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Linklaters

How to apply

We understand that applying may feel daunting and time-consuming but we'll do everything we can to make it an enjoyable experience. Selection is mutual. It allows us to find out more about you. But it's also an opportunity for you to decide whether we’re right for you. So, ask questions, allow time to think and do your research.

Remember too, that you don't need to decide where to apply right away. Talk to us, find out more about what we do and what we can do for you. On our events page, you'll find a calendar of our upcoming law fairs, presentations and workshops. Ask us anything, and we promise to give you a straight answer. You might also find it useful to complete our free virtual internship to gain an insight into our work: www.theforage.com/linklaters.

So, what are we looking for? Mindset matters. We exist to help our clients’ businesses succeed, no matter what. In a climate of great change – commercial, political and economic – that means evolving and adapting at pace to stay ahead. So, we’re looking for candidates with an agile mindset, and the ability to match. Motivated and resilient but also capable and collaborative. Consider that when completing the online assessment, taking a test or meeting us face to face.

Here is our agile mindset framework:

the Linklaters agile mindset framework

We’re looking for people with a strong intellect and so if you're applying to one our schemes you'll need an academic track record to demonstrate this. You'll be on track for at least a 2:1 degree, in any discipline. 

Our application process is straightforward and been designed to give you a realistic insight into the role of a trainee solicitor.

  1. Complete a short online form with your basic information, contextual data and academic report which will take no longer than 30 minutes.
  2. For Get Ahead, Going Forward and Making Links you will also be asked to submit a one-page cover letter as part of your application. This should include your motivations for Linklaters, commercial law and for the programme.
  3. Next, you’ll take our online Capp assessment which is based on our agile mindset framework. You’ll work through six modules, gaining a realistic insight into the role of a Linklaters trainee. The test is untimed but should take between 70-90 minutes to complete.  Once submitted, you will receive a personalised feedback report detailing your strengths and a development area. You must complete the Capp assessment prior to the deadline. No preparation is required for the Capp assessment.
  4. Once you have submitted the Capp assessment, you will have 5 days to complete the online Watson Glaser critical thinking test. The test is untimed, and we would strongly advise completing a practice test for the Watson Glaser.

The Trainee Recruitment team wait until the deadline has passed and all assessments to be completed before making decisions.

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test

Watch this video to find out what to expect and how to prepare. It's important to take the time to understand what the test is looking for and to practice beforehand. We have also included some sample questions below.

Insert Watson Glaser video

link needed wg_practice.pdf (pearsonvue.com)

Preparing for our Interviews:

  • Phone/Video interview: For Pathfinder, Get Ahead, Going Forward and Making Links the final stage in the process is a short phone or video interview with a member of the Trainee Recruitment team. You’ll be asked questions about your motivations for the programme, Linklaters and for a career in commercial law. You can also expect to be asked some competency-based questions around the skills in our agile mindset framework.
  • Assessment Centre: Watch our video below to find out about our interview day and what to expect. If you’re selected, you’ll also be invited to join an online chat session with our Trainee Recruitment team and other candidates, to answer any questions you might have ahead of the day. We’ll share tips and practical guidance, so you feel well prepared.
First things first
Apply online

Watson Glaser practice questions

If you have any questions during the process, or want to speak to us about your personal circumstances, please contact the team at trainee.recruitment@linklaters.com.

Passage

An evaluation of a company’s success in financial terms is often referred to as the ‘bottom line’; a reference to the last line of a company’s accounts showing their profit.  The ‘triple bottom’ includes environmental and social factors, along with economic – sometimes referred to as ‘people, planet, profit’.

The ‘people’ element refers to the fair treatment of everyone the company impacts on, not just immediate employees.  ‘Planet’ refers to environmental impact with companies considering sustainability and seeking to neutralise their environmental impact.  Some companies have voluntarily adopted the triple bottom line, though many are now required to use a ‘double bottom line’ due to legislation requiring assessment of environmental impact.

Question

Companies are free to choose whether they adopt double bottom line accounting. (True/False/Insufficient data)

Answer

False - The correct answer is 'False', as the scenario states that "many are now required to use a ‘double bottom line’ due to legislation", meaning that double bottom line accounting is a legal requirement for some companies.

Question

The need to have a positive social and environmental impact can adversely affect financial success. (True/False/Insufficient data)

Answer

Insufficient data - The answer is 'Insufficient data', as no information is given in the scenario about how considering the social and environmental impact may affect financial success either positively or negatively.

