Morgan Lewis Vacation Scheme - February 2022 

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Psychometric test

3. Phone interview

4. Assessment centre

5. Vacation scheme

Which aspect does this report cover?

Phone interview and assessment centre

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

Microsoft Teams

Phone interview

This was a 20 minute phone interview, during which I was asked questions including:

• Why commercial law?
• Why Morgan Lewis?
• What skills do you think are important for a Morgan Lewis trainee?
• Are there any Morgan Lewis deals that have particularly interested you?
• We pride ourselves in our pro bono. Have you ever volunteered or worked on pro bono matters? 
• Tell me about a time you received criticism.
• Tell me about a time you showed leadership.
• Tell me about a time you worked under pressure.

What did the assessment centre involve?      

General interview: competency, motivation and commercial awareness questions (~30 minutes, with 1 graduate recruiter and 1 x Training Principal/Partner)

General interview

Competency questions

• What have you been doing since you graduated last year?
• What skills do you think are necessary for a trainee?
• Tell me about your small business.
• Tell me about your extra-curriculars.

Motivation questions

• Since you did not study law, why are you interested in commercial law?
• Why Morgan Lewis?
• Do you prefer US firms? What is it you prefer about them?

What was the outcome?                                                  

The firm called me the week after the assessment centre to offer me a place on the vacation scheme.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?                                                       

This was more like short conversation, as opposed to a gruelling interview. I was not asked any commercial or technical questions; this only goes to show that the firm really tries to get to know you as a person (your interests, your motivations and your character). Prepare your main motivations, and also be prepared to talk about anything you mentioned on your initial application.

Have a bank of interesting, thought-provoking questions to ask at the end of the interview. Lisa (the Training Principal) is also a Partner in the Finance team, so if this is your area of interest, ask her questions about her work too. And always be prepared to give your own input.