Allen & Overy Application Process, Assessment Test, Interview 2024. Detailed Guide.

Reading time: 22 minutes

GFI Group Ltd. is not associated with Allen & Overy. We provide preparation materials for Allen & Overy candidate assessment.

SUMMARY

Are you thinking about applying to the Allen & Overy graduate programs in 2024 or exploring career prospects with Allen & Overy? If so, this guide is tailored for you.

The text below provides a full candidate recruitment, assessment and preparation guide and practice for those applying to jobs, internships and graduate programs at Allen & Overy.

Our website provides scientifically validated practice assessments tests, interviews and assessment centre exercises that can be used to practice and prepare for the recruitment and assessment process. 

Not sure if you should practice to prepare for Allen & Overy assessments? According to research, 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude tests results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.

IN A NUTSHELL

How to prepare for the Allen & Overy assessment process and tests to get the job?

1. Complete your Allen & Overy Online Application

• Fill in your Allen & Overy job application form
• Attach your CV and cover letter
• Answer the short essay questions
• Align your application and answers with Allen & Overy values and missions

2. Practice for Allen and Overy Interactive Assessments

Allen & Overy uses several online assessments for their recruitment process depending on the programme you apply for. These include:

• Situational Judgement Test
• Verbal Reasoning Test
• Numerical Reasoning Test

These tests sift out 50-80% candidates at this stage. The only proven way to get to the next round is to practice.

3.  Record Mock Video Interviews of Yourself

Prepare for your Allen and Overy video interview with the recruitment team by practicing your answers to motivational questions. Your verbal communication should be fluent and filled with content that presents you in the best way for the job. 

For Allen and Overy interview practice, use these:

• a smartphone to record yourself
• Zoom or
• Our reliable video interview platform

Our practice video interview platform simulates the experience you will have on platforms used for job interviews by providing preset competency and industry questions often used by law firms. Record your responses and watch them to develop your interview technique.

Use the STAR+R method for your answers. Practice each answer and repeat recordings until you feel satisfied.

4. Prepare for the Allen and Overy Assessment Day Exercises

Allen & Overy makes use of a virtual assessment centre to find the right candidate. This involves two interviews:

• Case study Interview
• Written Exercise
• Scenario based interview

Prepare for your final interview with the HR team from Allen & Overy. Expect and practice for situational-based questions. Hone your technique for your final Allen & Overy interview to showcase your skills and values.

For this final interview, use the video interview platform and record yourself answering the technical questions using the STAR+R technique.

Continue reading to get answers to these critical questions:

1. What is the Allen & Overy recruitment process?
2. How can I prepare for the Allen and Overy situational judgement test?
3. How can I prepare for the Allen & Overy video interview?
4. What are some of the Allen & Overy student and graduate programmes?

Looking into assessments with Allen & Overy, simply click in the table below to practice assessments relevant to your assessment process!

Let us discover more about who Allen & Overy are before we go into details on Allen and Overy’s recruitment process.

Who is Allen & Overy?

Allen and Overy, commonly known as A&O, is a British multinational law firm founded in 1930 by George Allen and Thomas Overy. The company has 590 partners with over 5800 people worldwide and its headquarter in London, England.

In 2022, Allen & Overy became the second largest law firm in the UK by revenue with an increase to GBP 1.96 billion. They have offices in 31 countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East and Latin America.

Candidates can apply to Allen & Overy in a variety of different areas within the firm.

What business areas can I apply to in Allen & Overy?

Depending on your area of interests, you can apply to work in any of these departments in Allen & Overy.

Allen & Overy takes pride in their values which makes it important for you as a candidate to understand the Allen & Overy values.

Allen & Overy Values

Allen and Overy are guided by four values to which every member of the industry stands by:

1. Instinctively thoughtful: As a member of Allen & Overy, you are expected to build and nurture relationships based on respect for one another, mutual trust and inclusivity.
2. Collectively ambitious: Every member works together and turns every opportunity into an advantage.
3. Insightfully inventive: At A&O, they work together to combine expert insights and imaginations.
4. Refreshingly open: As part of the team, you thrive by being open to ideas, clients and one another.

Now, you know about Allen & Overy, what should you expect during the Allen and Overy recruitment process? Keep reading to find out.

