Norton Rose Fulbright Vacation Scheme - October 2024

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Psychometric test: NRF Arctic Shores assessment

3. Live video interview

4. Assessment centre

5. Vacation scheme

Which aspect does this report cover?

Vacation scheme assessment centre

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

Virtually

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Negotiation exercise: working in a pair with another candidate, negotiating the terms of a Share Purchase Agreement (~30 minute discussion with my team mate, ~25 minute negotiation, observed by 1 associate).

2. Commercial scenario: Deciding where to allocate funding for a community project (~35 minutes preparation, ~15-20 minute discussion with a junior associate)

3. Partner interview: competency, motivation and commercial awareness questions, (~40 minutes, with 1 partner and 1 senior associate)

Negotiation exercise

This exercise involved a fictional transaction. A small fashion and textiles business was being sold to a larger company. I was put in a pair with another candidate; we were representing the founder of the target company. Two other candidates were representing the buyer.

My partner and I were given information about our client’s business as well as her goals for the negotiation. For example, we were told that she would like to be kept on as a managing director on a certain salary. We had ~30 minutes to discuss this information and decide on a negotiation strategy. Our discussion was observed by an associate at the firm.

We then went in to the negotiation with the other candidates. We had to negotiate:

• Purchase price
• The founder’s role and salary after completion
• Funding for the purchase of the business’s factory
• Legal liability (in relation to a lawsuit against a competitor)

We had 25 minutes to negotiate these terms. We were allowed to communicate with each other over WhatsApp. We had to hand in screenshots of our WhatsApp conversation to the graduate recruitment team at the end of the exercise (we were told in advance that we would be asked to do this).

Commercial scenario      

I was given information on a textiles business which wanted to spend some money to boost their reputation. This included information about the financial performance of the business, their major clients and customers, and how each of the major stakeholders would prefer the money to be spent.

I was then given several different options of projects that would boost the business’ reputation. These options included:

• Building a leisure centre in the local community
• Sponsoring an international artist’s touring exhibition
• Entering a national competition for textiles employers

I was told how much each project would cost as well as the logistics involved with organising it.

I then went in to an interview with a junior associate at the firm. I had to tell them which project I had chosen and explain my reasoning. The associate asked me some follow up questions including:

• What would have been your second choice?
• What additional information would you want to know about this project before investing?
• How could you make this project even more beneficial?

Partner interview

I was interviewed by one partner and one senior associate. The interview was in the form of an informal and friendly discussion. Both interviewers were very friendly and relaxed. Questions included:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why do you want to be a commercial lawyer? 
• Do you know anybody who works in this field?
• Why do you want to work at Norton Rose Fulbright?
• Tell me about a commercial news story you have been following recently (+ follow-up questions).
• What area of law do you see yourself working in?
• Tell me about a time you have worked in a team.
• Tell me about a time you have had to change your approach.

They then asked me about what I would do in a hypothetical situation in which I noticed a mistake on an agreement which benefitted my client (for example the purchase price was wrong and would allow my client to purchase another company for a lower price). This question is all about integrity, so stick to your morals!

What was the outcome?                                                  

The firm called me a week after the assessment centre to tell me I had been successful and inviting me to their vacation scheme.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

This assessment centre is quite hard to prepare for. The most important thing would be responding to the information in each task and thinking flexibly and creatively.

For the negotiation exercise, it is very helpful to have solid knowledge of share purchase agreements and how they work. It’s important to work collaboratively with your partner. However, in the negotiation itself don’t get too caught up on messaging your partner privately about every single decision. This can make the negotiation very slow, stilted and awkward. Decide together what you are willing to compromise on in advance and focus on having a productive conversation in the negotiation itself. 

The commercial scenario is pretty impossible to prepare for in advance. Take advantage of the time you have to ask your interviewer questions. They will likely be an NQ / junior associate so a great opportunity to ask their advice regarding the assessment centre and vacation scheme.

The partner interview was quite relaxed. Be ready to talk about commercial news stories that interest you and respond to their follow-up questions. Showing interest and enthusiasm seemed to be the key thing.

Norton Rose Fulbright Vacation Scheme - December 2023

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Arctic Shores game-based assessment: this involved testing memory, risk appetite, emotional cognition etc. (see https://www.graduatesfirst.com/arctic-shores).

3. Telephone interview

4. Assessment Centre

Which aspect does this report cover?

Telephone interview

Where did the interview take place?            

