brief presentation (~60 minutes with a few partners and associates).
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General interview
\nCompetency questions
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- Tell me about a time when you have demonstrated resilience. \n
- Talk about a time when you have overcome a challenge. Is there anything you could have done differently? \n
- Talk about a time when you have shown creativity. \n
- Talk about a time when you have made and implemented a change, how you did this, and how it was received by a team. \n
- There was often a generic introductory question on each topic, and the interviewers would then ask specific follow up questions on parts of your answer. \n
Commercial awareness questions
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- We had a detailed discussion about the use of technology in law firms. \n
- I was also asked what technology I would suggest adopting to deal with a specific issue (in my case, this issue related to the use of electronic contracts). \n
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Written exercise
\nI was given access to background materials, which included basic information about a fictional international client and its business, emails about what the client wanted to achieve, and articles about the client’s industry. However, as the assessment centre was conducted online, we were also able to include our own wider internet research.
\nI was tasked with producing a lengthy email of advice regarding business issues faced by the fictional client. The issues related to, for example:
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- How the client conducts its business online. \n
- The use of technology. \n
- The need for a warehouse. \n
- The risks involved in running online businesses. \n
- Online payment systems. \n
- Delivering a positive online experience. \n
I needed to then draw conclusions based on the background information and my own research, and think of the wider impacts for the client and the firm. This involved some numerical analysis and calculations, as the background information included some data.
\nAs the end product was fairly long, structure was crucial, as was the use of headings. Tone was also important, as we were told the email was intended for the (fictional) client.
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Group exercise
\nI was put into a group of four, and we had a similar number of assessors. We were all given the same generic brief for the task, which involved a fictional business that was looking to implement greener office solutions and cut costs.
\nEach of us was also given a specific piece of (different) additional information regarding a potential option for achieving these objectives (each group member did not initially have access to the additional information provided to the other group members). The options included, for example, using energy saving lightbulbs, cutting printing, and scrapping the use of work mobile phones. We were then tasked as a group with pitching the best way of achieving the client’s objectives.
\nFirst, we each read and digested the specific information we had been sent. We then each pitched our initiative to the rest of the group. Next, we then selected one initiative as a group, and prepared a 5 minute verbal presentation on this option, which we had to then deliver to the assessors towards the end of the allocated time. Each of us had a speaking role, although this wasn’t mandatory.
\nMost of the information needed is provided, although it is important to add in commercial awareness about related current issues (for example – given the subject matter of our group exercise - worldwide problems sourcing mobile phone chips, or the shift to working from home).
\nIn terms of advice on how to approach this: make sure that you don’t spend too long presenting and discussing each initiative, as this will reduce the time available for planning and giving the presentation. If you are given figures, make sure you do any relevant calculations (e.g. work out the savings an initiative would give). And try and show your commercial awareness and think about the bigger picture wherever possible.
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What was the outcome?
\nThe firm emailed me 11 days after the assessment centre to tell me that I had been unsuccessful.
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Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?
\nAs part of your preparation, I would recommend ensuring you have a detailed understanding of how Gateley differs from other law firms. Also look into the other businesses that fall under its brand, just in case you can bring this knowledge into your answers.
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