Slaughter and May Interview Questions

Training Contract Application and Interview Process

The Application procedure for a Training Contract at Slaughter and May is as follows:

• Online Application
• Individual interview with two Partners

Online Application Form

Use a simple, intelligent and straightforward writing style on your application form. Whoever will be reading your application is likely to read several hundred (if not thousand others). For this reason, keep your writing style and thought process clear.

Make sure you grab recruiters attention by focussing on your achievements.

Interview Preparation

Unlike interviews at other law firms, Slaughter and May do not use assessment centres, aptitude tests or modern testing techniques during interview. Instead it seems that interviewers just want to hear you talk and see what kind of person you are.

Interviews are more relaxed than most candidates expect, but despite the relaxed atmosphere, you must remember to remain professional and confident at all times. Remember, you are being assessed on how you would potential come across to the firm's clients if you were hired.

Slaughter and May interviews are more like conversations. The direction of the conversation is dictated as much by you as by the partners, and this cannot be planned or prepared for.

Tip: Work through your CV and think through all the pro/cons and issues associated with each experience or achievement so you know what to talk about if these come up in your interview.

The Interview

There are no time limits to interviews at Slaughter and May but most last between 45 minutes and 90 minutes.

Slaughter and May do not use tests as part of their Training Contract recruitment process. You will normally be interviewed by two partners.

Interview Questions

There have been cases of the following debate topics come at interview, the purpose to demonstrate your analytical and argumentative skills.

• The value of conceptual art.
• Issues associated with donating organs after death.
• The ethics of stem cell technology.
• Your approach to applying for Training Contracts.
• Why you applied to Slaughter and May?
• What you think clients want from a law firm?
• Is conceptual art just a commercial business at heart?
• Do you feel uncomfortable donating your organs after death?
• Would you refuse an organ transplant following an accident?
• Would you have a moral issue working for a drug company that sold medicines for HIV at inflated prices?
• What are your thoughts on the current issues effecting Northern Rock? (Bear in mind that Slaughter and May represent the treasury).
• Should governments apologise for events that happened in the past?
• What is the rationale for a potential acquisition, if Northern Rock are taken over following the recent crisis?

Expect to have your ideas and beliefs challenged and be prepared to stand up for yourself. Make sure your argument is balanced; you do not want to appear as one-sided, narrow minded or argumentative.

Post Interview

You may wish to send a short and simple email to each partner that you talked to, but only one each. if you do, thoroughly check your wording and spelling to make sure there are no errors. Your subject header should be simple too: e.g. "Thank you". Don't try to be witty or smart, just be gracious and thanks them for their time. This shows good people skills and sensible client management. It will also help to keep you on the partners' minds at decision time.

Referees

It is worth noting that Slaughter and May always call your referees and do not hold much regard for written references. Consequently, you should make sure you submit your strongest referees.

Offer

Successful applicants are typically informed by telephone within three working days. Partners meet weekly to discuss the candidates and decide the outcome of applications .

Rejection

If unsuccessful, you should receive notification within seven to ten days. If you do not hear anything with ten days, you should contact the firm by telephone.