Allen & Overy Recruitment Process

1. Allen and Overy Online Application Form
2. Allen and Overy Interactive Assessment
3. Allen and Overy Video Interview
4. Allen and Overy Assessment Day

Good to know bonuses:

5. Allen & Overy Student and Graduate Schemes
6. Allen & Overy Application Process FAQs

Allen and Overy Online Application Form

What is the Allen and Overy online application form?

The Allen and Overy online application form is the first stage of the application process. You will be required to create an account to fill the application form, where you will upload your CV, cover letter, and provide your education and work history.

Watch this short video below on how to prepare for your Allen & Overy job application form:

Shortly after your online application you will be invited to the next stage; the Allen and Overy interactive assessment.

Back to Contents

Allen and Overy Interactive Assessment

What are the Allen and Overy interactive assessments?

The Allen and Overy interactive assessment also known as the Allen and Overy blended assessment comes after your online application and is developed by Amberjack. You will be sent an email with a link to the assessment. This assessment includes the following elements:

1. Allen and Overy Situational Judgement Test
2. Allen and Overy Verbal Reasoning Test
3. Allen and Overy Numerical Reasoning Test

How long is the Allen & Overy blended assessment test?

These tests are untimed, however it should take about 45 minutes to complete the assessments.

1. Allen and Overy Situational Judgement Test

What is the Allen and Overy situational judgement test?

The Allen and Overy situational judgement test is used to assess your judgement and decision-making skills. It involves the use of a series of interactive video-based scenarios related to work situations at Allen & Overy, through multiple choice questions where you choose how to respond.

Gain key insights in this under 1 minute video, about the situational judgement test questions you may encounter during Allen and Overy’s situational judgement test.

HOW TO PASS THE ALLEN AND OVERY SITUATIONAL JUDGMENT TEST?

5 Top Tips to Ace Your Allen and Overy Situational Judgement Test

Below are key tips to help you prepare and pass the A&O situational judgement questions:

1. Research Allen & Overy’s values: Learn about their values and how important it is in the workplace, and align your skills with these values when choosing an answer.

2. Reach out to lawyers: A&O is a law firm, therefore it is an advantage speaking to lawyers and understanding related work scenarios they encounter. You can do these by attending or signing up to legal career events or programmes.

3. Practice scenario-based questions: Ensure to use the A&O practice SJT and other practice tests online to improve your decision-making skills.

4. Read the scenarios carefully: Ensure to understand the scenario properly to enable you choose the most appropriate answer for the situation.

5. Answer honestly: It is advised to always choose an answer that reflects who you are, as these tests help the employer assess if you are a good fit for the role.

Allen & Overy-style Situational Judgement Question Example

The next assessment section you will be required to complete of the Allen and Overy interactive assessment will be the Allen and Overy verbal reasoning test. Keep reading to find out all you need to know.

2. Allen and Overy Verbal Reasoning Test

What is the Allen and Overy verbal reasoning test?

The Allen and Overy verbal reasoning test assesses your ability to understand, analyse, and interpret written information, particularly for positions in the legal firm requiring written and verbal communication abilities.

Gain key insights in this under 1 minute video about the Allen and Overy verbal reasoning test.

HOW TO PASS THE ALLEN AND OVERY VERBAL REASONING TEST

Now that you know all about what to expect in the Allen and Overy verbal reasoning test, how do we pass this test section?

5 Top Tips to Ace the Allen and Overy Verbal Reasoning Test

1. Improve your vocabulary and comprehension: Go over materials and articles that can help expand your vocabulary and understanding of different writing styles.

2. Practice: Use practice tests online to improve your verbal reasoning skills. This helps you familiarise with A&O’s format and types of questions asked.

3. Review and learn: After completing some practice tests, ensure to review your answers. At GF, we provide reports to show your results and help you learn from your mistakes to improve.

4. Read carefully: Pay attention to the passages provided and questions asked. Read them carefully to understand the context within the text.

5. Stay calm and focused: Maintain a calm and focused mindset during the test. Stress and anxiety can affect performance, so try to stay relaxed and confident.

Are you prepared for your assessment? Challenge yourself with our example Allen and Overy-style verbal reasoning test question below!

Allen and Overy-style Verbal Reasoning Test Question Example

Did you get the answer right? Check the answer at the bottom of the page.

