Gillespie Macandrew Vacation Scheme - January 2024

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Application

2. Assessment centre

4. Vacation scheme

Which aspect does this report cover?

Vacation scheme assessment centre

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

The firm's Edinburgh office

What did the assessment centre involve?      

1. Proofreading exercise (~15 minutes)

2. Group interview (with 2 members of the recruitment team)

3. Written exercise (30 minutes)

Proofreading exercise

The assessment centre started with a 15 minute proofreading exercise. I was given a bundle of hardcopy documents and was asked to highlight spelling errors and write the correct spellings on a piece of paper. 

Group interview

The group interview was with two members of the recruitment team. All three of us were asked to answer the same questions, and we gave our answers in turn. 

• Why Gillespie Macandrew?
•  What practice areas are you interested in?
• Why would you choose us over other law firms?
• Have you applied to any other firms?
• Tell us about any new trends. 
• What new law would you introduce?

• If you were a brand what would your logo be?

Written exercise

The written exercises were very straightforward, and no prior legal knowledge was necessary. I had 30 minutes in total to complete both, writing in Microsoft Word.

Exercise 1

I had to read an email from a disgruntled client who had been trying to contact his lawyer. He had called three times already and sounded very unhappy. He wanted to arrange a time to talk with his lawyer face-to-face. My task was to write an appropriate response to the email. 

Exercise 2

I was asked to write a short bio to share on the firm’s website for clients to read. I had to write as a first-year trainee, and share my work highlights, experiences, professional interests, and character.

What was the outcome?                                                  

The firm emailed me a week after the assessment centre to tell me I had been unsuccessful.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

The group interview is very straightforward. They just want to get to know you as a person and test your ability to communicate effectively. They know that you’re applying to other firms, so it is important to persuade them that they are the right fit for you. 

For the written exercises, go with your instinct and start writing. Leave enough time at the end to proofread your work, check formatting, and add anything else that has occurred to you.