You've managed to convince us on your application form that you are just what we are looking for a in a trainee solicitor. What happens now?

Martineau, like many other commercial firms have adopted the assessment centre approach to interviewing our potential trainee solicitors. This gives you the opportunity to show your skills and abilities over the period of several hours using a very structured set of criteria. These criteria or competencies are all felt to be relevant to the success of a commercial lawyer. The sort of things we look at are your ability to communicate effectively in a group, your confidence in being part of a role play with limited preparation time and whether you can talk about your chosen topic of conversation and stick to your views even when the interviewer may challenge you.

You will have the opportunity to find out more about the firm and ask questions not just of the recruitment team but also our current trainees. You are invited to have a tour of the departments and talk to the trainees (out of the earshot of the assessors)!

We feel that this is the best way for you to show us your ability. Previous interviewees have given us positive feedback on the structure of the assessment day, they are always quick to point out that the day is a challenge, it's fun and gives students an opportunity to do their best. You will definitely go home tired, though!

Interview Tips

As part of the assessment centre, we do a formal interview. This usually a panel of two people, typically a partner and a member of the Human Resources department. Although you may be asked to perform a role play, the bulk of the interview will be based on your application form and other information you have supplied to us about yourself.

The interview is an opportunity for us to decide whether you match what the firm is looking for in a trainee and more importantly, for you to decide whether Martineau is going fit your needs. We certainly don't see the point in spending an hour making you feel as uncomfortable as possible and asking questions which you probably won't know the answer to. We are simply trying to establish whether you actually want to work for Martineau, have the ability to handle the work which will come your way on joining the firm and whether your personality fits.

Before the big day

There is nothing worse than interviewing a candidate who clearly has no idea at all about the firm. It is always a good idea to do some research prior to your interview, even if it is merely a look at the firm's website. It is impressive if a candidate has read the business press and spotted news about Martineau or has seen a press release on a Martineau deal.

Get some practice at interviewing if you can. Some candidates get their friends to pretend to be an interviewer.

Read your application form before your interview, it may be several months since it was written. Be prepared to talk about the topics you have put on your form. If you have written that you are for example, a keen reader, it is a good idea to have in mind the books you have read in the last six months - you will probably be asked to talk about them. One thing to bear in mind is that your interviewer may have the same interests as yourself!