Practice more Allen and Overy verbal reasoning questions with our in-depth video of verbal reasoning questions and worked solutions: 

The next part of the Allen and Overy blended assessment is the Allen and Overy numerical reasoning test. Let’s go right into details!

3. Allen and Overy Numerical Reasoning Test

What is the Allen and Overy numerical reasoning test?

The Allen and Overy numerical reasoning test questions assess your skills in solving mathematical problems and interpreting numerical data, especially for positions that require numerical tasks.

Gain key insights in this under 1 minute video about the Allen and Overy numerical reasoning test:

HOW TO PASS THE ALLEN AND OVERY NUMERICAL REASONING TEST

Below we will cover the top tips we recommend to help you ace your Allen and Overy Numerical Reasoning Test.

6 Top Tips to Ace Your Allen and Overy Numerical Reasoning Test

1. Review fundamental concepts such as percentages, ratios, fractions, basic arithmetic, and data interpretation. This will help increase your knowledge of these concepts to tackle questions more effectively.

2. Practice is key when it comes to acing the Allen and Overy blended assessment. Work through practice tests online to enhance your numerical reasoning skills.

3. Build your mental maths: During your numerical assessment, you may need to make swift calculations without a calculator. Therefore, enhance your mental maths skills by going over calculations.

4. Read questions carefully to understand the problem asked. Analyse the problem and carefully go over the information provided before trying to solve it. 

5. Use rough work during the test to write down calculations. This will help organise your thoughts and minimise errors. 

6. Review Answers: Ensure to go over your answers before submitting to ensure accuracy.

Are you prepared for your assessment? Have a go at the example Allen and Overy-style numerical reasoning test question we’ve developed below!

Allen and Overy-style Numerical Reasoning Test Question Example

Brush up on your numerical reasoning skills ahead of your Allen and Overy numerical test with these 5 further example questions with answers:

If you are successful with the Allen and Overy interactive assessment, A&O First applicants will be invited to the Allen and Overy video interview.

Back to Contents

Allen and Overy Video Interview

What is the Allen and Overy video interview?

The Allen and Overy video interview is a motivational interview where the recruitment team gets to know more and learn about your skills. During this interview, a brief commercial case study is also covered to assess your commercial awareness.

How long is the Allen and Overy video interview?

The Allen and Overy video interview is done virtually on Microsoft teams and lasts for 30 minutes.

Watch this short video below to know more about video interviews and how Allen and Overy use them in their recruitment process:

HOW TO PASS THE ALLEN AND OVERY VIDEO INTERVIEW

6 Top Tips to Pass the Allen and Overy Video Interview

1. Research on Allen and Overy to understand their area of expertise, so you are able to give brilliant responses during the conversation on the case study.

2. Speak to lawyers or workers in the legal firm to help increase your knowledge around this area. This way, you are able to draw insights from your learnings during conversations with your interviewer.

3. Understand the skills required in A&O and demonstrate how your experiences and skills align with them.

4. Learn about current affairs, as Allen and Overy and their clients are affected by this. Understanding this shows your interviewer how important this matters to you and your motivation towards the firm.

5. Be open during the interview. This is an opportunity for the team to get to know you more, so create a warm environment by building a rapport.

6. Practice your answers out loud with family or friends to improve your delivery. Also, you can add life to your answers by relating them with experiences that led to your interests in commercial law.

After your video interview, you will be invited to the Allen and Overy assessment day, which is virtual and the final step of the Allen and Overy recruitment process.

Back to Contents

Allen and Overy Assessment Day

What to expect at the Allen and Overy assessment day?

The Allen and Overy assessment day is the final step of assessment depending on the programme you apply for. You may be sent a link to take a number of virtual tasks, which includes:

1. Allen and Overy Partner Case study Interview
2. Allen and Overy Scenario-based Interview

1. Allen and Overy Partner Case Study Interview

What is the Allen and Overy case study interview?

The Allen and Overy case study interview starts with a case study given to you along with some questions, 40 minutes before the arrival of your partner interviewer. The case study may be an email or a financial statement you are to read and prepare responses to.

What to expect in the Allen and Overy interview?

The first part of the interview lasts for 15 minutes and focuses on your answers to the questions given. While, the remaining time will be used to discuss the case study with your partner interviewer.

After your partner interview, you will be given an opportunity to showcase your critical thinking, decision-making, written and communication skills with a brief written exercise.

