Paul Weiss Summer Vacation Scheme – February 2025

What was the full recruitment process?         

1. Written application: 3 questions.

2. Online test: a blended assessment which included situational judgement scenarios, numerical questions and verbal reasoning questions.

3. Assessment centre: 1 interview (30 minutes with a member of HR and a partner)

4. Vacation scheme

Which aspect does this report cover?

Vacation scheme assessment centre

Where did the assessment centre take place?            

The firm's London office

What did the assessment centre involve?      

General interview: competency, motivation, commercial and personality questions (45 minutes with a partner and the senior recruitment manager).

General interview         

Tthere was only one interview, which lasted around 30 minutes, plus 15 minutes for questions at the end. The interview included commercial awareness questions, as well as competency and motivation questions.

Competency questions 

• Tell me about a time you had to deal with a conflict.
• Tell me about a time you had to accept criticism.
• Talk about x experience from your application.

Motivation questions 

• Why have you chosen commercial law?
• Why Paul Weiss?

Legal and commercial awareness questions 

• How do you stay commercially aware?
• Tell me about a recent news story you’ve been following.
• How will AI impact the profession?

Personality questions

• How do you unwind?
• Recommend me a book.

What was the outcome?                                                  

The firm called me two weeks after the assessment centre to tell me I had been successful, and offer me a place on the summer vacation scheme.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

The interview is very straightforward and not intended to catch you out. A key thing I would recommend is speaking slowly and clearly, making sure to fully develop all your answers.

Make sure you know your application and can remember what you’ve written. They frequently referred to my work experience section, so be ready to talk about any of your experiences in detail.

They also asked a few personality-based questions just to get to know you as a whole. Be personable and honest, as it comes across as authentic which is something I think interviewers really appreciate.

Finally, make sure you understand key commercial concepts such as private equity and types of financing. Paul Weiss is a top private equity and transactional firm, so make sure you understand basic transactional law terminology. Don’t worry too much about this however, as they just want to see that you understand the basics and can explain them clearly and logically.