Surviving The Interview Process
Kiran Deol recently joined the firm as a legal assistant. She talks prospective candidates through what to expect when attending an interview at Duncan Gibbins Solicitors….
The Application
Initially I noticed Duncan Gibbins on the College of Law vacancy database when I was studying my LLM. After researching the company on various legal sources including the Law Gazette and the Duncan Gibbins website itself, I applied for the position of a legal assistant with a view to completing a training contract with the firm.
I decided to tailor my CV and covering letter to highlight the legal experience in advocacy, litigation and commercial matters I had attained; as well as displaying the practical skills I had developed which included client interviewing, compiling research reports and communicating with other agencies and solicitors. I thought this would be prudent as when recruiters are reviewing CVs they do so quickly, so highlighting the attributes I have that would be the most beneficial to Duncan Gibbins seemed wise.
The Assessment Day
I was successful in the application stage and I attended the assessment day at the Duncan Gibbins offices. From my preliminary research I knew Duncan Gibbins specialised in personal injury so that was an area I focussed on. Looking specifically at what the big topics were at the time. The main reason I did this was to ensure not only that I knew what was happening in the personal injury market but also so that, if asked, I could formulate a comprehensive opinion.
There were four different stages to the day; the first stage involved a presentation made by three solicitors in the firm. They discussed the general training contract market and spoke about what work any potential trainee could hope to be doing. We were then asked to complete a short test which comprised of various personal injury liability questions. The second stage was an informal thirty minute interview with two solicitors.
We discussed the answers to a few of the questions. I was also asked questions about myself, my education and about the type of work I had been doing previously.
The final stage was another presentation with a solicitor and an assistant. We were offered the chance to ask them questions about the type of work they do and what kind of a firm Duncan Gibbins is.
The Second Interview
At the second interview a senior partner and a solicitor were present for a more in-depth discussion about my CV, and to establish whether I would be the right candidate for Duncan Gibbins Solicitors. I prepared for this by reviewing the notes I had taken at the assessment day and reading up on interviewing techniques.
I was asked questions about which modules I had taken on my LPC and LLM and why I had chosen them.
The interview was informal and relaxed; the partners were very friendly and were open to me asking them genuine questions on the sustainability of the business in the current difficult market and about the training contract itself.
Overall, it is important to remember whichever firm you are applying to that you prepare properly and thoroughly. Be smart about your preparation by considering what areas of law the firm specialise in and how your skills and experience match up. Be ready to discuss the industry and ways the firm might be best adapting to any new changes in the law.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions at the end of any interview, most likely the interviewer will appreciate being challenged!
Visit our ‘what we look for‘ page for even more interview and application tips.
Due to a large amount of applications some law firms are now taking undertaking telephone interviews. Visit our page for our top ten tips on how to succeed.
What We Are Doing
- For more information on a career in personal injury law check out the related pages and videos on the Duncan Gibbins Academy website.
- Follow us on twitter @DG_Academy for the very latest legal vacancies and advice on how to get that first job in the legal profession.
