Simmons & Simmons Winter Vacation Scheme – October 2024

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Short application: no written questions

2. Psychometric test and video interview: Simmons & Simmons blended assessment including situational judgement, verbal reasoning and personality sections followed by a video interview.

3. Assessment centre

4. Vacation scheme

Which aspect does this report cover?

Video interview and vacation scheme assessment centre

Video interview 

This was a virtual pre-recorded video interview. I was required to answer four 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. I was asked the following questions:

1. What personally appeals to you about Simmons & Simmons?
2. What would you most and least enjoy about a career in law?
3. What is a trend that will affect the legal market over the next 5-10 years?
4. Tell us about a piece of feedback you received which made you change your approach?   

Below outlines how I approached each question. Note that because I had unlimited planning time, I scripted my answers, then read them out.

1. What personally appeals to you about Simmons & Simmons?

What personally appeals to me about Simmons & Simmons is your specialism in technology, particularly helping businesses use AI technology, as well as the firm’s international footprint and supportive culture.

Simmons & Simmons is focused on four highly regulated sectors. Of these I am most interested in your technology, media and telecommunications sector. I was really impressed to see Simmons & Simmons ranked in tier one for Artificial Intelligence by Legal 500 and to read about how the firm advised UBS on its Responsible AI Programme. This is the kind of work which really excites me about a career in commercial law. I want to work with ambitious businesses, helping them pursue innovation and the latest technology while navigating changing regulations.

I got a first-hand taste of this during my work placement in the legal team at [REDACTED]. I was there as the business was preparing for the Online Safety Act and the Digital Markets Competition and Consumer Act to come into force. I really enjoyed seeing how lawyers used practical and strategic thinking to prepare for increasing regulations while keeping the business’s commercial aims in mind.

Simmons’s established international presence also appeals to me because of the opportunity to work with clients where they are. For instance, the firm’s move into Silicon Valley, the home of the world’s largest technology companies, in 2022 has bolstered its relationship with the tech sector and positions it well to win new work. I want to be able to work with the world’s most influential businesses wherever they’re based

Finally, I want to work at a supportive firm. I am reassured by Simmons and Simmons emphasis on personal development, having read about the Compass Trainee Academy. This training programme which supports trainees as they figure out how to manage their work load and develop key interpersonal and business development skills, shows that the firm is invested in the success of its junior lawyers and I am convinced that this is a firm where I could thrive.

2. What would you most and least enjoy about a career in law?

In a career in commercial law, I think I would most enjoy building strong and trusting relationships with colleagues and clients. I chose to pursue a career as a solicitor, rather than as a barrister because of the team-based nature of the work. I have always enjoyed working collaboratively with others, for example, currently, I am working as a presenter on ‘The Firm Rundown’ podcast. This is a small, new project which my team and I are working hard to grow. Having a team around me to bounce ideas off, celebrate success with and support each other through challenges has been invaluable to me. I am really looking forward to replicating this healthy and supportive team culture later in my career,

I am also looking forward to building strong, mutually beneficial relationships with clients. When I worked as a waitress at [REDACTED], the highlight of my job was building relationships with guests. It’s really rewarding to deliver high-quality work and get that good feedback and positive relationship.

That being said, every career has its challenges. I am well aware that a successful career in commercial law, working at a firm producing the highest quality of work, like Simmons and Simmons will involve some late nights, occasional weekend work and personal sacrifices. This is the element of the career which I think I will enjoy the least. 

However, I believe that having strong, collegiate relationships with my colleagues, where we support each other through these tough periods will make this so much easier. Additionally, positive relationships with clients, and working on matters for interesting businesses which I care about, will make the hard work more than worth it.

3. What is a trend that will affect the legal market over the next 5-10 years?

Two key ways in which the legal sector is changing is the development of legal tech, particularly focused on generative AI, and an increased emphasis on corporate responsibility and ESG concerns.

The use of generative AI in the legal industry has been a hot topic of conversation. Many large commercial firms have developed their own AI tools to drive efficiencies and improve their client service. For example, Simmons & Simmons launched its advanced generative AI tool, ‘Percy’ at the end of last year. 

This wave of AI tools which can summarise texts and assist in drafting documents will free up fee earner time to focus on more complex legal problems. AI technology is advancing all the time and may well develop to be able to handle more complex tasks. Microsoft, Salesforce and Workday have all announced their plans to release AI agents which can act on behalf of users where current assistant models can only suggest. With these tools become more and more powerful, I think the legal industry will become more focused on the interpersonal skills that generative AI can’t replicate, making human connections with clients, inspiring confidence and trust.

Another way the legal profession is changing is the increased focus on corporate responsibility and ESG concerns. I have attended a virtual “ESG and M&A workshop” hosted by a large commercial firm where I learned that clients are increasingly interested in the ESG credentials of the law firms they instruct, asking for data on a firm’s environmental sustainability, diversity statistics, and corporate responsibility initiatives before choosing whether to work with them. I witnessed this firsthand during my legal work placement at eBay where I spent time with the firm’s diversity group.

