Top tips to master your assessment centre interview

Assessment centre interviews can be daunting and can feel like a lot of pressure, but with the right preparation, you can walk in feeling confident and ready to impress.

Bonnie is a 1st year trainee solicitor in Shoosmiths’ Leeds office. Here she shares five tips to help you prepare for your assessment centre interview.

1. Know yourself – Inside and out

The key to performing well in any interview is a solid understanding of yourself—your strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals. At Shoosmiths, our assessment centre interview is strengths based which means we are looking for your potential. A good way to prepare for strengths-based interview is to understand your current strengths and how these would be useful to you as a lawyer. It can be helpful to reflect on times when you’ve demonstrated core strengths like teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, or resilience

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Take time to review your CV, think about your key experiences and what you’ve learned from them. These experiences do not need to be limited to legal work experience, or work related at all. An experience that is unique to you (however small you may think it is) could just be the thing that makes you stand out, you’d be surprised at what the interviewers may be interested in!

2. Understand your personal reasons for choosing the firm

A common interview questions is, “Why do you want to work for this firm?” Avoid generic answers. Instead, show that you’ve thought carefully about your personal reasons for choosing the firm. Research the firm’s culture, core practice areas, recent deals, and industry reputation and think about why these aspects resonate with you personally.

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Use experiences to explain your reasons for choosing the firm. If the firm’s values are important to you, make a list of experiences where you have demonstrated similar values. You could also discuss any teams that you have been part of that adopt a similar culture. Supporting your reasons with evidence that is personal to you will show the interviewer that you have a deeper understanding of the firm’s values and demonstrates how you would fit into the firm.

3. Be commercially aware and industry-savvy

Commercial awareness is likely to come up during your interview. You’ll need to show that you understand how legal issues intersect with business challenges. Stay up to date with current events, especially in sectors relevant to the firm. Be prepared to discuss how changes in regulation, the economy, or global politics could impact the firm’s clients. It’s not just about knowing the headlines—you should also be able to discuss their broader implications for the firm and its clients.

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Have a couple of recent cases or deals in your back pocket and think about how they reflect the firm’s key practice areas. Use these examples to showcase your industry knowledge during discussions. A firm’s website can be a great place to start when researching.

4. Connect with your interviewer on a personal level

Remember that interviews are not just about technical skills—they’re also about personality and fit. Law firms want to know if you’ll work well with their team and fit into their culture. While it’s essential to remain professional, don’t be afraid to show some of your personality and build rapport with the interviewer. This might involve discussing a shared interest or simply finding a moment to engage in natural conversation.

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Don’t treat the interview as a purely formal exchange—make it a conversation where you also ask thoughtful questions and show enthusiasm. When discussing your experiences, weave in personal anecdotes that illustrate your character and values. These stories can highlight your skills while also revealing who you are as a person.

5. Ask thoughtful questions

Asking questions during your interview shows that you’re engaged and have a real interest in learning about the firm. Prepare a few thoughtful questions in advance to demonstrate your curiosity and help you learn more about the firm. This could include asking about team dynamics, opportunities for professional development, or the firm’s approach to work-life balance.

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Ask questions based on a topic of conversation that comes up during the interview. These questions could be about the firm or about the interviewers themselves. This will not only show your attentiveness, but also that you are genuinely interested in what the interviewers have spoken about. Make sure to listen carefully to the interviewer’s responses. This can help you ask follow-up questions, deepening the conversation.

Final thoughts

Assessment centres can be challenging, but with the right preparation, they’re also a great opportunity to showcase your skills, personality, and passion for commercial law. By knowing yourself, understanding your motivations for choosing the firm, staying commercially aware, and building rapport with interviewers, you can make a strong and memorable impression.

Good luck, and remember to be yourself—it’s one of your greatest assets!

You may also be interested to read Laura’s blog where she discusses how to prepare for a strengths-based assessment centre.

If you have any questions you can email us at [email protected] or have a look at some frequently asked questions here.

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