Allen & Overy Assessment Tests

Careers at Allen & Overy

Allen & Overy is a leading international law firm with a presence in over 40 countries, with its main HQ based in London, England. The firm provides legal services to businesses, governments, and financial institutions across a wide range of industries.

With over 5,500 employees worldwide, Allen & Overy (A&O) offers a dynamic and challenging work environment that rewards hard work, creativity, and innovation. They have been featured in the top five of the Financial Times Innovative Law Firms Awards and advises over 80% of Forbes top 100 public companies around the globe.

Working at Allen & Overy offers many benefits and perks, including opportunities for career development and training, flexible working arrangements, and supportive and inclusive work culture. The firm has also won numerous awards for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, including being named a Stonewall Top 100 Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

Overall, Allen & Overy is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a challenging and rewarding career in the legal industry. They offer a variety of career opportunities, including roles in legal practice, business services, and support functions.

This useful guide should help you prepare for Allen & Overy’s hiring process with what to expect and useful tips to succeed during each stage.

Allen and Overy Online Application

To initiate the application process, you will be expected to fill out an online application form, which entails providing information about your previous work experiences and educational background. In addition, you will need to respond to two application questions as part of the process. For this part of the hiring process, you should ensure you tailor your application to the job role you’re applying for and pay particular attention to detail to avoid errors and mistakes.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll be sent an immersive video-based assessment which takes around 20 minutes to complete.

Allen and Overy Video Based Aptitude Test

The Allen and Overy video-based test is a recruitment tool used by the law firm to assess candidates’ abilities in a variety of areas, including situational judgment, problem-solving, and reasoning skills.

The test involves watching a series of videos and answering questions based on what you have seen. The questions may relate to the content of the video or may ask you to make decisions based on the information presented.

The Allen and Overy video-based test is online, and you will be given 20 minutes to complete it. You will need to ensure that you manage your time effectively to answer all of the questions. You may also be given practice questions to help you familiarize yourself with the format of the test.

The test focuses on three key areas:

• Situational judgment questions
• Verbal reasoning questions
• Numerical reasoning questions

A&O provides a free example video assessment that shows you what to expect.

Allen and Overy Situational Judgement Test

The situational judgment test questions, aim to provide candidates with a realistic preview of what they may experience at A&O as an employee. The test involves watching a series of scenarios play out and answering questions based on how you would respond in each situation.

To answer these questions effectively, you will need to carefully analyze each scenario and consider your response carefully. You should demonstrate good problem-solving skills and an ability to make decisions based on the information presented. Good communication skills and the ability to work well in a team are also essential.

Allen and Overy Verbal Reasoning Test

Verbal reasoning test questions are designed to assess a candidate’s ability to understand and analyze written information, as well as to draw logical conclusions based on that information.

Verbal reasoning test questions typically involve hearing a short passage of text and answering questions based on the information provided. The passages may cover a range of topics, such as current events, business issues, or legal topics, depending on the requirements of the role.

To succeed in a verbal reasoning test, it is important to have strong comprehension skills and be able to quickly and accurately analyze information. Candidates should be able to identify key themes and ideas quickly, as well as to draw logical inferences and conclusions based on the information provided.

Allen and Overy Numerical Reasoning Test

During the online video assessment, you may be given numerical reasoning style questions which require the ability to problem-solve with numerical data.

To do well on these styles of test questions you will need to demonstrate good numerical reasoning skills and an ability to analyze data. You should be comfortable working with numerical data and be able to interpret graphs, charts, and other types of data. Good problem-solving skills and attention to detail are also essential.

You’ll have 48 hours to complete the video assessment before your application and test results are submitted to A&O for review.

If you’ve scored well on the test and you meet the requirements for the role, you may be invited to an assessment day for interviews.

Allen & Overy Assessment Day

Successful candidates will attend an assessment day, involving two interviews.

The first interview is a HR-style interview with one or more members of the Allen & Overy team, which is designed to assess your motivation, interest in the firm, and suitability for the role you’ve applied for.

The second interview is a case study where you’ll work through a problem-based scenario and are required to present your findings and solution.

During each interview, you will also have plenty of opportunities to ask us questions and get to know more about Allen & Overy so it’s important to come prepared with questions.

Allen & Overy Case Study Interview

The Allen & Overy Case Study Interview is based on a commercial case, where you’ll work through a brief and prepare a presentation to deliver to your interviewer. The interview will also involve a discussion based on the case study.

You’ll be given a short amount of time to work through the case so try to remain calm and focussed throughout. The case interview is designed to assess your commercial awareness, business acumen, and ability to process information and present your findings under pressure.

Example case studies include:

• You are advising a client who is facing a complex regulatory issue. How would you approach the problem, and what steps would you take to ensure that the client is compliant with all relevant regulations and laws?
• Imagine that you are representing a client who has been sued by a former employee for wrongful termination. How would you build a case to defend your client, and what strategies would you use to mitigate any potential damages?
• You are advising a client who is considering a major acquisition in a foreign country. How would you assess the legal and regulatory risks involved in the transaction, and what steps would you take to protect your client’s interests?
• Imagine that you are representing a client who has been accused of fraud by a regulatory authority. How would you build a case to defend your client, and what strategies would you use to mitigate any potential damages to the client’s reputation and business operations?

These types of case study interview questions are designed to test a candidate’s ability to apply legal knowledge and critical thinking skills to real-world situations.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as the ability to analyze complex information and make sound recommendations based on that analysis.

Additionally, candidates should be able to communicate their thought processes clearly and effectively to clients and other stakeholders.

Allen & Overy Situational Interview

The second and final interview will be with a partner and the HR team. You’ll be asked a series of questions, based on hypothetical situations you may encounter as an employee.

The questions are designed to assess your skills, knowledge, and motivation for a legal career at Allen & Overy.

Example interview questions might include:

• You are working on a complex legal case for a client, and you discover that a key piece of evidence has been tampered with. What steps would you take to ensure that the client’s interests are protected and the integrity of the case is maintained?

• Imagine that you are representing a client who is involved in a high-profile dispute with a major corporation. The media has been covering the case extensively, and your client has been receiving a lot of negative attention. How would you advise your client on managing their public image and handling media inquiries?

• You are working on a cross-border transaction for a client, and you discover that there are significant differences in the legal systems of the countries involved. How would you navigate these differences and ensure that the transaction is completed successfully and in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations?

• Imagine that you are advising a client on a potential merger with another company. During your due diligence review, you discover that the other company has a history of unethical or illegal behavior. How would you advise your client on whether to proceed with the merger and how to mitigate any potential risks or liabilities?

Allen & Overy aims to get back to their applicants as quickly as possible. You can be sure that you’ll receive constructive feedback on how you performed during the process