• Home
  • About Us
    • About us
    • Careers
    • People
  • Services
    • Inclusive Cultures
    • Inclusive Recruitment
    • Inclusive Development
  • Resources
    • Insights
    • Research
    • Press
  • Case Studies
Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About us
    • Careers
    • People
  • Services
    • Inclusive Cultures
    • Inclusive Recruitment
    • Inclusive Development
  • Resources
    • Insights
    • Research
    • Press
  • Case Studies
Search
Contact Us
Contact us
Menu

Home › Case studies › Situational Judgement Tests – a better way to hire the best trainees

Situational Judgement Tests – a better way to hire the best trainees

  • July 9, 2018

Ability, not background, is what really counts at the law firm Wragge & Co. Changes to its trainee selection process are ensuring that, in tune with its diversity-minded approach it recruits only top-quality candidates, and in a way that takes less management time.

Each year the international law firm, Wragge & Co recruits around twenty-five trainees to work on two-year training contracts at its Birmingham and London offices. Head of Recruitment, Julie Caudle says: ‘We look for bright people with well-rounded personalities from a range of different backgrounds and cultures. What matters is they have the intellectual capabilities to provide the fresh thinking and high-quality services that clients expect.’

Identifying those with the potential to become exceptional commercial lawyers has typically involved screening applicants to go through to the telephone interview, and an assessment day. To make the process more robust and ensure Wragge & Co does not lose out on good candidates, Pearn Kandola introduced an online Situational Judgement Test (SJT). Such tests are good predictors of on-the-job performance and fit well with the firm’s focus on recruiting from a diverse talent pool.

In this case, the SJT presents candidates with a range of realistic scenarios they might encounter as trainees, and asks them to choose from a number of options the approach they would take. Their responses are then compared to those of experts. These situations, developed with the help of the firm’s trainees, experienced lawyers and partners, measure judgement on issues such as dealing with people and prioritising workload.

To fine-tune and validate the test, it was used to score around 350 actual applications, although the results were not used in selection. Our analysis showed that the test effectively predicts successful candidates. Specifically, none of the candidates who scored in the bottom twenty-five per cent on the SJT were ultimately selected by the firm.

Confident that the best people are reaching the final stages, Wragge & Co can reduce the amount of time needed to screen candidates, saving time for the partners and HR staff involved.

‘With Pearn Kandola’s solution, the tests are completed online and automatically scored, so the business does not have to invest as much time to recruit a diverse range of excellent trainees. What’s more, candidates get a better idea of the work they’ll be doing, which helps with motivation and retention. This fits well with our ethos of developing people throughout their careers, enabling them to be the lawyer they want to be,” she says.

Stay ahead of the game.

Get the latest on DEI, effective recruitment, and leadership development direct to your inbox.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Related Posts

  • Law

Future Leaders Programme at Gowling WLG

Gowling WLG is a sector-focused international law firm, with more than 1,400 legal professionals in 19 cities worldwide, across UK,...
  • Law

Herbert Smith Freehills boosts top talent management

Big ticket clients and high-profile matters are all part of the mix at Herbert Smith Freehills Freehills, which is the...
  • Law

Eliminating bias drives Freshfields’ diversity push

Ranked in The Times’ Top 50 Employers for Women, international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is working hard to build...
  • Law

Improving Senior Manager promotions at Linklaters LLP

Linklaters LLP are a leading global law firm, with a sizeable business services function that provides internal support services. The...
  • Law

International Law Firm supports business success with best-fit recruitment

Working with Pearn Kandola, a leading international Law Firm recently introduced a new recruitment process to enable it to make...

Free Consultation with a Business Psychologist

Talk to us to discuss your needs.
Book an Appointment
14 years’ experience
Jonathan Taylor, Managing Psychologist

Book Your Appointment Today

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Site map

Making The World Fairer

© 2023 Pearn Kandola LLP
© 2015-2023 Pearn Kandola LLP. All Rights Reserved. Pearn Kandola and the Pearn Kandola Logo are registered trademarks of Pearn Kandola LLP.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About us
    • Careers
    • People
  • Services
    • Inclusive Cultures
    • Inclusive Recruitment
    • Inclusive Development
  • Resources
    • Insights
    • Research
    • Press
  • Case Studies
Search