• Tweet

Applications, Interviews & Assessments

• "I did a vacation scheme which required one interview – the questions were mainly morality based but a general awareness of current affairs was also essential. I was offered a TC off the back of my vac scheme." -- First year trainee
• "I had two interviews with no standard ‘hoop-jumping’ questions, just a debate about a couple of current issues to get inside my mind. The interviews were enjoyable and engaging and reflective of the firm's interest in the person themselves. I was asked to debate the merits of the death penalty, whether we should have juries, etc." -- First year trainee
• "The Travers Smith interviews are very tough. Whilst there are only two interviews, the partners are notorious for wielding the axe ruthlessly (they interview a really quite vast number of people, a couple of hundred I think, for only 25 training contracts). The first interview is twenty minutes with one partner, and the second is an hour interview with two partners. Some of the questions are commercially focussed, but most aim to examine the way that you think and whether you can think laterally and have the ability to back up your opinions and arguments (I for instance, was asked about my thoughts on new powers of detention in relation to suspected terrorists)." -- First year trainee
• "Two interviews which are very tough but also enjoyable." -- Second year trainee
• "I had two rounds of interviews, the first with one partner, and the second with two. No assessment days." -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "Two interviews, both with partners, both interviews were a discussion. No legal questions." -- Junior solicitor
• "I had two interviews. The first round was a 30 minute interview with one partner; the second round was one hour with two partners." -- Junior solicitor

• "I applied for a vacation scheme and was offered a training contract on the back of that. I had one interview for the vacation scheme and was interviewed by a graduate recruitment partner. The interview was general in scope and didn't involve any legal questions (I was a non-law student at the time). I was asked what I would give a talk on if I had an audience at Hyde Park Corner, a time when I had to make a difficult decision, my strengths and weaknesses, and general questions about me and my interests." -- First year trainee
• "It depends – one plus a vacation scheme, or two without a vacation scheme; I did the vac scheme route. I interviewed with one partner then did a two week vac scheme. The interview was relaxed – mostly current affairs and general debating, and there was no assessment day. They asked general opinion-based current affairs questions – e.g. what do you think are the five biggest issues facing Britain today and what would you do to solve them." -- Second year trainee
• "I had one interview for a vacation scheme and got offered a training contract straight from the vacation scheme. The interview was challenging but fun!" -- Second year trainee
• "One formal interview followed by a two week vacation scheme (that in a way is like a two week interview)." -- Junior solicitor
• "There were two rounds of interesting interviews; they were relaxed with no assessment days. In my opinion they have got this aspect sorted!" -- Junior solicitor
• "I was recruited via a vacation scheme so only had one interview round." -- Junior solicitor
• "No assessment days – interview only. About 80% are recruited from the vacation scheme." -- Junior solicitor

Tips & Advice for Graduates

• "The firm looks to hire very bright, articulate people with a sense of humour and excellent people skills. Your academic record has to be of a very high standard from start to finish. I don't think it looks to recruit from any universities, although there are many trainees from Russell Group and Oxbridge at the firm (possibly because of the high standards the firm looks for in terms of academic record)." -- First year trainee
• "Travers Smith is looking for intelligent, hard working people from all backgrounds. I believe the minimum requirements from university are a 2:1 degree (no particular subject); there is also no particular preference for candidates from certain universities, although many come from the top universities. Candidates should be commercially aware, able and willing to engage and think around any task/issue and good fun!" -- Second year trainee
• "Well rounded thoughtful people. Candidates need to be able to show interests beyond the law and the ability to interact in an engaging way, as well as being more traditionally intelligent." -- First year trainee
• "Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and Bristol seem popular but there is a variety from elsewhere. Each trainee is very different and there is no one ‘type’. I think Travers Smith gets unfair press about hiring ‘conservative’ types." -- Second year trainee
• "The firm looks for academically strong but understated and discrete types, who are able to conduct themselves well in a professional environment." -- Junior solicitor
• "The firm looks for bright people that take their work, but not themselves too seriously. Soft skills are extremely important – can the candidate be left with a client for a period of time?”-- Junior solicitor
• "They look for people who are interested in a variety of things and are not one dimensional. I would say candidates need charisma, and be able to stand up for themselves. There is definitely a tendency to recruit from Oxbridge and Bristol." -- Junior solicitor

• "Confident and articulate individuals who are able to think on their feet. Generally, you shouldn't take yourself too seriously but should be academically strong. You need to be a good communicator/socialiser, have strong analytical skills, and reasonable commercial awareness (though the latter is developed on the job – not much expected at interview). Top 10 universities, generally." -- Second year trainee
• "Be well prepared and know not only why you want to go into law but also why you want to train at a firm like Travers Smith. I think the academic requirements are similar to any competitive City firm." -- First year trainee
• "Bright, understated candidates with a good sense of humour and a penchant for having fun at work." -- Second year trainee
• "They hire bright, sociable people who will get on with the current employees and each other. There is a very collegiate atmosphere at Travers Smith which the partners like to keep going. The firm expects a minimum of a 2:1 in a good degree from a good university." -- First year trainee
• "Most successful candidates have achieved a 2:1 or higher at a top university (predominantly Oxbridge, but also Durham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, etc.). Candidates need to demonstrate intelligence above all, but also need to have good interpersonal skills." -- Junior solicitor
• "Bright, interesting and interested self-starters. You need to be able to communicate your point of view well and stick up for it to fit in here. It is not a place for shrinking violets; everyone is expected to get involved from an early stage. The firm does not recruit from specific universities, but the characteristics of those that it recruits means that the trainees tend to be drawn from the more academically respected institutions." -- Junior solicitor

What made you choose your firm?

• "The people. Everyone I met seemed intelligent, great fun and engaging (definitely more so than at other firms!). The promise of good work and client interaction also attracted me and, I'm pleased to say, I got what I was promised!" -- Second year trainee
• "I loved the vac scheme. But more than anything, I thought the people showed a relatively unique combination of intelligence/ability and friendliness/approachability." -- Second year trainee
• "Great reputation for such a small firm." -- First year trainee
• "Top level work in a warm and intimate environment." -- First year trainee
• "Quality in Private Equity industry, reputation for punching above its weight." -- First year trainee
• "They offered me the job!" -- Junior solicitor
• "When I interviewed here I thought that the people who interviewed me were the sort of people I could both work with, and enjoy working with. It felt like a natural fit then and it still does." -- Junior solicitor
• "The people, the quality of the work and the training." -- Newly qualified solicitor
•  
• Apply Now

• "The non-hierarchical, friendly and engaging atmosphere, open-door culture and I had an enjoyable vacation scheme." -- First year trainee
• "The top quality and interesting work without the scale and impersonality of the Magic Circle." -- First year trainee
• "Early responsibility, great reputation for core areas e.g. Corporate, and training with partner contact." -- Second year trainee
• "Down to earth people, sociable atmosphere, really interesting work – great clients, early responsibility." -- First year trainee
• "Mainly its reputation in corporate law, but I also got on very well with the partners who interviewed me and the trainees who showed me round the firm, which confirmed my choice." -- Junior solicitor
• "Nice atmosphere, great work and good lawyers." -- Junior solicitor
• "Its reputation, firm culture, and colleagues." -- Junior solicitor
• "The good balance between social and work life but still with top quality work." -- Junior solicitor
•