Question

According to triple bottom line accounting, a successful company would be financially, environmentally and socially successful. (True/False/Insufficient data)

Answer

True - The answer is 'True', as the scenario states that a company’s success has been evaluated in financial terms, but that the use of triple bottom line adds an evaluation of environmental and social factors to this.  Using triple bottom line accounting, the success of a company would therefore be evaluated in relation to their financial, environmental and social performance.

Passage

Health care professionals who collaborate with each other provide better care to their patients.

Question

Health care professionals who work in isolation do not have the best interest of patients in mind. (Yes/No)

Answer

No - Although this is a possibility, there is nothing in the statement to conclude about health care professionals who do not collaborate with each other. Thus, this assumption is not made in the statement and the answer is 'No'.

Question

A health care professional may not possess all the required expertise to treat some patients. (Yes/No)

Answer

Yes - It is necessarily assumed that a health care professional may not possess all the required expertise to treat some patients. Thus, this assumption is made in the statement and the answer is 'Yes'.

Question

Health care professionals who collaborate with each other have the primary goal of improving their patient’s health. (Yes/No)

Answer

No - There is nothing in the statement to conclude that health care professional do not collaborate for other reasons, such as for research studies. Thus, this assumption is not made in the statement and the answer is 'No'.

Passage

A proportion of the induction presentations at Company X include health and safety guidelines. Employees that attended a presentation containing health and safety guidelines had fewer accidents at work than the average employee in the company.

Question

All those that attend an induction had fewer accidents than the average employee at the company. (Yes/No)

Answer

No - The answer is 'No', as the passage states that only a proportion of the induction presentations included health and safety guidelines, leaving the rest of the induction presentations without this content.

Question

Only a proportion of the employees who attended an induction had fewer accidents than the average employee at the company. (Yes/No)

Answer

Yes - The answer is 'Yes' as only a proportion of induction presentations included health and safety guidelines, and therefore those that did not receive this content would not have had its accident reducing benefits.

Question

Induction processes are beneficial to an organisation. (Yes/No)

Answer

No - The answer is 'No', as, in this context, induction presentations are only beneficial if they incorporate aspects of health and safety.

Passage

In Country X, nine hours after drinking a standard (75cl) bottle of red wine (in the space of one hour), 90% of adults tested in a large scientific study still had blood alcohol levels exceeding the legal level that allows them to drive in that country.

Question

More than 90% of those who drink a standard bottle of wine (in the space of an hour) and then drive two hours later are over the legal alcohol limit to drive. (Yes/No)

Answer

Yes - The answer is 'Yes', as it is safe to assume beyond reasonable doubt that if 90% are unable to drive within the legal blood alcohol levels after 9 hours then 90% or above will also be legally unable to drive after two hours.

Question

No adult who has drunk 75cl of red wine in the space of an hour has blood alcohol levels allowing them to drive six hours later. (Yes/No)

Answer

No - The correct answer is 'No', as there is no evidence to say that all people who have drunk a bottle of wine will have blood alcohol levels exceeding the limit after six hours.

Question

People who have blood alcohol levels above the legal range are worse drivers than others. (Yes/No)

Answer

No -The correct answer is 'No', although this is likely to be the case, there is no information presented in the passage to support this.

Passage

A country facing a problem of population growth caused largely by people living longer, should seek to significantly reduce levels of immigration in aiming for a solution.

Question

No; this could reduce the size of the active workforce necessary to economically support the ageing population. (Strong/Weak)

Answer

Strong - This is a 'Strong' argument put forward to challenge the proposal, identifying a key flaw in reducing the number of immigrants and subsequent effect on the economy.

Question

Yes; it is a quick and visible action towards a solution. (Strong/Weak)

Answer

Weak - A quick and visible solution does not necessarily make it a strong one. Therefore, this is a 'Weak' argument.

Question

No; immigrants are too easily targeted to take the blame for a country’s population problems. (Strong/Weak)

Answer

Weak - The argument lacks relation to the statement and does not put forward a strong case as to why immigration levels should be reduced, therefore it is a 'Weak' argument.

Inference
Recognition of Assumptions
Deduction
Interpretation
Evaluation of Arguments

Contact us

If you'd like to contact a member of the Trainee Recruitment team about our application process, or require any reasonable adjustments, please email using the link below.

Contact us