Shepherd and Wedderburn (x2)
Shepherd and Wedderburn Vacation Scheme – February 2025
What was the full recruitment process?
1. Application
2. Psychometric test: SHL general ability test
3. Assessment centre: interview and presentation
4. Summer placement
Which aspect does this report cover?
Assessment centre
Where did the assessment centre take place?
In person at the firm's Edinburgh office
What did the assessment centre involve?
1. Presentation: 5 minute presentation then one follow up questions (with an HR representative and a partner).
2. Interview: competency, motivation and scenario-based questions (~30 minutes, with the same HR representative and a partner).
Presentation
We were given two different topics to choose from, three days prior to the interview. The topics were on Diversity and Inclusion or ESG strategies and the presentation was to last 5 minutes. After the presentation was over, I got asked one (fairly easy) question. It was a really fun experience and did not take much time or preparation! At the end I was asked one question: is there anything you would change at the firm regarding the topic?
Interview
The next half an hour was the actual interview, where I was asked a variety of competency and motivation questions.
Competency questions
- Share a time you have worked with somebody challenging as part of a team
- When was a time you had worked towards a tight deadline and how did you handle it?
- When was a time you faced a challenge?
- When was a time when you faced criticism in a team?
Motivation questions
- Why Shepherd and Wedderburn?
- Why law?
- Favourite thing about studying law?
- Tell us about a leader that you admire (had to be a teacher or manager etc.).
I then had time to ask questions.
I got a phone call just over two weeks after the interview to inform me that I had been successful.
Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?
Really tie the presentation back to the firm and also try to link it back to yourself. The interviewers I had were absolutely lovely and very welcoming. Just be yourself but also try to come across as enthusiastic and chatty!
Shepherd and Wedderburn Vacation Scheme – February 2024
What was the full recruitment process?
1. Application
2. Verbal and numeric testing
3. Assessment centre
Which aspect does this report cover?
Assessment centre
Where did the assessment centre take place?
In person at the firm's office
What did the assessment centre involve?
1. Presentation: 5 minute presentation then one follow up questions (with an HR representative and a partner).
2. Interview: competency, motivation and scenario-based questions (~1 hour, with the same HR representative and a partner).
Presentation
I was sent a choice of two topics to present on in advance of the assessment centre. The topics were either a Diversity & Inclusion initiative or a Social Mobility initiative. There was very little in the brief regarding what to cover or how to conduct the presentation, although we were told we had the option to use PowerPoint slides.
One follow up question I remember was: “what overall is the most important area Shepherd and Wedderburn can improve to be more diverse and inclusive?”
Interview
After the presentation, the interview began right away. It covered a set list of basic questions, including:
- Why are you applying for the Shepherd and Wedderburn vacation scheme?
- Why law?
- Tell us about a time you worked in a team.
- Tell us about a time when you successfully completed a team task; what role did you take in the team to help make it as success?
- Tell us about a time where you faced conflict at work.
- Pick a person whose leadership style you admire, and tell us why.
I got to ask a lot of questions at the end, which is when it turned more into a conversation.
What was the outcome?
I received an email four weeks later to inform me that I had been unsuccessful. They said they would be in touch within two weeks but took a lot longer to get back to everyone, so I wouldn’t worry if it takes a while.
Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?
Prepare interview questions with family and friends, and your university careers service if you have the option. Prepare well for the presentation – although they only asked me one question on it so don’t stress too much. It wasn’t clear what I didn’t do well in, and they didn’t offer feedback after the interview, despite me asking.