Bevan Brittan Vacation Scheme - June 2024

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Online pre-recorded video interview

3. Vacation scheme assessments

4. Training contract offer

Which aspect does this report cover?

Online pre-recorded video interview, and vacation scheme assessments

What did the pre-recorded video involve?      

A short video interview with pre-recorded questions, including:

• Which team at Bevan Brittan would you most like to work in?
• If you could have one superpower, what would it be? 
• What is your biggest success?
• Why do you want to train with Bevan Brittan?
• How do you manage stressful periods? 

I believe I had ~2 minutes to prepare for, then ~2 minutes to answer each question, with no option to re-record. The firm called me two weeks after to let me know I had been successful. 

Because this process is much shorter than others, there is a big emphasis on personality. The questions are more about whether you are someone who would fit the Bevan Brittan culture more than your technical ability. I would focus on giving authentic answers and trying to centre them on what makes you unique. You will also do well if you can explain why you are applying to a slightly smaller firm with a smaller intake. 

Vacation scheme assessments 

Written assessment

Group presentation

Across the two weeks you are put into a group of 4/5 with other vac schemers from all UK offices. You are then given the choice of two topics, ours were either a presentation on an affordable housing association (one of Bevan Brittan’s clients) or one on the implications of the general election on Bevan Brittan’s clients. We produced a ten-minute presentation and then were asked questions afterwards by the assessors. 

Final interview

At the end of the two weeks there was an interview with three individuals (one partner and two senior associates). This interview largely focussed on your experience across the two weeks. I was asked:

• Why do you want to train here?
• What seats would you be interested in?
• What has been your favourite part of the two weeks?
• What do you think could be improved here?
• What are our core values?
• Why did you apply for the London office?
• How did you find the group presentation? 
• What have you learnt from the work you have completed here?
• What sets us apart from our competitors? 
• What have you learnt about Bevan Brittan whilst being here? 
• Tell me about (x) work experience you did. 
• Tell me about your weaknesses. 
• What do you think are the greatest challenges facing law firms over the next three years?

What was the outcome?                                                  

I received a call a month afterwards to say I had been unsuccessful. Feedback was then available via another call a few weeks later.

Training Contract – May 2022

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application: 6 questions (2 questions revolving around you personally, 2 scenario based questions, and 2 commercial based questions).

2. Video interview: pre-recorded video interview.

3. Written exercise: to be completed in the week leading up to the assessment centre.

4. General interview: one interview with two partners (including the Training Principal) and a senior early talent advisor.

Which aspect does this report cover?

Video interview, written exercise, and training contract assessment centre.

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

Remotely (Microsoft Teams for the general interview).

Video interview  

The pre-recorded video interview involved a range of competency and ‘get to know you’ type questions, including:

• Tell us about yourself
• What are your greatest skills?
• What are the key skills of a successful lawyer?
• What is your proudest achievement? 

Each question appeared for 15 seconds. I then had 45 seconds to record my answer. There was no option to re-record answers.

Pre-assessment centre interview 

I was sent a written exercise at a convenient time that I had pre-agreed with the Early Talent team. Upon receipt, I had 90 minutes to complete the exercise and send my work back to the recipient via email.

The exercise involved me receiving a ‘botched-up’ non-disclosure agreement. They made it clear that I wasn’t being tested on my legal knowledge; the focus was on my attention to detail. I needed to identify and comment on spelling and grammatical mistakes within the document and also draft an email to my supervisor suggesting further amendments that I thought the document required. 

Take your time, don’t panic, and read the instructions carefully.

General interview

My interview lasted for 80 minutes (apparently they usually last for 60 minutes), which I took as a good sign, as it suggested the interviewers enjoyed speaking to me. 

I was interviewed by two partners and a senior early talent advisor. I aimed to turn the interview into a conversation, which made the whole experience less daunting and more enjoyable. 

The questions involved a range of personal, motivation, competency and commercial awareness questions, including:

• Tell us about yourself
• What would you say are your strengths and your weaknesses?
• Why do you want to train at Bevan Brittan?
• Can you tell us about a recent case or legal update in the news you have read about recently and your views on that?
• Why is diversity and inclusion important to you?
• Give an example where you have overcome adversity?
• Give an example where you have worked in a pressurised environment and managed to overcome any setbacks?
• What sector are you most interested in?
• If you didn’t know the answer to a client question how would you respond?
• Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

What was the outcome?                                                  

I received my training contract offer by phone 7 days after the interview. 

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

The interviewers are looking for two things: do they like you and do they trust you. Most interviewers want you to succeed. If you can, try to turn the interview into a conversation – it makes the experience much more enjoyable.

Throughout the interview, try to stay calm and clear headed so that you can formulate your responses and articulate your syntax in a clear manner and ensure you are answering the specific questions asked.

Be prepared. Try to cover as many areas as you can throughout your interview preparation, including recent news articles which the firm has published and developments in their sector focuses. Be prepared to really pinpoint why you want to work for them specifically – try to specialise and individualise your answers as much as you can.