For law firms, winning work will no longer be a case of offering the highest quality expertise for the best price. Law firms will have to seriously consider their environmental and social impact in order to compete in the market.

4. Tell us about a piece of feedback you received which made you change your approach.

I received a piece of feedback in my second year at university which made me change my approach.

At the beginning of my second year of university, I had lost focus on my academic work. My first year was marked by lockdowns, cancelled exams and virtual teaching. I found it hard to connect to my subject without the in-person contact hours I had been used to pre-Covid. I lost the passion for my studies and consequently I started putting in less effort. Although I was still meeting academic expectations, I knew I was not hitting my full potential.

At the beginning of my second year, I received some feedback from my personal tutor. He told me that he had noticed that I was not committing myself to my work and delivering to the best of my ability. He spoke to me about his love of literature and expressed frustration that I wasn’t striving to achieve my best.

At the time, I found this feedback harsh and surprising, however now I am so grateful for it. It inspired me to completely change my approach and reignite my love for my subject. Although Covid lockdowns and online teaching were beyond my control, I took responsibility for what I could control. I attended online lectures regularly, on topics which interested me personally. I made an effort to follow my own interests beyond my assignments.

The more effort I put in, the more motivated I was to work and improve my academic performance. At the end of my degree, I graduated with first class honours, an achievement which I am very proud of. Without this honest, frank feedback, I may not have changed my approach so significantly and achieved as highly as I did.

This experience has also taught me a lesson which I will carry into my future career. It is vital to take responsibility for your own achievement.

I received an email a few days later inviting me to the assessment centre.

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

Virtually, on the TopScore platform

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Inbox exercise: prioritising an inbox of emails and explaining the next steps I would take, plus identifying whether a contract included a penalty clause and explaining my reasoning (~1 hour)

2. Client discussion exercise: reading background information on a fictional client and on the firm, then giving an oral presentation on what I would discuss with this client (~25 minutes reading time, ~5 minutes speaking time)

3. Case study exercise and competency interview: discussing a case study, followed by competency and motivation questions (30 minutes reading, ~30 minutes discussion, with 1 partner)

Inbox exercise

I read through an inbox containing 10 emails. I ranked each email low, medium or high priority, justifying each decision, and briefly described what next steps I would take in response to each email.

The final email contained information on penalty clauses and an extract from a contract. I was asked to decide, based on the information in the email, whether the contract contained a penalty clause and explain my reasoning.

It is difficult to manage your time in this exercise. Prioritising the emails is not difficult but can be time-consuming. The final question about penalty clauses requires proper attention and brain power so be careful not to use up all your time on the emails!

Client discussion exercise

I was given written background information on a fictional client who was visiting the office, as well as some information on Simmons & Simmons. I was to play the role of a trainee, looking after a client during some downtime between meetings.

The client was a tech company, looking to expand into China and Silicon Valley and to use AI in their products. I was told that the client valued a positive work culture. The background information on Simmons & Simmons highlighted the firm's strengths in AI advisory law and the location of their offices – they have four offices in China and have recently opened a satellite office in Silicon Valley – as well as information on their office culture and diversity initiatives.

I was interviewed by an associate who asked me, based on the information I had read, what topics I would discuss with the client between meetings to show Simmons & Simmons in the best light. Once I had delivered my presentation, I was asked no further questions.

Case study and competency interview

The case study was about a client (a health-tech company) which had suffered a data breach. They had mistakenly emailed the usernames and passwords of a number of their customers to their entire userbase. I was provided with some information about data privacy regulations. 

I was then interviewed by a partner at the firm who asked me what next steps I would advise the client to take. The central question was whether the client was obliged to inform the IPO of the breach and whether you would advise them to. I said that the client did not need to inform the IPO (which the interviewer said was the correct conclusion).

The interview then moved on to competency and motivation questions.

Competency questions 

• Tell me about yourself.
• Tell me about a time you worked in a team and had to compromise
• Tell me about a time you had to work hard to build a relationship with somebody.

Motivation questions 

• Why do you want to be a commercial lawyer?
• Why do you want to work at Simmons & Simmons?

What was the outcome?                                                  

The firm called me the following Tuesday to tell me I had been successful.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

The client discussion exercise is pretty straightforward. However, it did help me significantly that I had thoroughly researched the firm in advance so I already knew a lot of the information provided and could spend more time planning. The associate will not prompt you or ask questions so you have to be confident presenting all of your ideas.

The case study was the most challenging exercise. Again, be confident when presenting your ideas and don’t be afraid to get it slightly wrong. Respond to the partner when they question you. The competency and motivation questions are straightforward but make sure to focus on the specific actions that YOU took when approaching a situation.

Simmons & Simmons Vacation Scheme - December 2023

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Psychometric test and video interview: blended assessment including situational judgement, verbal and numerical reasoning, and pre-recorded video interview (with unlimited preparation time).

3. Assessment centre

Which aspect does this report cover?

