Interview  

The interview only lasted around 25 minutes after the presentation. This included around 20 minutes for questions and 5 minutes at the end for me to ask questions to the panel.        

• Tell us about yourself.
• Given the non-rotational nature of the training contract, when have you taken initiative?
• Why do you want to be a commercial lawyer?
• Why do you want to train at V&E?
• Other questions about my background (e.g. what was your favourite PGDL subject and why? Why did you leave the US?).

What was the outcome?                                         

Still awaiting the outcome.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

In the email for the interview, it is stated that a maximum of 5 minutes is allowed for the presentation. However, I was allowed 5 minutes 30 seconds, so it might be wise to fill exactly 5 minutes to really develop a solid presentation. I believe there was a heavy emphasis on the presentation aspect, so doing well here will build confidence and rapport for the interview itself. I was not expecting commercial-related questions regarding my presentation which threw me off. So, make sure you know some of the business fundamentals connected to the topic you are discussing. 

Practicing the basic motivation and competency questions is essential (e.g. why law? Why V&E? etc.). Make sure you know what differentiates the firm from US counterparts and its place in the firm’s wider network (i.e. the firm’s energy and international arbitration focus and that it is part of a larger whole headquartered in Houston; the London office is not full service). Building rapport with the interviewers is essential from the start, as you are interviewing with a panel of four (though this could differ for others) and it is quite nerve-racking at the start. 

Vinson & Elkins Vacation Scheme - January 2025

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Pre-recorded video interview

3. Assessment Centre

Which aspect does this report cover?

Pre-recorded video interview

Where did the interview take place?            

Online via Spark Hire

What did the interview involve?      

I was required to answer three questions. There was no limit on how long I had to prepare each question, but they suggested not taking longer than a minute or a minute and a half to prepare, and they were able to see how long you spend before answering. I was given a minute and a half to answer the first two questions and one minute to answer the third question. I was given up to two attempts to record my answers.

Which questions were you asked?

• Tell us about yourself and why you should be given a spot on our vacation scheme?
• If there was any law you could bring into force, what would it be?
• What is the worst job you have ever had?

What was the outcome?                                                  

I am still waiting to hear back from the firm.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

Ensure you have concrete examples to support each of your answers. Prepare for basic motivation/competency questions, but also prepare for potentially obscure questions.

Vinson & Elkins Vacation Scheme - February 2024

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Pre-recorded video interview: 3 pre-recorded questions

3. Assessment centre

4. Vacation scheme

Which aspect does this report cover?

Vacation scheme video interview 

Pre-recorded video interview

The interview took place via software called Willo.

For each question, there was no limit for preparation time, but we were told the firm would look at how long we took to prepare (and we were given 1 minute as a guide time limit). We were also told that we could re-record each answer once if we wanted to.

I was asked the following questions:

1. Why Vinson & Elkins? (1 min prep, 2 mins answer limit)

2. Which law would you introduce and why? (1 min prep, 1 min answer)

3. What was your worst job? (1 min prep, 1 min answer)

Vinson & Elkins Vacation Scheme - February 2023

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Video interview: 3 pre-recorded questions

3. Assessment centre: presentation and an in-person interview

4. Vacation scheme

Which aspect does this report cover?

Vacation scheme video interview and assessment centre

Video interview

I was asked the following questions:

1. Tell us about yourself and why we should give you a place on our vac scheme (1 min prep, 1.5 mins answer limit)

2. What new law should be brought into force and why? (1 min prep, 1 min answer)

3. What has been your least favourite job? (1 min prep, 1 min answer)

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

It was due to take place at the firm’s office (24^th floor of “the Walkie Talkie” building in London), but it was moved to 22 Bishopsgate due to building works being carried out at the firm’s offices.

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Presentation: in-person presentation on a recent news story (2 weeks to choose and prepare a topic, ~5 minutes to present to 2 partners and 2 members of the graduate recruitment team)

2. Competency and motivation interview: competency and motivation questions (~25 minutes with 2 partners and 2 members of the graduate recruitment team)

Presentation

~Two weeks before the interview, I was given three options from which to choose a topic for my presentation:

• A recent news story that had piqued my interest, including its impact on V&E and the firm’s clients.
• A company that V&E should target as a prospective client.
• A recent legal development, including its impact on V&E and its clients.

I chose to discuss a news story, and focused on the UK’s nuclear policy. I created a PowerPoint slide deck to support my presentation, consisting of an introductory slide and four slides covering the main content.

Timing was important – I was told that I would be cut off at the 5 minute mark. Once my presentation finished, I was asked how I went about choosing the story to present (what sources I used, how I accessed those sources, which issues I considered etc.). 

To prepare, I recommend that you practice delivering your presentation to someone else under timed conditions at least once before doing the real thing. In particular, ask them to give you feedback on your presentation style and whether they found the way you delivered the content (both visually and orally) comprehensible.

Competency and motivation interview         

After the presentation, I was questioned by the two partners in attendance. The questions included:

• Tell us about yourself.
• What is it about the firm that particularly attracts you, and what deters you?
• Why has your virtual legal experience centred around firms which are very different to V&E, and how can this experience make you sure you want to work in V&E's London office? 
• Which other firms have you applied to? 
• Which skills can you bring from your current firm that will benefit you as a lawyer, as they seem like two different worlds to me? (note that I’m a career changer)

To prepare, I recommend practising your answer to the “tell us about yourself” question, as answering this well at the start can help you to build confidence at an early stage. Also carry out in-depth research into the firm. Familiarity with V&E’s London office and the role it plays within the firm’s wider global network of offices is key, as is understanding how V&E is positioned relative to its competitors/other law firms in London (e.g. it is a small office, focused on supporting EMEA clients in the energy sector, but is part of a much larger global whole, headquartered in Texas).

What was the outcome?                                                  

V&E emailed me a week after it had finished running assessment centres (10 days after my interview) to tell me that I had secured a place on the firm’s vacation scheme. I then filled out a form to confirm my interest in participating in the scheme.