Slaughter & May Assessment Tests, Recruitment Process & Interviews Online Preparation – 2024
What Is Slaughter & May?
Slaughter and May is one of the most prestigious law firms in the world and is part of the “magic circle” of elite London firms. The firm was founded in 1889 and is now headquartered in Bunhill Row, London, with offices in Hong Kong, Brussels, and Beijing. They have approximately 1,150 employees that work in a variety of practice areas, including:
Finance
Real Estate
Corporate
Pensions, Employment, and Incentives
Tax
Their multi-specialist approach sets Slaughter and May apart from other law firms. All lawyers are equipped to handle a broad range of client issues. The firm values well-rounded people with unique perspectives to add to the diversity of the firm.
The firm has handled some of the most high-profile cases in British history and seeks out only the brightest legal minds to join its team.
Working at Slaughter & May
The firm offers opportunities to experienced lawyers, business services professionals, and trainee solicitors. No matter your career path, all employees at Slaughter and May work collaboratively and share expertise to deliver the best possible outcomes.
Slaughter and May strives to create a good work environment for its employees, including several benefits:
Competitive compensation at all career levels
Paid time off
Group income protection
Money purchase pension scheme
Payroll giving for tax-free donations
Diversity networks
Medical and dental insurance
Wellbeing platform
Gym memberships
Paid sabbatical
What Is the Hiring Process at Slaughter & May?
Online Application
The application process at Slaughter and May is extremely selective, so you must have an excellent CV and application form to pass the initial screening. Job seekers looking for a position at the firm should have the following:
Excellent academic record
Outstanding legal skills and experience
Personal qualities that would enable you to thrive at the firm
If you meet these requirements, complete an online application form and submit a current CV. The application form will ask questions about your academic background, professional experience, relevant skills, and motivation for applying for a Slaughter and May position. Your CV should be tailored to the job and highlight relevant experience and skills.
Be sure to read the role description carefully and research the company’s website to give you an idea of what to showcase in your application. This is the firm’s first impression of you, so you need it to clearly show why you are qualified for the position to make it through the initial screening.
If the hiring team feels you would be a good match for the firm, you will start an intensive interview assessment process.
Written Exercise
The first task in the recruitment process will be a written exercise. You will be given one hour to create a report on a strategic review process on a fictional business. The assessor will provide various information and facts that must be analyzed and included in the report. With this activity, the firm assesses your written communication skills, persuasion, creative thinking, situational judgment, and problem-solving abilities.
Two Partner Interview
After the written exercise, you will be given a newspaper article to review and take notes on. After 15 minutes of preparation, you will meet with two partners who will question you about the themes, arguments, conclusions, and your opinion of the article. You will also need to analyze the article’s argument to determine if it is logical and coherent.
This activity can seem intimidating, but the purpose is to examine your ability to quickly analyze information, form an opinion, and present an article. The hiring team also wants to see how well you can defend your position, so stand firm and confident in your stance when the interviewers question it.
Chat and Tour
After the two-partner interview, you will receive a slight break as you chat and tour the office with a current trainee. They will show you around the offices and give you a better idea of what it is like to work for the firm.
Use this time to your advantage by asking questions about what it is like to be an employee of the firm. This is an excellent time to ask about the company culture, expectations, and day-to-day activities. However, keep in mind that though this is not a formal interview, you are still being assessed. In addition, the hiring team may receive feedback from anyone you meet on the tour, so be sure you are respectful, polite, and professional with everyone you meet.
HR Interview
The last stage of the hiring process is the HR interview. The purpose of this interview is to get to know you better as a person, understand why you are interested in working for Slaughter and May, and go over the results from your previous exercise and interviews.
Your previous research on the firm will come in handy during this interview. Draw on that information when discussing why you want to work for the firm. For example, you can reference a recent case the firm handled, some of the firm’s values that you personally align with, or specific people at the firm that you admire.
In addition to getting to know you and your communication and interpersonal skills, this interview is also your last chance to get to know the firm. So be sure to ask any remaining questions about the role or the firm.
How to Prepare for the Slaughter & May Assessment?
The Slaughter and May recruitment process is highly competitive, so you will need an outstanding application and excellent interview scores to do well. You will need to stand out from the other applicants to be successful in this hiring process, so the more preparation you can do in advance, the more likely you are to do well.
Before starting the process, practice for the exams using sample questions and practice tests. For example, you can practice analyzing newspaper articles or writing reports on fictional businesses. You can also take online practice exams to help sharpen your skills, such as verbal reasoning, critical thinking, and situational judgment tests. While you may not be taking these exact tests during the hiring process, you must showcase these abilities to do well during the interview process.
Applicants who take the time to prepare ahead of the hiring process are significantly more likely to do well. Therefore, you should give yourself adequate time to study and prepare.
