The Key to Effective Decision-Making: Guide to the In-Tray Exercise Assessment for Training Contracts

Jun 12, 2023

Written By Stephen Demery

The majority of law firm assessment centres for training contracts and vacation schemes now involve an in-tray exercise. Feeling much like a written exam, they can be incredibly daunting when you first hear about them. This article will shine a light on the in-tray exercise and help you to ace this section of the assessment centre.

What are in-tray exercises?

In-tray exercises in the context of assessment for training contracts can vary widely, but generally simulate the types of real-life tasks you would be asked to perform as a trainee at a law firm. You’ll be given some information, and will get around an hour to complete the requested task, typically a presentation or an email draft.

In-tray exercises help graduate recruitment identify the presence of a number of key competencies that they look for in trainees, including:

- Strong written communication

- Commercial awareness

- Critical analysis and evaluation

- Time management

- Attention to detail

Structure

Start by briefly going over your intended objective in writing the piece and the overall direction of your advice. This shows the assessors you understand what they have asked of you and sets the tone for the rest of the exercise.

If you have time and enough words left, it might be worth writing a short executive summary, reflecting real-life good practice where legal and commercial professionals are often busy and might prefer to just use the summary to save time. This should be an all-encompassing summary with your main argument/advice/point and naming the key reasons why. Bear in mind it’s much easier to write an executive summary once you have finished the rest of the piece.

Moving to the bulk of your analysis, the key here is to be clear. Use sub-headings to break it up and make it easier for the examiner to read, be precise, and ensure your advice is uniform throughout – don’t contradict yourself!

It is important to remember that the examiners understand that you are not the finished product yet – they are not expecting a partner-level piece, more that you can demonstrate the key competencies listed at the start of this article.

Act the part

The in-tray exercise is of course not real-life, but as a role-playing exercise it is important that you attempt to write in the context of your task. For example, if you have been asked to write a letter of advice to a client, then ensure you write as if you are a lawyer and truly expecting a client to read and potentially action your advice. Title and date the letter, write formally, make the advice easier to read with spacing and proper grammar, and make specific legal and commercial suggestions.

However, avoid using complex legal concepts and jargon, unless you’re writing to a lawyer.

Use all the information provided

The assessors will have included every detail in your information/fact sheet for a reason, and it is likely that they want or expect you to include those facts in your analysis. If you are told the client has a certain budget, or of the existence of a river near the prospective building site, the examiners are trying to get you to pick up on something. Even if you think it’s irrelevant, still mention your reasoning in the assessment.

Be concise

Whether you have a word count or not, try to be strict and not include any sentences that add nothing to your work - every line should serve a purpose. There is no need to write a long introduction and conclusion, just two or three lines each setting out the context of your piece and summarising the key takeaways.

You are also likely be allowed to use abbreviations or acronyms which are useful in cutting down writing time. However, try to avoid using textspeak.

Differentiate between firms

If you have any scope to do so, within your in-tray exercise, you should try to differentiate the law firm you’re applying to from other firms. This goes for every exercise at an assessment centre, and it is just as important here. If you could have written your piece at a competitor firm’s assessment centre, you are likely not making the most of the exercise.

An exercise that involves an aspect of pitching the firm to a business is a perfect example of an in-tray exercise. Here, it’s a good idea that you show the firm that you understand their unique selling points and key differentiators in the legal market.

Preparing in advance

Preparing effectively for the in-tray exercise is harder than for an interview or presentation, for example, where the content covered is more certain. Practice distilling large pieces of information (article, report) into a shorter, more concise form, doing so under timed conditions. Timed proofreading practice exercises will also be an asset.

Good luck for your assessment centre!

Selection & Assessment