The assessment process for our vacation schemes and training contracts is broadly the same. For our workshops however, you will go through a slightly shorter assessment process. In all cases the emphasis is very much on looking at your motivation to become a first-class lawyer and evidence of our key competencies. Non-law students will not be at a disadvantage during the assessment process.

First stage - Application >>

Second stage - Situational judgment test >>

Third stage - Online verbal reasoning test >>

Fourth stage - Assessment day>>

General information

We will be recruiting about 100 trainee lawyers and 90 vacation scheme and workshop attendees. Typically we receive more than 4,000 applicants each recruitment year. We select students for our vacation schemes and training contracts using a four-stage process. Selection for our workshops uses only the first three stages of this process.

If you require additional assistance or a reasonable adjustment of the process at any stage, please do not hesitate to contact our graduate recruitment team using the details below:

Graduate Recruitment Tel: +44 (0) 20 7006 3003

First stage - Application

Please complete the online application form carefully. Think hard about what we’re looking for and about how you can demonstrate these qualities and attributes. You are eligible to make one application to either our workshop or our vacation scheme - unfortunately you may not make applications to both. If you are considering making an application for a vacation scheme or workshop, we suggest you do this before making your application for a training contract.

Applications for all our vacancies are extremely competitive and the selection process is designed to be challenging, thorough, but also informative. If you are unsuccessful in your application for a training contract, we would normally discourage you from making a further application within 12 months. If you have been unsuccessful in your application to attend a vacation scheme or workshop, you may still apply for a training contract.

Hints and tips
How to approach the application form

• In the application form, you will be asked to provide examples that demonstrate the competencies we are looking for. Take your time and think about examples that might illustrate these competencies - they can be from your academic life, work experience, extra-curricular activities, or general life.
• You must be able to demonstrate your motivation for applying to Clifford Chance and pursuing a career in commercial. We are looking for individuals who can express a genuine interest in the field of commercial law. We receive a lot of strong applications and this is one of the key areas in which you can differentiate yourself from other applicants.
• Pay attention to detail. Written communication skills are very important, particularly in the field of law. Spelling and grammatical errors can easily be avoided by carefully checking your application form. Applications which show poor attention to detail will be rejected. Re-read your application before submitting it and remember to keep a printed copy of the form - you will need to revisit your answers if you are selected to progress to the assessment stage.
• Ensure your contact details are correct.

Back to top

Second stage – Situational judgment test

If your application passes our initial screening, you will be asked to complete our situational judgment test (SJT). This is a short questionnaire, comprising a series of situations or scenarios similar to those you may encounter as a trainee. The SJT is designed to help you to understand more about what it might be like to work for Clifford Chance and to examine, through your responses, your suitability for the role for which we are recruiting. There is no time limit but the questionnaire should take you approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Back to top

Third stage - Online verbal reasoning test

We will look at your responses to the situational judgment test and your application form. If you pass the SJT you will be invited to complete a short online verbal reasoning test. You will have 15 minutes in which to complete the test.

Hints and tips
Practising the online verbal reasoning test

Make sure you practice. To help familiarise yourself you can try our practice verbal reasoning test and visit sites such as www.shldirect.com - or contact your university careers advice service for further help. When completing the test, do ensure you have uninterrupted access to a computer in a quiet area.

Back to top

Fourth stage - Assessment day

We will hold all of our training contract assessment days at our London office. Vacation Scheme assessment days are held in our London offices as well as regionally.

There are three elements included in our assessment days:

Interview
The interview as a whole will give you the opportunity to demonstrate how you meet our competencies, demonstrate your career motivation and allow you to find out more about us. The interview will include a commercial question, based on a business scenario. You will have 15 minutes prior to your interview to prepare a brief written answer to the question. This is not a test of your legal knowledge and candidates from non-law backgrounds are at no disadvantage. Instead, it is designed to make you think on your feet and demonstrate your applied intellect, whether you can provide practical solutions, as well as your commercial awareness.

Paper-based Verbal Reasoning Test
The paper-based verbal reasoning test is timed. You will have the opportunity to do some practice questions before the actual test commences. To help familiarise yourself with this kind of test before your assessment day you can complete our practice test please click here.

Group Exercise
The group exercise will involve another business scenario in which you'll be asked to work with a group to achieve a common objective. You will be assessed on your individual contribution, as well as how you interact with others. The group exercise assesses the same competencies that we look for during the interview.

Hints and tips
The interview

• Read through your initial application form before your interview to refresh your memory.
• Consider the obvious questions you are likely to be asked. For example, where does your motivation to work in law come from? Why this type of law firm in particular? If you are applying for a vacation scheme and are not yet 100% sure that law is the career for you, be prepared to explain why it is an area you are interested in exploring as a potential career option.
• When preparing examples of competencies, have a variety of examples ready from all areas of your life; structure your thoughts and responses. Be prepared to substantiate your points.
• Do your research. What deals are we currently working on? What could you expect from this role? Read our graduate recruitment brochure and this website. Explore the corporate website. Keep an eye out for recent news of relevance - not just about the firm but also our clients, competitors and the areas in which we work.
• Arrive early. The last thing you want is to be flustered from a last-minute dash or to start your interview with an apology for being late.
• Be confident and enthusiastic throughout the interview.
• Relax. The interviewers are not there to try to catch you out but to learn about you and your motivation.
• Ask questions. The interview is a two-way process and you should make the most of it to find out more about the firm. This is as much an opportunity for you to see if you want to work with us, as it is for us to assess you.

The group exercise

• Be focused and listen. Be careful to focus on the key issues as we will be assessing not only your ability to work in a team and how you interact with others, but also your strengths in evaluating and problem solving. Listen to others but be assertive in getting your ideas across.
• Think on your feet. This is not a test of your legal knowledge but how you absorb key data and reach a commercial conclusion. We want to see how you identify and express key issues that may need further consideration or exploration.

Back to top