What is the Allen and Overy written exercise?

The Allen and Overy written exercise is used to assess your problem-solving skills relative to the case study. You will be given 25 minutes to review the case study discussed and prepare an email response.

Top 4 Tips to Pass the Allen and Overy Case Study Interview

1. Familiarise yourself with percentages, interests and balance sheets, to help prepare you for possible questions from your case study.

2. Listen and read instructions carefully to ensure answering the questions accurately. If you are unsure, do not hesitate to ask for clarification.

3. Focus on the relevant details. Ensure to find information that falls within the scope of the case study and present your findings in a clear and structured way.

4. Prepare engaging questions for the end of the interview, to show your interests in the firm and impress your interviewer.

Watch this video below to learn about questions to ask your interviewer at the end of your Allen and Overy interview.

2. Allen and Overy Scenario-based Interview

What is the Allen and Overy scenario-based interview?

During the Allen and Overy scenario-based interview, you will be given five different hypothetical scenarios to which you will discuss with your interviewer how you would respond or react to each one.

How to Pass the Allen and Overy Scenario-based Interview

Below are key tips to follow to help you ace the Allen and Overy situational interview

1. Practice before your interview. Remember the scenarios you encountered during the SJT and practice how you would react to those types of situations step-by-step.

2. Take advantage of the gaps in your experience and demonstrate how you will employ certain skills in your role if given the opportunity.

3. Be honest about your skills and passion during your interview. Show the interviewer who you really are and not what you think they expect to hear.

4. Stay positive and enthusiastic throughout the assessment process as this speaks volume about who you are.

5. Use the STAR+R method to support your answers by using past experiences to support your points.

Keep in mind the above tips when practicing Allen and Overy video interview questions, such as these examples below with our example good answers.

ALLEN AND OVERY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Good Answer:

• Situation: In my previous role I was given a task to complete by my team lead, however due to the pressure from work, I was unable to submit a well detailed report in time.

• Task: My team lead made it known how disappointed he was and had expected me to go a mile further with this particular report.

• Action: I actively listened to understand his perspective, took responsibility for my mistakes, and then proceeded with an immediate action to address and rectify the issues highlighted from their feedback to ensure I met and exceeded expectations. 

• Result: I followed up with the instructions and created a new report tackling every problem initially highlighted. My team lead was impressed by my report and highlighted this in my next performance review meeting.

• Reflection: I believe constructive criticism is an avenue for growth and improvement, and I understood how it can enhance my performance and influence the team. I actively seek feedback from my colleagues and supervisors to ensure I perform at my best.

Good Answer: 

• Situation: During my internship at XYZ, there was a marketing project where unexpected problems arose getting materials from our supplier, jeopardising the deadline. 

• Task: I and my team were required to complete the marketing project and to prepare for a presentation on this with the board members within a few weeks.

• Action: Determining the urgency, I immediately reached out to alternative suppliers to acquire these materials for a cost-effective price and quality, ensuring these arrived on time to finalise the project and for the presentation. 

• Result: Due to this, we were able to receive the materials on time to finalise the project and demonstrate these during our marketing project presentation. The board members were impressed by the quality and design of the materials and approved our project.

• Reflection: From this experience, I learned the importance of proactive thinking, communication and adaptability in managing unforeseen situations to ensure success in projects. I aim to always use proactivity to adapt to change in every project I undertake.

Congratulations! You have made it to the end of the Allen and Overy application process. You will receive a follow-up if you are one of the successful candidates.

Discover exciting opportunities with the Allen and Overy student and graduate schemes to help grow your career and become an expert.

Back to Contents

Allen & Overy Student and Graduate Schemes

What are the Allen and Overy student and graduate schemes?

At Allen and Overy, they provide a wide range of opportunities for everyone depending on the stage you are at, or the programme you are interested in. There are opportunities across different locations in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East, North America and Latin America.

These opportunities at Allen & Overy include:

1. Global virtual work experience programme
2. First year programme
3. Vacation scheme
4. Apprenticeship programme
5. Training contract
6. Law tech graduate programme
7. Graduate consulting programme

Let’s dive into each of these schemes below!

1. Allen & Overy Global Virtual Work Experience Programme

What is the global virtual work experience programme?