Phone call

What did the interview involve?      

I was required to answer ~5 questions within 30 minutes. It was with a member of the Graduate Recruitment team.

Which questions were you asked?

• Tell me about yourself
• Why law?
• How do you go about developing commercial awareness?
• What must a law firm consider before setting up a new overseas office?

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?

Have a very convincing answer for why commercial law. Be prepared to demonstrate proactivity and that you have used a wide variety of sources to improve your commercial awareness. Understand the business of international law firms – best friends networks vs opening overseas offices, regulatory challenges when operating in certain jurisdictions, reputational risk and political backlash when operating in geopolitically controversial environments etc.

Norton Rose Fulbright Vacation Scheme - March 2023

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

3. Watson Glaser

4. Telephone interview

4. Assessment centre

Which aspect does this report cover?

Vacation scheme assessment centre

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

Virtually

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Partner interview: a variety of competency, motivation and commercial questions (1 hour, with two partners)

2. Group exercise: contract negotiation exercise with 3 other candidates (1 hour with graduate recruiters)  

3. Case study exercise: commercial case study (45 minutes with an associate) 

Partner interview       

Motivation questions

• Why did you choose to study law and why are you pursuing a career in commercial law?
• Why Norton Rose Fulbright?
• Tell me about x experience from your work experience section on your application form.
• Why did you choose law over another career such as banking or consultancy? 

Competency questions

• What do you think a day in the life of an NRF trainee looks like?
• Tell me about a time you worked in a team and someone in that team was demotivated and not engaged.
• Tell me about a time you where you demonstrated leadership skills in a team. 

Commercial awareness/technical questions

• If you could introduce one new law or change an existing law, what would it be?
• In tort law, how is a breach of duty established?
• In contract law, what are the key components in the creation of a contract and what are some of the remedies available to a party if a breach occurs?
• What does commercial awareness mean to you and why is it important for lawyers?
• Tell us about an area of law you are interested in and why.

Group exercise

The group exercise revolved around two parties negotiating a contract, with each team representing a different party. 

I was paired with another candidate at the start. The two of us were given 30 minutes to read through documents which detailed the proposed terms of a commercial contract between our client and the opposing party’s client. These documents contained key details such as the length of the contract, the price of the proposed services, and termination rights. We were also given a document that outlined our client’s non-negotiables, things they would prefer not to concede, and things they were happy to concede.

We then joined a call with two other candidates, who were representing the other side’s interests. For 30 minutes, the two teams had to negotiate the key terms of the contract on behalf of their clients. During the whole process, three members of graduate recruitment were assessing us.

During the negotiation, there was a chat bar available where you could send messages to your partner. I would really recommend taking advantage of this.

Case study exercise

I was provided with a bundle of documents that detailed a fictional town council in England. The council was trying to decide what two projects to invest in. The documents detailed a lot of facts about the two projects, including the advantages and disadvantages of both.

I was then tasked with preparing a 5-minute presentation on which project I thought would be a better investment for the council. After my presentation, I was then asked a variety of questions, such as:

• Do you think it would be better if the council did not invest in either project?
• What do you think is the biggest factor influencing the council's decision?

What was the outcome?                                                  

The firm emailed me three weeks after the assessment centre to tell me I had been unsuccessful.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

Partner interview

• Study your application: familiarise yourself with your application form and work experience section to discuss your experiences confidently.
• Research NRF: understand the firm's values, culture, and recent projects. Align your motivations with the firm's goals.
• Research trainee life: gain insights into the daily life of an NRF trainee to answer questions about your expectations realistically.
• Teamwork scenarios: prepare examples of working in a team, addressing issues like demotivation, and showcasing your leadership skills.

Commercial awareness/technical questions

• Stay informed: keep up with legal news, especially in areas that interest you. Be ready to discuss a specific area of law and its implications.
• Know your basics: brush up on fundamental legal concepts in tort and contract law. Prepare your views on introducing or changing laws and the importance of commercial awareness.

Group exercise

• Effective communication: practice clear and concise communication. Use the chat bar strategically to collaborate with your partner during the negotiation.
• Time management: efficiently read through documents, focusing on key details. Be prepared to articulate your negotiation strategy.

Case study exercise

• Analytical skills: practice analysing complex information and making informed decisions.
• Presentation skills: develop a structured and concise presentation on your chosen project. Anticipate questions and prepare thoughtful responses.