Vacation scheme assessment centre

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

Via software called LaunchPad

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. In-tray exercise: email prioritisation and technical task (1 hour 15 mins on LaunchPad)

2. Client interview exercise: read through documents and discussed what approach to take with a specific client (20 minutes preparation, 15 minutes for the task, with 1 senior associate)

3. Case study exercise: reviewed documents and prepared a verbal briefing regarding a client issue (45 minutes preparation, ~15 minutes for the task, with 1 partner)

4. General interview: competency, motivation, and legal questions (~30 minutes with the same partner – this interview occurred directly after the case study exercise)

In-tray exercise

There were two parts to this exercise.

Part A

This part involved ranking tasks contained in ~10 fictional emails as low/medium/high priority, plus summarising my proposed response/plan of action for each task. There was a real variety of complex tasks, including an external barrister trying to follow up with your supervisor, a pro bono clinic reaching out, and a partner asking me to travel to a client site for a document signing. This was like a comprehensive situational judgement test and is difficult to prepare for – those who have had a previous corporate job would likely find this more intuitive. 

Part B

This part involved proofreading a contract and term sheet with a view to identifying inconsistencies, and answering (via email) various questions posed by a fictional supervisor. The contract was quite long (maybe ~10 pages) and some of the inconsistencies were quite subtle. The assessor is apparently given an exhaustive list of inconsistencies that candidates should aim to flag, so I was advised to try my best to flag every possible inconsistency in order to tick off as many as possible from the list. 

One of the questions also required me to read a Simmons & Simmons article on penalty clauses and evaluate whether the contract contained one. This tested my attention to detail and analytical ability, plus my ability to operate in accordance with a tight deadline.

The in-tray exercise is very time pressured and demanding, so time management is crucial. 

Client interview exercise 

The task involved a mock internal discussion with an associate regarding which services the firm could provide in relation to a fictional client request regarding protecting its intellectual property from AI tools, and the best approach to take in maintaining this client relationship. The background materials I was given included a brief from another associate, a training menu from the Learning & Development team, and a department profile of the Simmons & Simmons AI team.

There is not too much guidance for this task apart from the suggested pointers mentioned above. I took the lead in the discussion by presenting my thoughts on each of the points and paused in between to ask if anything was unclear. The senior associate would then ask some questions to clarify what I meant or provide some alternative suggestions. I also asked for their opinion on some of my ideas to make it feel more like a conversation. 

The task is quite unique, so it is hard to prepare for. It tests your ability to have professional and productive discussions with other lawyers. It also tests your commercial acumen in terms of how to sell the firm appropriately and convincingly to a client, given the client’s unique characteristics.

Case study interview

I was first given a ~10 page bundle of documents relating to a healthcare client, which had entered into a joint venture with a software developer to launch a health app. The case study focused on a data breach, which had involved some personal details of a small number of users being compromised. 

The bundle included background information, guidelines from the Information Commissioner’s Office on when individuals affected should be notified, and a snapshot of internal compliance training regarding data breaches. I had 45 minutes to read the information and prepare an oral presentation that covered the following questions:

• With reference to the UK GDPR (given in the ICO guidelines), what type of data breach has the client committed, and does the client have to notify the individuals affected?
• If the client does need to notify the individuals, what steps must they take? 
• What measures can the client take to prevent such data breaches from reoccurring?

The partner also asked follow-up questions based on my presentation, including: 

• Was there anything the client could have done during the negotiation process to prevent the data breach occurring? 
• Contractually, could the client have gained more control over the joint venture?
• Are there any other commercial risks the client should be aware of and if so, how could these be addressed?

The 45 minutes of prep time places you under real time pressure. Make sure you at least skim read everything, and try to pick up on all the key issues. Plan your oral presentation using very brief and clear notes (to save time) whilst making sure the notes/presentation plan allow you to systematically address every issue the client has raised/the case study questions.

General interview

Competency questions 

• Tell me about yourself.
• Tell me about a time you helped someone in a team.
• Tell me about a time you explained a difficult concept to someone.

Motivation questions 

• How did you become interested in commercial law?
• Why Simmons & Simmons?
• Talk about x experience from your CV.

Legal questions 

• What are some key responsibilities of a trainee solicitor?
• Which of the firm’s departments interest you and why?

What was the outcome?

The firm emailed me 3 weeks after the assessment centre to offer me a place on the vacation scheme.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

Just like the online test and video interview, every task is graded according to the four competencies: analytical minds, adaptive collaborators, resilient achievers and business thinkers. It is helpful to consider whether you are demonstrating these throughout the AC. Also, research the firm thoroughly – throughout the day you will be either explicitly or implicitly tested on the firm’s recent ventures, business plan, selling points etc.

The motivation interview is relatively straightforward and CV-blind. They really go through your work experience and application, so it is important to know your experiences inside out. Structure all your competency answers with STAR - I was probed a few times as my answers did not include all elements of STAR. 

The case study interview can be tricky because there is a lot of material given. Use the 45 minutes well to understand it. AI and technology seem to be the most assessed theme (twice in the AC and even during the vacation scheme group exercise), so research the sector well – what clients are concerned about, what are the key trends etc. 

The client discussion is the most challenging, as it is looks like a case study but is actually a test of how you communicate with a colleague. I would signpost each topic clearly, be professional, and ensure that it is a two-way conversation and not a one-sided presentation.