The Allen and Overy global virtual work experience programme was designed to help you gain valuable insight into the day-to-day activities of a commercial lawyer at A&O. With this programme, you will be able to develop skills needed to pursue your career path.

A&O offers an alternative virtual work experience for school and college leavers based on Employment Law.

Allen & Overy Virtual Work Experience Eligibility 

This programme is designed for undergraduates, postgraduates and above.

2. Allen & Overy First year Programme

What is the Allen and Overy First year Programme?

The A&O first programme is aimed at first year students and provides you with in-depth knowledge, global support network, exposure and experience needed to start a legal career at Allen & Overy. 

The A&O first programme is packed with insights that can help you boost the skills needed as a future trainee with A&O, such as technology and commercial awareness.

Allen & Overy First Year Programme Eligibility & Requirements

1. Students in their first year of a three-year undergraduate degree,
2.  Undergraduates in second year of a four-year degree from any discipline
3. AAB (136 UCAS points) or equivalent at A-level
4. On track for 2:1 undergraduate degree

Application Window

January – February

3. Allen & Overy Vacation Scheme

What is the Allen & Overy vacation scheme?

The Allen and Overy vacation scheme offers you an opportunity to work alongside A&O lawyers on real-life cases, and gain valuable skills you need to boost your career. You will also have access to different kinds of events and presentations within the international commercial law sector.

A&O offers a winter and summer scheme, for final year undergraduates, or those who have already graduated.

Allen & Overy Vacation Scheme Eligibility & Requirements

1. Penultimate and final year students of undergraduate study
2. Graduates with any discipline
3. AAB (136 UCAS points) or equivalent at A-level
4. On track for 2:1 undergraduate degree

Vacation Scheme Application Window

• Winter vacation scheme: August – September 
• Summer vacation scheme: September – October

4. Allen & Overy Apprenticeship Programme

What is the Allen & Overy apprenticeship programme?

The Allen and Overy solicitor apprenticeship programme gives you the opportunity to gain the knowledge, experience and qualifications you need to excel in a leading legal firm, while earning through the years of your apprenticeship.

You can apply to the Allen and Overy solicitor apprenticeship departments: banking, corporate, litigation, and international capital markets

Allen & Overy Apprenticeship Eligibility & Requirements

1. Minimum of AAB or equivalent at A-level
2. 7 GSCEs at grade 6 or above (including maths and english)

Apprenticeship Application Window

December – February

5. Allen & Overy Training Contract

What is the Allen & Overy training contract?

The Allen and Overy training contract is a two-year programme where you will be trained on how to become a successful commercial solicitor. You will be trained via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which is an assessment for your route to qualification as a solicitor.

During this programme, you will be trained based on four six-month rotations through various areas, which include:

• Banking
• Corporate
• International Capital Markets

Allen & Overy Training Contract Eligibility & Requirements

1. Penultimate and final year students of undergraduate study
2. Graduates with any degree
3. Non-law students who have taken GDL, PGDL course

Training Contract Application Window

October – November

6. Allen & Overy LawTech Graduate Programme

What is the Allen & Overy lawtech graduate programme?

The Allen & Overy lawtech graduate programme is designed to train you with all the skills needed to succeed in a legal firm, as well as the resources to remake the role of tech in law.

You will have rotations through areas in advanced delivery & solutions, which are;

• Fuse
• Project management
• Market Innovation Group (MIG)
• e-Discovery

Allen & Overy LawTech Graduate Programme Eligibility & Requirements

1. Final-year student from all universities
2. Graduates with any degree (preferred STEM or economics background)

LawTech Graduate Programme Application Window

December – February

7. Allen & Overy Graduate Consulting Programme

What is the Allen & Overy graduate consulting programme?

The Allen & Overy graduate consulting programme offers an opportunity to become a consultant that solves complex problems through client’s work and business strategy. With the support from senior colleagues and experts, you will grow your consulting skills and define your career.

Allen & Overy Graduate Consulting Programme Eligibility & Requirements

1. Final-year student from all universities
2. Graduates with any degree 

Graduate Consulting Programme Application Window

December – February

And with that, we have provided comprehensive information on Allen & Overy’s assessments and the various roles/programs available for you to apply.

However, before diving into your Allen and Overy application and assessments, take a moment to explore our FAQ section below with answers to commonly asked questions about Allen and Overy assessments.

Back to Contents

Allen & Overy Application Process FAQs